Farmington Health Care Firm To Close Two Bristol Nursing Homes

BRISTOL/FARMINGTON, CT — Two nursing homes in Bristol are slated to be closed by its Farmington-based corporate owner, with the city and state receiving separate notices of the company's plans.

According to Athena Health Care Systems, headquartered at 135 South Road, Farmington, the company is seeking state Department of Social Services approval to shutter two of its nursing home operations in Bristol.

Slated for closure, according to notices sent Dec. 24 to the state of Connecticut and the City of Bristol, are the Sheriden Woods Health Care Center at 321 Stonecrest Drive, Bristol, and Countryside Manor, located at 1660 Stafford Ave., Bristol.

The closures, Athena wrote, will become effective on March 22 for Sheriden Woods and March 21 for Countryside Manor or when the last residents have been relocated.

A total of 426 jobs will be lost with the closures, with 248 coming from Sheriden Woods and 178 from Countryside Manor, Athena said.

Job losses cover all employees, including those in finance, dining services, housekeeping, nursing, rehabilitation, and "other" departments.

Athena did say that laid-off employees will have priority for openings at other company locations.

Athena operates 32 other medical care/hospice facilities in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, not including the two slated for closure in Bristol.

"This decision was not made easily and was, regrettably, reached only after considering every possible option," wrote Athena to state and Bristol officials.

For the full announcement about the closing of Sheriden Woods Health Care Center, click on this link.

For the full announcement about closing Countryside Manor, click on this link.