Coffey Health System

Sunset Manor in Waverly will close effective January 15, 2023. The Coffey Health System (CHS) Board of Trustees voted on October 24 to discontinue long-term care due to critical staffing shortages and impending regulation changes.
 
“This decision was extremely difficult and emotional. The impact on local families weighed heavily on everyone involved,” said CHS Chief Executive Officer Joben Rieth. “However, we simply cannot hire sufficient staffing to provide safe, quality care for our community.”

Regulations stipulate that residents and families be given 60-days notice prior to closing.

“Our commitment today is three-fold. First and foremost, we will do everything we can to help families find the best possible care for their loved ones,” Rieth said. “Throughout this process, we will ensure quality care for our residents. Additionally, we are preparing to welcome the Sunset Manor staff into other positions throughout Coffey Health System.”

Sunset Manor was built in 1977. CHS acquired Sunset Manor in 1997 and continued to use the name Sunset Manor. However, the facility was licensed as the Long-term Care Unit of Coffey County Hospital.

The facility’s fate was debated a decade ago for structural and financial reasons. While those same issues continue, CHS honored a commitment to continue providing care—ultimately attaining state and national recognition for quality. Sunset Manor has often relied on staffing agencies to fill gaps, but those resources are no longer able to meet healthcare needs throughout the state.

“Unfortunately, even if we had an influx of money tomorrow, we still can’t recruit the level of staffing needed to provide safe and high-quality care,” said Rosemary Rich, chairman of the CHS board. “We are heartbroken to make this decision, but we cannot put our residents and staff in that position.”

The COVID-19 pandemic created a staffing crisis for the nation’s hospitals and nursing homes that continues to escalate. 35 Kansas nursing homes have closed or downsized since the pandemic.