Diocese Approves Sale Of Mercy Health’s Long-Term Care Facilities

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Bishop David J. Bonnar of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown announced Thursday that he supports the sale of Bon Secours Mercy Health’s long-term care facilities to Aventura Health Group, a for-profit corporation.  

Mercy Health notified the Diocese that the sale took place on March 1.

In June 2021, Mercy Health said the organization would sell its Assumption Village Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation and Marian Assisted Living Center in North Lima and Humility House Senior Living in Austintown to Aventura Health Group. 

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

As the transaction was pending, Bonnar requested additional information regarding the sale before he would consider issuing a votum, or an authoritative opinion required for the divestiture of church property and temporal goods, known as “stable patrimony.” 

After several discussions between diocesan representatives and Mercy Health leadership, Bonnar provided the votum, which was approved by the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in December 2021.

“I am grateful for Mercy Health’s many years of faith-filled service to older adults in the Mahoning Valley, many of whom helped to build our communities, as well as our Catholic parishes,” Bonnar said in a statement.  

“My concern has always been for those impacted by this decision—residents, families and employees at the three long-term care facilities involved with this transaction.  The new buyer has agreed to respect and accommodate the pastoral and spiritual needs of the residents to the greatest extent possible.  I am confident that the Catholic heritage and tradition of compassionate care will be maintained, and the Catholic health care directives concerning end-of-life issues will remain in effect.”

Bonnar and diocesan leadership plan to meet with representatives from Aventura Health Group in the coming months to discuss specific priorities, and to re-affirm the diocese’s commitment to the pastoral and spiritual care of residents.

According to its website, Aventura currently operates three sites, all in eastern Pennsylvania. In the Philadelphia suburbs, it owns Aventura at Prospect and Aventura at Pembrooke, along with Aventura at Creekside in Carbondale. The company’s headquarters is in Lakewood, N.J.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.