Lisa Ciccanti, spokesperson for St. Joseph Hospital, confirmed that local skilled nursing facilities have begun accepting patients from the hospital again. St. Joseph had previously been told by the facilities' management company, Rockport, that they would not accept any of the hospital's patients, forcing those who needed skilled nursing to go out of county. The local Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) has not had its contract with the five local skilled nursing facilities reinstated, although PACE director Justine Medina reports that the program has only had to place one elder in skilled nursing during the last year.

On Thursday, July 23, Rockport's CEO Brad Gibson gave a presentation to the Fortuna Rotary Club in which he discussed the company's three-and-a-half month refusal to accept patients. The Journal has attempted to contact the company, but repeated emails to its public relations spokesperson, Sallie Hofmeister, have not been returned.

For more information about the shut out, click here to read our our July 9 cover story. The story featured the tale of Geoffrey and Queenie Spencely, detailing Geoffrey's efforts to get his wife into a skilled nursing facility. The Journal has learned that Queenie passed away the morning the story came out.

Linda Stansberry will host an interview with Suzi Fregeau, program manager for the Area 1 Agency on Aging's long-term care ombudsman, and ombudsman volunteer John Heckel on KHSU's Thursday Night Talk Thursday, July 30 at 7 p.m.