Samaritan Health Services this morning issued the following statement in regard to its plans to replace the 44-resident assisted living care center at Wiley Creek Community with a drugs and/or alcohol rehabilitation residential program.
Here is what the company had to say:
In response to a long-identified health priority in the region, Samaritan Health Services will develop a residential treatment program for individuals wishing to overcome addictions to drugs and/or alcohol.
The program will be located at Wiley Creek Community in Sweet Home, a 43-acre site that Samaritan has operated as an assisted living facility since 1997. The 44 current residents were notified earlier this week that Wiley Creek’s focus would soon be changing, and that staff will assist them in identifying alternative residential options that will meet their needs.
“We truly regret that this change means a disruption in your living situation, and we are committed to doing all we can to assist you in finding new residential options,” said Marty Cahill, chief executive officer of Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, in a letter to current residents. The hospital operates Wiley Creek together with Salem-based Aidan Health Services, which manages six senior living facilities in Oregon.
The residents of the 20 independent living homes adjacent to the assisted living facility were also notified of the pending change and can choose whether they wish to remain in their homes. For those who have been accessing meal service and transportation from the assisted living facility, Cahill said Wiley Creek staff will assist them in making alternate arrangements.
Wiley Creek’s 35 employees will receive severance pay and outplacement assistance from Samaritan’s Human Resources Department, Cahill said. They were also encouraged to apply for other current positions within Samaritan for which they qualify.
Cahill said the plan is to open a 15-bed alcohol and drug residential treatment unit later this year, once the employees are in place and minor renovations are made to the facility. Recruitment is currently underway for a medical director and program administrator, and other positions could be filled by current Wiley Creek employees.
“The program will be open to all those in need, including those served by Medicare and the Oregon Health Plan (IHN-CCO),” Cahill said.
The lack of a residential treatment facility for alcohol and drug addiction has long been identified as a high priority need in the region, and local leaders praised the decision to develop a program.
“This program will fill a long-standing, gaping hole in the behavioral and physical health resources in our region,” said Frank Moore, Linn County Health Administrator and Mental Health Director. “The addition of this resource will have far-reaching impacts, greatly increasing timely access to services and reaping long-term benefits for our overall community.”
Cahill said informational meetings about the new program will be scheduled once the program leaders are hired.