Moving residents out of closed Enid nursing home

ENID, Okla. (AP) _ Only 10 residents remain in an Enid nursing home that provides care for people developmental disabilities. <br><br>``We expect everyone to be placed no later than Jan. 15 (Wednesday),''

Monday, January 13th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ENID, Okla. (AP) _ Only 10 residents remain in an Enid nursing home that provides care for people developmental disabilities.

``We expect everyone to be placed no later than Jan. 15 (Wednesday),'' said Jim Brown, owner of Sunny Side Center.

The center voluntarily shut down and began moving its 89 residents in December after Oklahoma State Department of Health officials would not provide re-certification.

Health department officials said the center failed to comply with state health standards.

About 80 percent of up to 110 Sunny Side employees have relocated or found new jobs, Brown said. Sunny Side must retain workers to provide sufficient services for all residents until they are placed somewhere else, said Dorya Huser, the Health Departments chief of long-term care.

The center could not remain open because more than $300,000 in monthly Medicaid funding would be lost since the center could not get re-certified, Brown said.

``We feel like we were a bit wronged,'' Brown said about the state inspection team decision to cite the center. ``Sunny Side was not that bad of a place. Many staff members had developed bonds with the residents.'