A group of seniors in Brooklyn say they’re not giving up without a fight after finding out their nursing home is slated to be closed.
Roughly 122 residents at the Prospect Park Residence were told at the beginning of the month that they had 90 days to move.
The property’s owner said after fighting rising costs for years, they surrendered their operating license to the state Department of Health.
They say the DOH then approved a plan to renovate the building into apartments without age restrictions, but the move has left protesters devastated.
“We don’t like what they did to us. They threw us out. Just, frankly, they just said you all gotta get out. And that was the meanest thing that I ever heard,” said one elderly resident.
“They’re frail. They’ll be traumatized by a move at this stage in their life. They live in this community, their relatives and their friends live in this community. So, of course they want to stay in the community. There’s no real alternative for them any place nearby,” said Sarah Berger, a protester.
Protesters who still do not have plans to move say they will pursue legal action.
Meanwhile, officials at the home say they’re focused on helping residents find new housing options.
In a statement, a state Health Department spokesman said the agency’s priority is the safety and well being of the affected residents.
They went on to say, “Following a comprehensive review by DOH, the closure plan submitted by Prospect Park residence ownership was accepted. DOH will continue to work closely with the administration and staff of Prospect Park Residence to ensure the health of residents is protected and they are safely relocated to the most appropriate level of care.”
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