Residents at Huntersville care facility to move out, COVID-19 patients to move in, families say

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Nearly one in five coronavirus cases in North Carolina are from nursing or residential care facilities, and nearly half of the state’s deaths.

Currently, the state is monitoring nearly 70 outbreaks at centers across North Carolina.

Families of residents at Huntersville Oaks said they were blindsided when they found out positive patients were being moved into the facilities where their loved ones lived.

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Now, family members told Channel 9′s DaShawn Brown their mothers and fathers will be forced out as the center opens its doors to more positive cases.

On Monday, several patients and residents from Huntersville Oaks nursing home started to move out out and were being relocated to other homes within the region. Meanwhile, other patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be moving in.

“We weren’t included in any decision. It was, ‘Like, oh, this is what’s happening,’” said a family member.

She said her mother has lived there for the past five years, but she just found out Friday that she was being moved to Monroe. She said her mother suffers from dementia.

“Alzheimer’s patients have been proven with dementia that they cannot handle change very well. This could put my mother into a tailspin,” the family member said. “I want everyone to have care. I think it’s unethical for them to disrupt the lives of so many.”

Bonita Graham said her 84-year-old mother is going to have to move out.

“I said to me that doesn't seem fair, to uproot them from their -- that's their residence,” she said.

Bonita Graham said her mother had a stroke three weeks ago and may not be strong enough to handle the move.

Bonita Graham’s daughter, Bianca Graham, said, “Three weeks ago she was near death and now for her to move, it just doesn’t seem like it -- it doesn’t seem like it is the best situation for her health.”

In a statement, Atrium Health, who runs Huntersville Oaks, said they’re strategically moving patients who have the virus to Huntersville. Atrium said the facility is one of few in the state capable of caring for COVID-19 patients.

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“I think the very thoughtful, planned out approach that Atrium is taking to transfer patients, still within a local geographic area to relocate those individuals to facilities that are COVID negative sites will not only protect them to the best extent possible, given what we know today, but would also be a service to other individuals on skilled nursing facilities in the area.” CEO of the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association, Adam Scholar, said in a video released by the association. “Really trying to find that dedicated unit is consistent with recommendations from health agencies and it focuses the care resources for these patients, along with the care needs of other patients and residents.”

Another family member asked why they weren’t notified sooner of the change.

“I feel like this information is being given to the family after the fact. It’s like someone coming in and telling me I have to move out of my home. That’s their home,” said the family member.

In a statement from Atrium Health, it said by creating a facility just for positive patients, “They are ensuring that care can be provided for those who need it, while also protecting the health and safety of all residents.”

Atrium told families it will take seven to 10 days to move all the residents out, and they have not said if and when they might return.

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