Petersen Health Care, which owns Tarkio Rehabilitation and Health Care in Tarkio, Missouri, has announced the closure and sale of the Tarkio nursing home facility.
Petersen Health Care filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early March 2024. Through that process, Petersen Health Care received approval from the federal bankruptcy court to sell some of its assets to help the company meet its financial obligations. The Petersen Health Care homes, including Tarkio Rehabilitation and Health Care, recently sold to new owners in a court approved auction process. A bid from Cascade Capital Partners was accepted for most of Petersen’s properties, including Tarkio Rehab. Petersen owns around 100 properties
According to Greg Wilson, Senior Vice President of Operations, “During the transition planning process, the difficult decision was made to discontinue operations at Tarkio Rehabilitation. Petersen Health Care staff is on site managing the closure and resident transfer process in accordance with state and federal guidelines. All possible steps are being taken to minimize disruption to our residents and help them transition to new homes.”
In 2009, Petersen Health Care purchased the nursing home, which opened in 1970. There are currently 20 residents and around 43 staff members affected by the closure. Due to limited space at Pleasant View Nursing Home in Rock Port (the only other nursing home in Atchison County), only five residents will be staying in the county. Of the 43 staff members, most are still looking for jobs, although some have been hired at other nursing homes or health care facilities in the tri-state area. Thankfully, of those who have already attained future employment, their employers are allowing them to stay at Tarkio Rehab for however long it may take to see to the residents’ needs until the last resident moves out and the facility is shuttered. Unfortunately being such a rural area, not all nor most of those 40 plus employees will be able to find jobs in the county, which could potentially negatively affect the economy and even the school as those employees with children might have to move outside the county to seek employment, thus pulling their students out of our local school districts. Once Cascade takes ownership (their bid is for an empty building), the facility will more than likely be sold, but to whom and for what remains to be seen.
If you can offer services of any kind to the residents or staff members, such as moving boxes, job opportunities, stipends or gift certificates to help employees while they seek employment, rides/transport for members of the community who will now be unable to see their loved ones on a daily or weekly basis as not all have the means to travel, please call Tarkio Rehab at 660-736-4116. The facility and its employees have gone above and beyond over the years to be a part of the community and help where they can. It’s now time for the community to step up and help them.
