🌿 A Community Pillar Shuts Its Doors
Winter Park is preparing to say goodbye to one of its most enduring institutions. The Gardens at DePugh Nursing Center, a 40-bed facility known for its intimate, family-like atmosphere, will close on or around December 1, 2025, ending nearly seven decades of service to the community.
Administrators and board members point to financial challenges as the decisive factor. Rising costs of care, combined with Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates that fail to cover actual expenses, left the center unable to sustain operations. The pandemic further strained resources, accelerating the closure timeline.
🏥 A Legacy of Care
Founded in the mid-20th century, The Gardens at DePugh became a trusted name in skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Over the years, it earned a five-star quality rating, distinguishing itself as one of only 60 nursing homes in Florida to achieve that level of recognition.
The center specialized in geriatric excellence, offering services such as:
- Respiratory therapy
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Speech/language pathology
- 24-hour clinical care
Its smaller size fostered a close-knit environment, where residents were treated with dignity and respect, often describing the facility as a “home away from home.”
💔 The Human Impact
As closure preparations continue, most residents have already been relocated to other facilities. The once-bustling recreation room and library now sit quiet, with empty nursing stations and rolled-away beds marking the end of an era. Staff members, while heartbroken, have worked tirelessly to ensure smooth transitions for residents.
Richard Baldwin, chairman of the board, reflected on the emotional toll: “They’re broken-hearted. You’ve got to understand that most of our patients are permanent residents.”
For families, the closure is more than logistical—it is deeply personal. Many recall holiday celebrations, birthday gatherings, and moments of comfort provided by staff who became extensions of their own families.
📜 A Chapter in Winter Park’s History
The Gardens at DePugh was more than a nursing home—it was a community anchor. Generations of families entrusted their loved ones to its care, and its closure represents not just the loss of a facility, but the closing of a chapter in Winter Park’s civic and healthcare history.
The center’s name itself carried historical weight. It honored Dr. James DePugh, a Winter Park physician whose vision for compassionate elder care helped shape the facility’s mission. Over the decades, the nursing center became a symbol of the city’s commitment to its aging population.
As Administrator Liz Barton prepares the grounds for their final season, the lush gardens that gave the center its name will soon fall silent. For Winter Park, the closure is a poignant reminder of the fragile economics of elder care, even for institutions with stellar reputations.
🔎 The Bigger Picture
The Gardens at DePugh’s closure is not an isolated event. Across the United States, small, high-quality nursing centers are struggling to survive. Rising healthcare costs, staffing shortages, and reimbursement gaps have created a crisis in elder care. The pandemic magnified these vulnerabilities, forcing many facilities to shut down despite decades of trusted service.