Nursing home sale in Virginia linked to spike in 911 calls, staffing drop

Data shows 70% increase in emergency responses to Twin Lakes Rehabilitation and Nursing after ownership change

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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After VCU Health sold its South Hill, Virginia nursing home to the New Jersey-based Eastern Healthcare Group in 2025, 911 call data showed a 70% spike in emergency responses to the facility, now called Twin Lakes Rehabilitation and Nursing. Staffing levels also declined, with the facility's CMS rating dropping from "much above average" to "much below average" in the months following the sale.

Why it matters

The increase in 911 calls and drop in staffing levels at Twin Lakes raise concerns about the quality of care for residents following the ownership change. Nursing home ownership transitions can sometimes lead to disruptions in care, and this case highlights the need for close monitoring of such changes to ensure resident safety and well-being.

The details

According to 911 data, calls for service to Twin Lakes spiked from 65 calls between April and November 2024 under VCU Health's ownership to 114 calls during the same period in 2025 after the sale to Eastern Healthcare Group. The rescue squad captain said many of the calls were for non-emergent issues like feeding tube problems that could have been handled on-site by trained staff. Meanwhile, federal data showed the resident census increased from an average of 88 to 100 per day, while staffing hours declined, leading to the facility's CMS staffing rating dropping from "much above average" to "much below average".

  • In 2024, under VCU Health's ownership, the facility made 65 calls to 911 from April through November.
  • In 2025, after the sale to Eastern Healthcare Group, Twin Lakes made 114 calls during that same time period.

The players

Twin Lakes Rehabilitation and Nursing

A nursing home in South Hill, Virginia that was previously owned by VCU Health and is now owned by the New Jersey-based Eastern Healthcare Group.

Gavin Gwaltney

Captain of Southside Rescue Squad, the EMS agency that serves South Hill and Mecklenburg County.

Merin Kinikini

A nurse practitioner in Utah who cares for patients on artificial nutrition support.

Ronald Rawlings

A resident of Twin Lakes Rehabilitation and Nursing.

Eastern Healthcare Group

The New Jersey-based company that purchased Twin Lakes Rehabilitation and Nursing from VCU Health in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“We've had times where we actually had two ambulances respond at the same time to the exact same nursing home, which is Twin Lakes. We've had multiple calls within a day to the facility. We've had calls where we went once and then we've gone again in less than 30 minutes.”

— Gavin Gwaltney, Captain of Southside Rescue Squad

“It's a five-minute procedure. They may not have been taught it in school, but they can learn it... It's very doable for them to be able to have this as a skill, and I'm sure they kind of would want to.”

— Merin Kinikini, Nurse Practitioner

“The nurses that are charged with my care are doing a very good job. Now, those nurses are working to the max. They are short-staffed.”

— Ronald Rawlings, Resident

What’s next

The state has not yet completed an updated inspection of the nursing home, but at least three family members or residents have filed complaints alleging a decrease in staffing has led to quality of care concerns.

The takeaway

This case highlights the potential risks associated with nursing home ownership changes, as the transition from a non-profit to for-profit model at Twin Lakes appears to have led to a decline in staffing levels and an increase in emergency responses, raising concerns about the quality of care for residents. It underscores the need for close monitoring and oversight of such changes to protect vulnerable populations.