‘They gave us very short notice:’ Family devastated after Gwinnett care center announces closure

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — The Northside Gwinnett Extended Care Center has announced it is closing in just a few weeks.

Channel 2′s Audrey Washington was at Northside Hospital in Lawrenceville and spoke with family members who depended on the center. They told Washington they are devastated.

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Washington spoke with the son of a former patient here, Angelo Harris, who says he was left scrambling when he got the news about the closure.

“It affects us a lot because we found this facility that we thought our dad would be at for the rest of his life,” Harris said.

Harris told Washington he had just a few days to make a tough decision for his 99-year-old father, Constantine Harris.

“We need you to find another place for your dad in about 60 days. So, they gave us very short notice,” Harris said.

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In August, Northside Hospital in Gwinnett County told Harris, along with a number of other family members, that the extended care center located at the hospital would close on Oct. 14.

“He was upset because he loves that place and we love it too,” Harris said.

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In a statement, a representative with Northside Gwinnett Hospital said in part:

“Northside notified residents, families, and staff this week. A well-planned transition of the center’s 21 current residents is underway, offering families a period of at least two months to make arrangements to move their loved ones.”

“All of the center’s 70 employees are being offered training opportunities and transfers to other jobs within the Northside Gwinnett system. The center’s beds will be reallocated to Northside Hospital Gwinnett to support increasing inpatient needs.”

Harris says the hospital then gave him a list of other long-term care facilities in the area. He says it took some time, but he eventually found a new center for his father.

“We did find a facility that we’re happy with now and that he seems to be happy with,” Harris said.

The hospital statement also said, “This reallocation will provide much needed inpatient beds for the burgeoning Gwinnett area.”

The extended care center closes on Oct. 14.

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