HARLINGEN — The new owners of Golden Palms Retirement and Health Center are promising business as usual for the residents.
Golden Palms, one of the city’s premiere skilled nursing and assisted living communities, say they intend to build on what they regard as a quality facility.
Golden Palms, located at 2101 Treasure Hills Blvd., was purchased by a company called Santiago Healthcare Inc., based in Harlingen.
“Golden Palms is an independent legal operating entity that is solely responsible for its own operation,” said Brad Edmunds, operations manager at Golden Palms. “Santiago Healthcare Inc. is the owner of Golden Palms, and Golden Palms is the only facility SHC owns and operates in the state of Texas. While the facility has an affiliation with The Ensign Group, it operates independently.”
Edmunds said Santiago acquired Golden Palms, which has a capacity of 60 residents, on June 1. Edmunds declined to reveal the purchase price.
“We are excited to build on the infrastructure that currently exists at the facility, and we look forward to becoming the post-acute provider of choice in the Rio Grande Valley,” said Edmunds via email. “The staff is sincerely committed to the delivery of quality care to each resident we have the privilege to serve, and the community has been most welcoming as we continue through the transition.”
Santiago Holdings Inc. lists one officer as its representative, Soon Burnam, a California attorney who has broad experience in nursing home administration.
She also is listed as an officer at more than 150 nursing facilities nationwide, including Veranda Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Harlingen and three nursing facilities in McAllen and another in Brownsville, according to nursinghomereport.org and nursinghomedatabase.com.
She is director of licensing and regulatory matters at Ensign Services Inc., the company which is managing Golden Palms.
U.S. News and World Report, in its annual ratings of nursing homes, gave Golden Palms an overall “average” rating. In the category of Medical Care Quality Issues, however, the facility is rated as “high-performing.”
Some residents at Golden Palms have voiced concerns about possible rate increases with a new owner.
“While I have not been advised of concerns about rate increases, I welcome our residents to reach out to me directly with any questions, comments or concerns they might have,” Edmunds said.
