Timber Ridge has relinquished a certificate of need it received last year to establish a 56-bed skilled nursing facility within the community called Briarwood.

Timber Ridge is a continuing care retirement community that offers multiple residential options and services, so residents can stay in one community, even if their needs change. It will continue to offer skilled nursing, but only to current residents of Timber Ridge. The certificate of need would have allowed Briarwood to offer skilled nursing to non-residents of Timber Ridge, according to Janis Stigman, the manager of the state’s Certificate of Need program.

Timber Ridge has 184 independent living units.

“Over the past year, the needs of the center have changed,” said Heather Turner, executive director of Timber Ridge.

Turner said the facility will now give priority access for skilled nursing services to existing residents. It has 36 beds for residents who need skilled nursing, and if more residents need the extra help they can receive services in their own apartment from a home care agency, or go to another facility and Timber Ridge will pick up the difference in cost until a bed becomes available.