Assisted Living Facilities in North Texas Face Uncertain Future

Shutdown Order and Licensing Dispute

The new operator of a chain of North Texas assisted living facilities, which state authorities have ordered to be shut down, offered the previous owner $50,000 in exchange for signing the paperwork that could keep the facilities open.

Previous owner Dan Blackburn then countered at $50,000 for one signature — which, if applied for each of the 11 facilities, would total $550,000 — according to an email conversation that the new operator shared with The Dallas Morning News.

The exchange, which took place on Sunday, appears to have left previous owner Silver Leaf Assisted Living and new operator Evergreen Assisted Care at a standstill, continuing a saga that could impact dozens of North Texas seniors.

Last week, Texas Health and Human Services ordered the shutdown of 11 assisted living facilities in the Silver Leaf chain. The shutdowns would displace about 60 people, including high-needs elderly residents who require round-the-clock care, according to family members who spoke with The News last week.

Background on the Facilities

At least two of the impacted Silver Leaf facilities, both in Dallas, were foreclosed on earlier this year, according to Dallas County records. The new operator, Evergreen, was in the process of taking over the financially troubled Silver Leaf facilities when the state ordered them closed.

State authorities said in a statement that Silver Leaf has not signed the paperwork to transfer the facilities’ licenses to Evergreen. That left Evergreen effectively operating the homes without licenses.

Evergreen owner Edward Sedacca said he’s done more than a dozen takeovers like this one, and he hasn’t run into issues with transferring the licenses.

“It usually doesn’t ever come up,” he said. “It’s usually not a big deal.”

The Offer and Counteroffer

With state authorities bearing down on the still-occupied facilities, Sedacca on Sunday offered to pay $50,000 to Silver Leaf owner Dan Blackburn, if Blackburn would sign the licensure transfer forms for the 11 homes.

Buchholz replied to Sedacca on Sunday afternoon, according to the email conversation. Buchholz wrote that Blackburn had countered the offer for his signatures on the change of ownership, or CHOW, forms.

“Response to your recent email from Mr. Blackburn: I’ll sign one CHOW for 50k. The residents cost extra. And I’m going to need a printed public apology by him,” Buchholz wrote to Sedacca.

Sedacca replied over email later that afternoon, writing that he understood Blackburn’s counteroffer as meaning $50,000 per signature, for each of the 11 facilities involved.

“This is not a negotiation,” Sedacca wrote to Blackburn and his attorney. “It was a simple offer to remedy the 61 families being allowed to stay in their homes.”

Concerns for Residents

People with loved ones living at the Silver Leaf homes told The News last week that they’re worried about the prospect of moving their high-needs family members, especially on short notice.

State authorities told family members on Thursday that they needed to move their loved ones within 72 hours. The state then emailed family members and clarified the residents needed to move “as soon as possible,” with a goal of relocating residents within 10 days.

Family members, along with Evergreen staff, worry that a move could be harmful to the residents.

Dallas resident Chris Smith said last week that a sudden move would be “very, very traumatic” for his 94-year-old mother-in-law, who uses a wheelchair and has dementia.

Implications and Next Steps

Sedacca said Blackburn and his lawyer could stop the closures if they signed the licenses over to Evergreen.

“They’re standing by and watching these residents be thrown out of their homes, and demanding money,” Sedacca said. “Dan Blackburn is saying, ‘If I can’t operate in there, no one can.‘”

This weekend will mark the end of the 10-day relocation timeframe outlined by state authorities.

Conclusion

The situation with the Silver Leaf assisted living facilities in North Texas remains uncertain, with the fate of dozens of elderly residents hanging in the balance. The dispute between the previous owner and the new operator has led to a standstill, and it is unclear how the situation will be resolved.

The state’s order to shut down the facilities has caused concern among family members and residents, who worry about the potential harm that a sudden move could cause. The situation highlights the importance of ensuring that assisted living facilities are properly licensed and operated, and that the needs of residents are prioritized.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is happening with the Silver Leaf assisted living facilities in North Texas?

A: The facilities have been ordered to be shut down by state authorities due to a licensing dispute between the previous owner and the new operator.

Q: Why are the facilities being shut down?

A: The previous owner, Dan Blackburn, has not signed the paperwork to transfer the facilities’ licenses to the new operator, Evergreen Assisted Care.

Q: What will happen to the residents of the facilities?

A: The residents will need to be relocated to other facilities, which could be harmful to them, especially those with high-needs.

Q: How much time do the residents have to move?

A: The state has given the residents 10 days to relocate, with the goal of moving them as soon as possible.

Q: What is the new operator offering to the previous owner?

A: The new operator, Evergreen, has offered $50,000 to the previous owner, Dan Blackburn, in exchange for signing the paperwork to transfer the licenses.

Q: What is the previous owner’s response to the offer?

A: The previous owner, Dan Blackburn, has countered the offer, asking for $50,000 per signature, for each of the 11 facilities involved.