The beleaguered parent company of the Healdsburg Senior Living facility on Grove Street, a San Diego-based company called Pacifica that runs 80 such facilities in seven states, suffered another blow this week: They were forced to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, according to the Press Democrat — leaving the fate of Healdsburg’s local senior home and its dozens of residents uncertain. Pacifica was also about to open another senior home in Santa Rosa, which now seems unlikely, given the news. From the PD:
The case, filed March 24 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s Southern District of California, is under Chapter 7, often referred to as liquidation. Unlike a Chapter 11 case, Chapter 7 requires the debtor to close its doors.
“Businesses going through this type of bankruptcy are past the stage of recovery and must sell off assets to pay their creditors,” according to the Investopedia website.
It’s unclear how the move will affect Pacifica Senior Living facilities or its senior resident population. Neither Pacifica Companies — the elder care provider’s parent corporation — or the attorney representing it in bankruptcy court responded to interview requests. A message left for Healdsburg Senior Living management went unanswered.
“Of course, there’s always concern for the residents,” said Sanford Horowitz, a Glen Ellen attorney who helped win a $2.5 million settlement against Pacifica last year, in a case involving Healdsburg Senior Living. “But these people (running Pacifica) were such bad operators, it might be better in the long run. It depends on whether someone is doing oversight. Or if perhaps they’re able to sell.”
Indeed, Pacifica has earned a checkered reputation here in town since it took over the home on Grove circa 2018. The years that followed were marked by repeated complaints and citations, peaking in 2021 when a resident of the facility’s “skilled nursing unit,” Phyllis Johnson, died in a manner that her surgeon later testified showed “clear reckless neglect” on the part of Healdsburg Senior Living. Pacifica was forced by federal regulators to close the home’s skilled nursing unit entirely in 2022, and just ended the ordeal last year by settling with Johnson’s family for around $2.5 million.
The home’s operators have since been pushing for a fresh start and trying to earn back the community’s trust, with events like a group birthday party they just threw in February for five residents turning 100 — a “centenarian celebration,” they called it. The home’s activities director told me at the event that occupancy was low, and that Pacifica was trying to recruit more residents. Here’s to hoping all our local seniors see a smooth transition amid this corporate turmoil.
Note from Simone: This piece originally appeared in the weekly email newsletter I write for the Healdsburg Tribune, called Healdsburg Today. Subscribe here!
