AUGUSTA – Late last week, the Presque Isle Rehab and Nursing Center notified staff, residents and families that the long-term care facility plans to close June 30. The closure will affect 120 employees, 49 residents and their families. According to reports, the assisted living facility located on the premises will remain operational as will the sister long-term care facility located in Caribou. 

Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, released the following statement regarding the closure of a long-term care facility in the neighboring Senate District: 

“I’m heartbroken by the closure of the Presque Isle Rehab and Nursing Center. I’m heartbroken for the residents who call this facility home, their families who have taken comfort in the quality care the nursing home offers close to home, and the employees who rely on this job to make ends meet. However, I know this isn’t a decision that folks wanted to make, nor was it made lightly. Funding shortfalls continue to threaten the viability of nursing homes and residential care facilities across our state. The closure of Presque Isle Rehab and Nursing Center underscores the urgent need for action.

“For too long, nursing homes like Presque Isle Rehab have been operating under financial strain, struggling to provide quality care to our most vulnerable citizens while facing inadequate reimbursement rates from MaineCare. The closure of this facility underscores the human cost of inaction and the imperative for our Legislature to prioritize funding solutions that will prevent further closures and ensure access to essential long-term care services. As the oldest state in the nation, we must prioritize the needs of our oldest and most vulnerable adults. 

“I call upon my colleagues in the Legislature to come together in a bipartisan manner to appropriate the necessary funding to address these shortfalls and support our nursing homes in providing the care and support our seniors deserve. Now is the time for action, and we cannot afford to delay any longer.”