Presbyterian Home to Shutter by Year’s End, Displacing 80 Residents as CWP Pivots to Home Care

New Hartford, NY — The Presbyterian Home, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility operated by Community Wellness Partners, will close by December 31, 2025, drawing to an end more than a century of elder care on Middle Settlement Road and forcing roughly 80 residents to relocate.

Community Wellness Partners (CWP) notified residents, families, and staff on October 28, saying the decision follows years of financial losses, declining occupancy, and broader headwinds across New York’s nursing home sector. About 150 employees are affected.

Why the facility is closing

CWP leaders said the home has operated at an unsustainable deficit—more than $2 million annually over the past three years—as occupancy slid from pre-pandemic levels to about 65% today. Medicaid, which covers the vast majority of residents, has not kept pace with rising costs, according to the organization. State Medicaid rates increased about 2.5% this year while health care expenses rose far faster.

There were no recent safety orders forcing the shutdown, and the facility maintains solid quality marks. CWP framed the move as a strategic realignment to expand services at its nearby Lutheran Home campus in Clinton and to grow home- and community-based programs.

“The decision is difficult but necessary,” CWP CEO Michael D. Dote said in a statement. “We’re reallocating resources to serve seniors where demand is growing—at home and in modernized residential settings.”

What residents and staff can expect

Residents must transition to new settings before year’s end. CWP said it is building individualized relocation plans, offering free transportation, and prioritizing placement at its Lutheran Home campus, which is adding 20 beds. Families may also consider openings at other regional providers, including Rome and Utica-area facilities, with coordination through the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).

Families can contact CWP’s transition team for assistance at 315-768-7070. Virtual question-and-answer sessions are scheduled for November 5 and November 12, with additional meetings to follow if needed. Officials said Medicaid coverage will remain continuous during transfers.

Staff reductions will occur in phases. The organization said it will seek to reassign employees across its network where possible and provide job placement support for others.

Community and regulatory response

Local officials acknowledged the closure will strain an already tight supply of skilled nursing beds. Oneida County estimates the shutdown will reduce countywide capacity by roughly 10%, a change likely to lengthen waitlists and complicate hospital discharges. County leaders announced $250,000 in emergency funding to support relocations and caregiver needs.

NYSDOH said it is monitoring the transition to ensure residents continue receiving required levels of care and that all federal and state standards are met. The Presbyterian Home met the state’s notice requirements for closure, according to officials.

Families voiced concern about the impact on vulnerable residents. “My mom has dementia—moving her could set her back,” said one daughter who urged the operator to provide clear timelines and options without long waitlists.

Part of a wider shift in senior care

The closure underscores a broader reset in New York’s long-term care system. Industry reports show more than a dozen nursing homes statewide have closed or announced plans to close since 2023, with many nonprofit operators citing chronic reimbursement gaps and staffing shortages. At the same time, demand is rising for home-based services as most older adults prefer to age in place.

CWP plans to invest about $5 million to expand capacity at the Lutheran Home campus and strengthen programs such as Meals on Wheels and adult day health. The Presbyterian Home building at 4300 Middle Settlement Road will remain under CWP’s control for now; the organization is weighing potential repurposing or a future sale.

For residents like 88-year-old Evelyn Thompson, the change is deeply personal. “This place has been my home for years,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking, but the staff have stood by us.”

As the December deadline approaches, families are encouraged to gather medical records, confirm powers of attorney, and coordinate with facility social workers to avoid delays. The stakes are practical and immediate: keeping care uninterrupted for dozens of frail seniors while the region recalibrates to fewer nursing home beds—and a future increasingly oriented toward care at home.