Youngstown Diocese gives final OK to nursing homes sale – Warren Tribune Chronicle
YOUNGSTOWN — A New Jersey-based health care company has purchased the three Bon Secours Mercy Health long-term senior care facilities in the Mahoning Valley with the blessing of the leader of the Diocese of Youngstown.
The transaction with Avenutra Health Group took place Tuesday. It’s part of Bon Secours Mercy Health’s full divestiture of skilled nursing and assisted- and independent-living operations in Ohio, Virginia and Florida, according to the Diocese in June.
In the Valley, it involved Humility House in Austintown, and The Assumption Village and Marian Living Center in North Lima. All three house a combined 300 residents.
The transaction as of Thursday was not recorded with the Mahoning County Auditor’s Office. Mercy Health would not comment on the sale price.
In June, as the sale was pending, Bishop David Bonnar sought additional information before he would consider issuing what’s called a votum in canon law, or an opinion needed to divest church property and temporal goods, known as “stable patrimony.”
After several discussions between diocesan representatives and Mercy Health leadership, Bonnar provided the votum, which was approved by the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in December, according to the Diocese.
“I am grateful for Mercy Health’s many years of faith-filled service to older adults in the Mahoning Valley, many of whom helped to build our communities, as well as our Catholic parishes,” Bonnar said. “My concern has always been for those impacted by this decision — residents, families and employees at the three long-term care facilities involved with this transaction.
“The new buyer has agreed to respect and accommodate the pastoral and spiritual needs of the residents to the greatest extent possible. I am confident that the Catholic heritage and tradition of compassionate care will be maintained, and the Catholic health care directives concerning end-of-life issues will remain in effect.”
Humility House is a senior living facility; The Assumption Village, skilled nursing and rehabilitation; and Marian Living Center, assisted living. Staff, residents and families were notified of the sale last year.
According to a statement from Mercy Health, “it has been our privilege to care for thousands of patients and residents. Health care continues to be dynamic, and we are continuously talking with health care providers, both inside and outside our current footprint, to share best practices and better understand how we can provide the highest level of care, including for post-acute services.”
According to its website, Aventura operates three facilities in Pennsylvania: two west of Philadelphia in Wester Chester and Prospect Park and the third in Carbondale north of Scranton, and two in Baltimore.
