City Council hopes to keep nursing home open in future

A public meeting was held on Monday, April 18 to discuss the closure of Avantara Ipswich nursing home at the end of May 2022.

"It's not going to be easy," City Council member Mike Hammrich told the audience at a public meeting Monday night. But if the community works as a family it can be saved.

Hammrich said when the Selby nursing home faced closure the community worked to keep it open as a community facility.

Three things have to happen first:

1. They have to have an inspectation of the facility, which was built in 1970. Hammrich said they already know the building needs a new roof and the boiler is old.

2. The cost of the building and contents has to be determined.

3. A 3-5 year business plan has to be set up. They need more information from Avantara at this time. Jared Denton of Rural Health Development is working with Ipswich City to design a plan.

Hammrich said $500,000 to one million dollars would have be raised. The city will help with funds, but more will have to be raised.

The goal is to continue working with Avantara and the state to keep it open until a new board takes over. Ipswich will set up a non-profit five-person board to oversee the facility. They would work with a management company.

Hammrich and the council will continue to work on the plans. He hopes to have a second meeting in two weeks, with more community members present.