Couple attempting to take over Menlo Park nursing home Couple attempting to take over Menlo Park nursing home (March 02, 2005)

By Renee Batti

Almanac News Editor

A South Bay chiropractor and his wife, who own an adult day care center in Milpitas, are moving slowly through the application process to acquire a license that would allow them to take over operation of Menlo Park Place, a nursing home that is set to close April 7 under current ownership.

Yong and Christine Shinn hope to take over the facility at 1275 Crane St. in Menlo Park soon to begin putting into place a "plan of corrections" to try to solve some of the problems that exist, Ms. Shinn said. But the state has yet to determine whether to grant the license to the couple, according to Norma Arceo, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health Services.

The nursing home's current owner, Catherine Joseph, was operating on a six-month temporary license, but was denied a permanent license in January because of numerous violations of state health and safety regulations, said Ms. Arceo.

The Shinns own the Grand Adult Day Health Care Center in Milpitas. They have no experience in operating a nursing home, "but Dr. Shinn and I and our team are really committed to it," Ms. Shinn said.

"We have a medical team, and we pay (well) and look for the best," she said.

Acknowledging that "it will be really challenging" to solve some of the existing problems at the facility, Ms. Shinn said they have already hired a consultant to create a plan of attack.

Ms. Shinn said she was told by a state health department staff member last week that the Sacramento staff was ready to recommend approval of a six-month license. But Ms. Arceo of the state health department said the staff is requiring another meeting with the Shinns before such a recommendation is forwarded to the regional office in Daly City for a final decision.

The meeting, she said, is to ensure that the Shinns understand the conditions that will be imposed by the state. "We want them to be clear as to what they're taking over," Ms. Arceo said last week.

The possible closure of Menlo Park Place would put an additional strain on nursing home resources in the area. In January, the University Convalescent Hospital at 2122 Santa Cruz Ave. closed its doors, and if Menlo Park Place follows suit, Sharon Heights Care & Rehab would be the last remaining skilled nursing facility in Menlo Park.

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