(8/10) After a month on speculation, Ascension Living, the operators of St. Catherine’s nursing home, announced it will be closing Nov. 1.

Officially known as St. Joseph’s Place, the facility is owned by the Daughters of Charity and has been leased to Ascension Living since 2010, according to George Brenton, provincial director of facilities.

"After thoughtful and prayerful discernment and discussions with the Daughters of Charity, we have decided to close Ascension Living St. Joseph’s Place, a skilled nursing and independent living community in Emmitsburg," according to a statement released by Ascension Living.

"This transition will help ensure the long-term stability of those options for older adults in the midst of continuing staffing challenges across the industry," according to a statement released by Ascension Living.

Ascension Living decided to exit the Emmitsburg area due market survey finding of an "excess of skilled beds in the general area," Brenton said.

St. Catherine's is located on the same campus as the Basilica of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, as well as next door to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Emergency Training Center, and the National Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, Brenton said.

The nursing facility included short term rehabilitation, long term care as well as respite and holistic care.

The Daughters of Charity currently make up approximately 20 residents in skilled care with a total of sixty Sisters within the entire facility, according to Brenton. Daughters will continue to provide care for their seniors within the facility, "through another healthcare management company," he said.

Saint Joseph’s Provincial House was originally built in 1964 as a housing for approximately 400 sisters for what used to be the southeast providence, according to Brenton. However, with the declining numbers of women joining the order, in the early 2000s, many of the administrative activities conducted in Emmitsburg for the Daughters were moved to their St. Louis Provincial House, and need for the massive facility became problematic. As a result other uses for the facility were explored.

One wing of the four wing X-shaped facility is currently dedicated to the Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton which was originally designed as the chapel for the Daughters.

Another wing is known as Setonville and was converted into low-cost senior living for Houses for America 10 years ago. A third wing is being rented by Mount St. Mary’s University for storage. St Catherine’s encompassed the remaining wing, which the Daughter of Charity are currently exploring other options for use of.

Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs was disappointed to learn of the shutdown. Not only were approximately 10-15% of the over 100 employees regional to the Emmitsburg area, but he also found the facility’s town location convenient for visiting residents, he said.

For the current 140 employees of Ascension Living St. Joseph’s Place, Molly Gaus, Vice President of Marketing and Communications wrote in an email "we are in the process of seeking well qualified nurses and staff members, to care for the senior members but will no longer have the numbers (enough residents) to retain everyone. As we go through this transition, our top priority will be taking care of our residents as well as our valued associates. Our team will coordinate the transition of all current non-Daughters nursing residents to an appropriate community (nursing homes) of their choice."