Residents at Silex skilled nursing facility race to relocate before closure deadline

SILEX, Mo. — Dozens of people at a skilled nursing facility in rural Lincoln County are scrambling to find new homes.

Silex Rehabilitation and Health Care Center will close next month.

That’s where VOYCE comes in to assist. It’s an organization advocating for nursing home residents.

VOYCE’S executive director, Marjorie Moore, said, “We heard earlier this week that Silex was closing their long-term care facility and residents were going to be moving out. Typically usually they have 60 days in a closure situation.”

Sixty days to move 47 residents out by Aug. 31. VOYCE’s coordinator met with residents to tell them their rights.

On July 1, the Missouri Department of Health and Services, or DHSS, received a 60-day notice of closure. The notice said the operator submitted a plan of closure and was ready to comply with all laws and regulations. 

DHSS also received another notice from the same operator to close another location in Dixon. 

DHSS said it approved the plan of closure for each facility and the operator met both state and federal requirements to close. 

A DHSS spokesperson shared, “The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program has also had representatives onsite at the facility to speak with residents and facility administration. We know this is a difficult time for residents, family, and the employees at each facility and understand they may have questions and need assistance.”

Moore explained each person at the Silex center is on Medicaid.

She’s noticed more nursing home closures in Missouri and there’s a trend: Almost all of them accept Medicaid patients.    

“That to me is the most disturbing trend, we’re losing a lot of these beds for people who are middle and lower class they aren’t able to access anymore,” said Moore. 

DHSS shared these numbers on closures and openings since July 2024: 

• DHSS has had 14 Residential Care/Assisted Living Facilities and 5 Skilled Nursing Facilities close, these numbers do not include Silex and Dixon.   
• These are new: 9 Residential Care/Assisted Living Facilities and 1 Skilled Nursing Facility
• In the last year: 19 closed, 10 opened

With more closures, Moore notes, there are fewer options.

Moore believes this is pushing people to move even farther away to find quality care. In return, this could cause fewer family visits.

“We’ve had studies to show, the more residents are able to interact with their loved ones the better they’ll do and we see better care when we have family members advocating for them,” added Moore.

Moore wants to remain optimistic but recognizes the harsh reality.

“We hope this will slow down and stop but quite honestly we’re concerned this will continue,” she said. 

5 On Your Side has reached out to the operator for reasons behind the closure.

We haven’t heard back but one employee told 5 On Your Side, the former owner sold all of his assets last year to an out-of-state health care group and filed bankruptcy

VOYCE is urging anyone impacted to reach out at 314-918-8222 or email [email protected]. 

For questions or assistance, contact the Adult Abuse & Neglect Hotline Number 800-392-0210. For the state office of long-term care ombudsman program call 800-309-3282 or email [email protected].