Statement by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone on care for Laguna Honda Hospital patients

In response to the prospect of transferring infirm and elderly Laguna Honda Hospital patients due to regulatory and funding concerns, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone released the following statement.

“Since the time of the Gold Rush, Laguna Honda Hospital has cared for the poor, the elderly and the infirm. The hospital, tucked into the hill of 7th Avenue on the city’s West Side, is a beloved and concrete expression of the spirit of charity in the City of St. Francis. For many decades, the hospital has been one of the very few publicly funded nursing homes in the country, one where many residents have found a haven.

In the face of the current prospect of some infirm and elderly patients being transferred from their residences due to regulatory and funding concerns, I urge community leaders to ensure the stability and protection of vulnerable individuals. We pray that Laguna Honda may continue to be a haven for the poor, sick and elderly and that our brothers and sisters in San Francisco will be cared for as they face trials and illness.”