The Landing in Silver Spring, an assisted living and memory care facility, will close November 15, forcing about 50 residents to seek new homes in only six weeks.
According to an Oct. 2 letter “to our residents and their families,” the facility on New Hampshire Avenue has been sold to Omega Healthcare Investors and Communicare and will undergo a year-long renovation. It will be converted into a skilled nursing facility.
Leisure Care, which currently manages The Landing, will cease being involved as of Nov. 15, according to the letter first seen on WJLA.
As written in the letter, “All residents will need to secure new living residents and complete relocation by November 15th.”
“I worry about it. I think it’s going to be hard for some people,” County Executive Marc Elrich said during his weekly news briefing. “It’s a lot of work to find the right facility and a facility you can afford.”
Elrich questioned why the facility would give such little notice when it was not condemned and there was no dangerous issues. “They certainly could have run this out another month if they needed to make sure everyone gets taken care of,” he said.
“This is all about their bottom-line dollar.”
“They are putting people at risk,” Elrich said, adding, “It’s just stunning that they can do this to people.”
While the county has resources to handle housing issues for someone who was evicted or cannot pay rent, “We are certainly simply not equipped to handle 53 people with mental care needs. That’s not something the county has the capacity to do,” Elrich said.
MCM called the facility and was told to send an email with questions, which has not yet been answered.
Dr. James Bridgers, chief of public health services, said the county has been in contact with the state to see what resources are available for the residents and their families.
Elrich said he would reach out to Maryland legislators to work on a bill that would guarantee residents a longer time frame before being evicted.
In the meantime, Leisure Care is partnering with its other communities and other area operators to host community sessions for residents. It also is hoping to obtain move in incentives to limit the financial burden, according to the letter.
Photo: The Landing website
