Lawmakers send letter in support of Rowley nursing home

Feb. 22--ROWLEY -- A letter signed by four local lawmakers urges Department of Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel to ensure that the Sea View Convalescent and Nursing Home remains operational.

Sea View, with about 60 beds, has been open at 50 Mansion Drive in Rowley since 1954. The business is facing possible closure because the state says Sea View has not paid a nursing facility user fee for more than a year.

In the letter sent by state Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, and also signed by state Sen. Kathleen O'Connor Ives, D-Newburyport; state Rep. Bradford Hill, R-Ipswich; and state Rep. James Kelcourse, R-Amesbury; Tarr says the nursing home has been "an integral part" of the community for more than 60 years.

"Sea View has provided, and continues to provide, a safe and high-quality retirement home for many residents of our area who depend on the care that it consistently makes available on a daily basis," Tarr said in the letter.

"Toward that end, we request that every possible option be fully explored to allow this facility to remain operational in a safe and cost-effective manner. We would welcome an opportunity to meet both with the Department of Public Health and with Sea View Retreat in order to facilitate a workable solution to ensure [it] can continue to keep its doors open, and provide essential and high quality care for elders."

In an email to The Daily News, a spokesperson for DPH said that on Feb. 14, Sea View was notified the state is obligated to begin action to revoke its license to operate a long-term care facility.

"We regret that this step has occurred and we will continue to try to work with officials from Sea View to ensure they comply with the law," read the DPH statement. "Our primary concern remains that residents who live in this facility continue to receive safe, high-quality care with minimal disruption to their daily lives. Throughout this process, the department will work closely with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs Long Term Care ombudsman to ensure that residents' needs are met."

Sea View has had the opportunity to work with MassHealth over the last several months to comply with the user fee requirements but has refused repeated attempts to communicate with MassHealth staff, according to DPH.

DPH said the nursing home still has the opportunity to resolve the issue and keep its doors open.

Representatives for Sea View could not be reached by press time Wednesday.

Jack Shea can be reached via email at jshea@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3154. Follow him on Twitter @iamjackshea.

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