Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson today confirmed that the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs rejected his proposal to transition the county’s Meadowview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center into a fourth state-operated veterans home.
Levinson said he received a letter from Brigadier General Yvonne Mays informing him of the decision despite representatives from DMAVA who toured the Northfield facility being extremely impressed with its cleanliness, amenities and staff.
“We’re disappointed with the decision, especially since we had so much support from veteran organizations, community members and our own employees who looked forward to expanding the care of our veterans,” Levinson said in a release.
Meadowview includes a 30-bed Veterans Wing that has been a very successful component of the 180-bed skilled nursing facility.
Last August, Levinson proposed that DMAVA, which operates three veterans homes in New Jersey in cooperation with the Veterans Administration, consider transitioning the county’s nursing home into a fourth veterans facility. Veterans homes are presently located in Paramus, Menlo Park and Vineland.
Levinson said that since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been extremely difficult to secure nursing staff which has resulted in an increase in empty beds and loss of revenue.
“We’re operating at a loss of approximately $5 million a year which we can no longer absorb,” he said. “When I became county executive in 2000, there were 21 county-operated nursing homes in New Jersey. Meadowview is now one of only three in the state.”
Levinson said that without interest from the Veterans Administration or state DMAVA, the county must consider other options, including selling the facility.
“Should we issue a request for proposals, we will be clear that any interested party must provide assurances for existing staff and residents. We want a commitment of 24 months employment with benefits for existing staff. We will not turn our backs on them,” he said.
Levinson said he believes a veterans facility is needed in the area.
“(Meadowview) is ideally located near our Veterans Services office, county transportation, public health, senior services, a senior nutrition site, dental clinic and more, with access to public transportation and free parking. Not to mention, we have experienced staff and a viable facility," he said. “We will look for the best deal for our taxpayers with a preference for the care of our veterans.”
