Officials say the state nursing home in Milledgeville is set to close by the end of next year, sending 127 severely disabled patients to smaller community nursing facilities in the state.

The closing of the James B. Craig Nursing Center at Central State Hospital will also force many of its 350 employees to search for new jobs.

Regional Hospital Administrator Dan Howell said officials anticipate closing the Craig Center by Dec. 31, 2013.

Officials said patients will gradually be evaluated and moved to other facilities with varying levels of care depending on patients' needs.

Howell said the center is closing for a variety of reasons, which include the belief that patients at the center can be supported "within existing community care providers."

Tags: health, nursing homes, nursing home closing