Athena Health Care Systems Tapped to Open New Centers in Torrington & Meriden to Care for COVID-19 Patients
Athena will manage previously shuttered nursing homes with plans to open
to patients next week
Farmington, CT – Athena Health Care Systems, a recognized leader in senior care and one of the region’s largest operators of skilled nursing centers, announced today that it has agreed to a request by the State of Connecticut to rapidly open and operate centers in Torrington and Meriden to treat individuals diagnosed with COVID-19.
Athena is currently in the process of cleaning and building out locations in Torrington and Meriden that were previously operated as skilled nursing centers but had been closed. Once the centers have been properly outfitted and supplied, they will be inspected by health officials. The centers will be ready to accept those suffering with COVID-19 once officials approve their operation.
The centers to be managed by Athena will be two of the “alternate care sites” developed at the request of the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Alternate care sites are intended to provide additional capacity to treat individuals suffering from COVID-19.
Since its founding in 1984, Athena Health Care Systems has grown into one of the premier long-term care management companies in New England. Consistently ranked in the top 25 largest nursing home operators in the United States, Athena employs more than 9,400 employees throughout its continuum of care, touching the lives of tens of thousands of patients, residents and family members each year. Northbridge Health Care Center s been recognized as a 2019 Silver – Achievement in Quality Award recipient by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) and the staff at Sharon Health Care Centers was one of the first centers in CT to battle the COVID-19 virus.
The following is a statement from Lawrence G. Santilli, President & C.E.O of Athena Health Care Systems on Athena responding to Connecticut’s call for assistance in treating COVID-19 patients.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has presented incredible and unprecedented challenges to the state. I am glad that Athena Health Care Systems is in a position to answer the state’s call for assistance at this critical time. Our history, experience, the expertise of our incredible team, and more than 35 years as Connecticut’s leader in senior care, make us well-suited to help the state and to help those afflicted with COVID-19.
“The true heroes in this battle are the amazing teams at Sharon and Northbridge Health Care Centers, as well as the new teams assembling in Torrington and Meriden. The Meriden location is an Apple Health Care owned property that our Athena team will manage. I believe that their work will help in the state’s goal to mitigate this pandemic as much as possible and as quickly as possible. These centers can provide nearly 500 beds of post-acute care, providing much needed support to our state’s acute care hospitals during the impending surge.
“Since the beginning of this pandemic, our leadership team in Farmington has been available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide counsel and management to every Athena center – and will now provide that expertise to new teams in Torrington and Meriden.”