GERRY, N.Y. — Heritage Village Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing, a 120-bed facility on Route 60 in the Town of Gerry, is closing its doors after decades of operation, according to an announcement from parent organization Heritage Ministries on January 29, 2026.
The closure marks the latest in a string of Western New York nursing home shutdowns, following the closings of Absolut Care in Westfield and Weinberg Campus, both in 2024, as reported by the Buffalo News and WKBW.
Why Heritage Village Is Closing
Heritage Ministries CEO Lisa Haglund called the decision "very difficult but necessary," according to WRFA Radio. The facility's population dropped sharply after the COVID-19 pandemic, falling from its 120-bed capacity to fewer than 40 residents at the time of the announcement, as reported by the Jamestown Post-Journal. That translates to an occupancy rate of roughly 36%, according to CMS data — a level that makes sustained operations financially unworkable.
The financial picture is stark. Approximately 87% of Heritage Village residents were funded through Medicaid, and the organization reported losing roughly $154 per day on each Medicaid-funded resident, according to the Buffalo News. Haglund cited a combination of factors driving the closure: post-pandemic occupancy declines, chronically low Medicaid reimbursement rates in New York State, federal and state funding cuts, rising operational costs, and legacy debt, as reported by the Post-Journal.
By August 2025, Heritage Ministries had already begun emergency cost-cutting measures, including eliminating holiday pay, pausing 401(k) matching contributions, and implementing a voluntary furlough program — each expected to save approximately $100,000 annually, according to the Observer Today. Those measures proved insufficient to stem the losses.
State Senator George Borrello attributed the closure to systemic failures in how New York funds long-term care. "The problem is that we haven't focused enough on workforce development," Borrello told WKBW. "We've not focused enough on funding so that people can be paid a good wage, because of the lack of proper reimbursement from Medicaid, which is the number one source of income for pretty much every adult care facility."
Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel acknowledged "significant financial, operational, and workforce challenges" facing the facility, according to WRFA Radio. Wendel said he had been in contact with Haglund about transition plans for both residents and employees, as reported by WKBW.
The New York State Department of Health confirmed it had approved the closure plan, and stated that federal regulations require the facility to remain open until every resident has been safely discharged, according to WKBW. Heritage Ministries set a target closure date of February 20, 2026, according to the Buffalo News. The organization's two remaining Chautauqua County facilities — Heritage Park in Jamestown and Heritage Green in Greenhurst — will continue operating.
CMS Inspection History
Federal inspection records paint a picture of a facility that was struggling well before the closure announcement. Heritage Village held a 1-star overall rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — the lowest possible score on the agency's five-star quality rating system, according to CMS Care Compare data.
The facility's most critical weakness was staffing. CMS assigned Heritage Village a 1-star staffing rating, reflecting nurse staffing levels well below the national average. Total nursing staff turnover stood at 47.1%, and registered nurse turnover reached 44.4%, according to CMS data. Federal inspectors cited the facility for failing to provide sufficient nursing staff to meet resident needs (F-tag F725) in both the 2024 and 2022 inspection cycles — a recurring deficiency at escalating severity levels.
The most recent standard health inspection, conducted in August 2024, identified eight health deficiencies, double the four deficiencies found during the 2022 survey. Three of those deficiencies were classified at "widespread" severity — the broadest scope designation CMS uses — meaning the problems affected or had the potential to affect a large number of residents.
Among the most serious findings: inspectors cited Heritage Village for failure to protect residents from abuse, neglect, and exploitation (F-tag F600) at a widespread level, according to CMS records. This was the second consecutive inspection cycle in which the facility received an abuse-related citation, and the severity escalated from "isolated" in 2022 to "widespread" in 2024. The facility's CMS profile carries an active abuse icon as a result.
Inspectors also cited deficiencies related to inadequate RN coverage, failure to maintain a quality assessment and assurance program, incomplete pharmacist drug regimen reviews, and problems with grievance policies, according to CMS survey data. Four substantiated complaints were on record.
Despite these regulatory concerns, the facility earned an above-average 4-star quality measures rating, with notably low rates of physical restraint use (0%) and relatively high vaccination rates among staff, according to CMS quality data.
Heritage Village had been certified by Medicare since August 1, 1972, and had never received a monetary fine or payment denial from CMS, according to federal records.
Ownership & Operations
Heritage Village was 100% owned by Heritage Ministries Charitable Care Network Inc., a nonprofit corporation, according to CMS ownership data. The organization operates a chain of five facilities across New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
The chain's performance varies significantly by location. Heritage Park in Jamestown holds a 4-star CMS rating, while Heritage Green in Greenhurst matches Heritage Village's 1-star score, according to CMS Care Compare. Rolling Fields in Conneautville, Pennsylvania, holds 4 stars, and Hearthstone Manor in Woodstock, Illinois, holds 3 stars. The chain averages 2.6 stars overall.
Heritage Ministries also faced legal and financial pressure beyond daily operations. The organization was involved in at least six lawsuits in 2024, including judgments exceeding $600,000, according to the Buffalo News.
Anyone affected by the closure who needs assistance with care transitions should contact Chautauqua County's Office for Aging Services through the NY Connects intake line at (716) 753-4582, as directed by County Executive Wendel.
Resources for Families
Families with loved ones in nursing homes facing closure or care concerns have several resources available:
- New York State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: Ombudsmen serve as independent advocates for nursing home residents. They can help with discharge planning, care complaints, and ensuring residents' rights are protected during facility transitions. - National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center Hotline: 1-800-677-1116 — This eldercare locator connects callers with local ombudsman programs and aging services in their area. - Ombudsman Resource Center Website: [ltcombudsman.org](https://ltcombudsman.org) — Provides information on residents' rights, how to file complaints, and how to locate your local ombudsman.
Federal regulations require that when a nursing home closes, the facility must develop a written transfer and discharge plan for each resident, provide at least 30 days' notice, and ensure residents are relocated to the most appropriate available setting that meets their needs. Residents and families have the right to participate in choosing the receiving facility.