Glendale will always have the upper hand when it comes to either government or privately owned. Why? Because of the union voters. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with the bleeding heart, liberal 'oh the poor old people' rhetoric. Cause if that were the case, Glendale wouldn't be know as the 'pit'. Just go to the NYS site for nursing home status. Glendale comes in DEAD LAST!

And please, no more hogwash about how private nursing homes only take private pay. That is complete and utter BS. They are MANDATED to take medicaid/medicare. Unfortunately, there are no votes guaranteed from the private sector.

The problem WILL get worse......the boomers are coming the boomers are coming........where will the jobs be???? home, private
or government........I wonder........

maybe we could ask Hillary about her "It takes a Village to Raise a Child"......how about "It takes a Village to Take care of an Elder"

Quoted Text

SCHENECTADY COUNTY
Extension granted on nursing home plan
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter

    The state has granted Schenectady County a 10-month extension without penalty on its proposal to build a new nursing home on Hetcheltown Road.
    Originally, the state said the county had to break ground on its proposed $51 million nursing home this month as a condition for receiving a certifi - cate of need.
    However, the county asked the state Department of Health for an extension in July, said county spokesman Joe McQueen. In October, the state granted the extension, giving the county until Sept. 30, 2010, to begin construction, he said. County officials do not expect the extension to affect final project costs, he said. .....................>>>>................................>>>>............................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01203&AppName=1

Quoted Text

An alternative to building new nursing home

    As committed as Schenectady County’s legislative leaders are to building a new Glendale Home, we suspect nothing can deter them. But considering that the county will be contributing $7.6 million of the nursing home’s $51 million construction cost — and continuing to pay millions of dollars each year (at least $9 million starting in 2012) to cover its operating losses, as well as nearly $450,000 annually in debt service on the bonds — they should be taking a serious look at anything that can avoid those costs while still taking care of the health needs of the county’s elderly. Like a demonstration project proposed by Gov. Paterson, for instance.
    Unlike many health and social services, nursing homes aren’t a mandate for counties — the state isn’t forcing this expense on them. In fact, state policy is to reduce reliance on skilled nursing care and encourage more, less expensive, home and community care. But the state’s fiscal incentives haven’t done enough to support that policy. ...................>>>>............>>>>.............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00701&AppName=1

A project of this size and expense should be voted on in Nov in the form of a referendum but the politicians won't do that because they know it will be voted down.

Talk about behind....why was this not thought of about 20years ago.....I guess we dont like to think of ourselves as old and what happens to us or what we might need.....take the time to volunteer at
a nursing home for a couple of days a month....see what we become.....

WOW! A real gem from the Gazetto. Anyone with fiscal sense realizes this idiotic new County Home {like the Library addition and SCCC music department move} must be opposed. This has nothing to do with senior care. It has everyone to do with retaining power, big donations and lob jobs.

     Montgomery County has no County Home-and guess what-other alternatives work better. If Ms. Savage wants to be a State Senator she better stop this. This is no time to slam the County sheeple again. We've fallen and we can't get up.

Everyone who has been told to 'spend down' to get to that cushy government insurance pay for you stay has just taken the responsibility of your care and put them onto your kids via taxes.....

medicare is made as a 'package deal' to nursing homes....

you get into a home for rehab let's just say the government values a broken hip at $10,000. now you have a VERY complicated history,,,smoking/drinking/obesity/diabetes etc.....now you have complication
from these issues....you get well past the $10,000 alottment for your hip....I cant afford you and you cant afford me.....

those who think they should shirk their duty by not paying for their own care are lacking in foresight....if you think you are 'buying' your children and inheritence by giving them your money then 'letting
the government' pay your bills is wrong...

do you want to know what the government values you at???? I didn't think so.....and the future taxpayers dont want to either.......

EVERYTHING COSTS MORE LATER.......

Quoted Text

SCHENECTADY COUNTY
3 projects reflect new philosophy in long-term care
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter

    Long-term care for senior citizens is changing in Schenectady County.
    In coming months, three projects totaling approximately $150 million will transform institution-like nursing homes into home-like facilities or will create campuses that connect skilled nursing care with assisted-living apartments.
    More than $50 million has already been spent to create assisted-living or independent-living services in the community. These services allow senior citizens to remain in Schenectady County near friends and families, rather than move to find similar services.
    The transformation is part of a national “culture change,” said Patrick Cucinelli of the New York State Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, an industry advocacy group. “The industry is moving away from the 1950 model of care to a person-centered care,” he said.
    State policy and market forces are driving the transformation. “States are finding alternatives to institutional care. Part of it is a genuine perception that people want to remain in their homes rather than be in an institution,” Cucinelli said.
    At the same time the state is seeking to restructure long-term care programs, which cost taxpayers billions, to save money, said Tom N. Allocco of the state Department of Health.
    The restructuring involves reducing the number of nursing home beds, but the state will always need nursing home beds, Allocco said. So despite tight financial markets and changes in reimbursements, the projects are proceeding. .......................>>>>..................>>>>...................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01103&AppName=1

what they fail to see is the care that goes into these places.....no one,,,,and I mean no one knows what goes on between 2 people.....the state will make you think you are safe and cushy....the fact is
it's a crap shoot.....staffing levels and folks to do this kind of low wage entry level job are far and few between.....

honestly until you are the person having the poop and pee cleaned from you and your cloths being cleaned you have no idea----no one does.....and the only competent and compassionate way to
take care of someone is 1:1.....REALLY.....it wont matter how much the 'new institution' looks/feels like home....the fact is that the cost of 1:1 or even 1:2 care is NOT affordable.....
one generation took their parents $$ so 'the government/nursing home wont get it' only to find they and their kids now have to 'backpay' for everyone.....

shuffling the house of cards........that is what it amounts too......unless the folks doing the care get paid more than warehouse workers with ALOT more education-----honestly.....

Quoted Text

Glendale Home serves vital role in Schenectady

    Re Feb. 2 editorial, “An alternative to building new nursing home”: Suggesting the reimbursement of private assisted living facilities to replace Glendale is a very bad idea.
    Glendale has a long-standing foundation of delivering excellent health care to low-income residents of Schenectady County. It makes sense to continue this tradition even if it requires the building of a new facility.
    Private assisted living facilities could not handle the load of future low-income county residents. Furthermore, these facilities are reluctant to accept Medicaid recipients, especially those with extensive needs.
    The daily residency rate at Glendale is approximately 85 percent Medicaid. Therefore, there is no way that these private facilities could survive having to match this percentage. Private facilities have a place in Schenectady County, but not at the expense of Glendale. Therefore, Glendale should continue as the prime nursing home facility in Schenectady County.
    Finally, I would prefer the spillage of red ink that Glendale has put into the equation of cost-effectiveness.

    NICHOLAS D. PROCINO, M.D.
    Schenectady

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00506&AppName=1

Who pays for the expenses that Medicaid doesn't cover, I'll bet it's the taxpayer.

Medicaid is the taxpayer

But what are the choices?  Close Glendale?  what do you do with the patients?  Send them to more expensive facilities?  Do you reliaze that Medicaid pays for residents' stays at all the private facilities too.

Nursing homes cost about $12,000 per month.  Wife has uncle, never married, but he worked, paid income taxes, owned a home for decades and paid property etc taxes.   Had a stroke.  He was getting SS pension and that went to pay for nursing home, but it was only about $350 a month, I think he could keep $40 a month.  He was in a very good private facility locally, highly rated, good "marks" on the report card of nursing homes if you will.  Staff was very good, paid better than in Glendale (so much for alleged high union wagees), and better staffed.  Care was superb.   Yes, inititally his house was sold and any cash in the bank was used up.  Then medicaid tookover and paid for almost 25 years!  

Now, would it have been better for uncle to be required to live with elderly frail brother who could not physically take care of him?

Or should one of the two nephews or three nieces be directed to quit their job, lose their house without an income  and stay home on welfare to take care of uncle and raise their children simultaneously unable to save for chidlren's college?

Or turn uncle over to a homeless shelter?

What do we do?  

MC there is no easy solution to the problem as far as nursing home care for the elderly. My next door neighbor has his wife in Glendale and it's costing him $9000 a month until he runs out of money and then Medicaid will pay for his wife.