MCH Welcomes Displaced Residents

Monroe Community Hospital (MCH) welcomed 19 new residents at the start of the year after a water leak at another senior living facility forced an evacuation and relocation of several of its residents.

MCH quickly mobilized staff, prepared space and converted the MCH Auditorium as a temporarily intake center to welcome the individuals from the other facility and place them is the Faith building on a temporarily basis.

“MCH staff came together immediately to help people feel safe, welcomed and cared for during a very stressful situation,” said Associate Executive Health Director Kristen Rund, who helped coordinate care during the holiday emergency. “The teamwork across departments was extraordinary.”

Clinical and support teams worked together to ensure the new residents were safely received, assessed and settled with minimal disruption. Many of the new residents quickly established routines, met with staff, adjusted to their new surroundings and found a sense of normalcy during an uncertain time.

“It’s a nice facility, and everybody here has been very, very good to me,” Tom Toscano said. “I enjoy the people, and everyone seems to like everybody. The food is pretty good, my medications are always on time, and things feel more organized here. It’s been a very nice experience.”

Approximately 130 residents were displaced and relocated to other facilities under a coordinated mutual aid plan that includes MCH and helps address various emergencies as they arise. Some residents who were initially at MCH have since transitioned to other locations, while others remained at MCH until they returned to the other facility in early March.

MCH leadership expressed gratitude to staff for working diligently while managing the emergency intake.

“We couldn’t have done this without the dedication of our staff, who exemplified compassion, professionalism and teamwork when it mattered most,” Rund said. “We’re proud to provide a home, even if temporarily, for those in need.”