Published: May 09, 2008 11:07 pm         

County to assist nursing home with anniversary celebration

The Hampshire County Commission will assist the county nursing home in celebrating its 15th anniversary this year.

Commissioners Don Cookman, Steve Slonaker and Robert Hott told Hampshire Center Administrator Michele Abruzzino they believe the employees of the center, some of whom have been there for the entire 15 years, have worked hard and deserve recognition.

The county is providing $9,500, funds to be taken from the retained earnings account that accrues from the operation of the nursing home.

Abruzzino said the operation of the facility is unique among nursing homes. Genesis HealthCare is the operator of the county-owned center building, providing periodic reports on the physical plant, a plan for major capital costs and annual costs of operation.

She said the building is in good shape and they have been replacing things as needed to keep it that way.

A new roof has been budgeted and will likely be installed this year as a 30-year replacement with gutters.

Abruzzino provided a review of routine expenditures, major capital improvement plans and the Genesis three-year plan for the facility and programs.

Routine expenditures in-clude a need for new peddle chairs, an icemaker and a floor buffer. She said they also want to install a computer for residents, add some folding tables and a conference table for a total of $27,900.

“In addition, we’ve added $3,100 for an emergency fund,” she said.

She said major capital is any project or expenditure over $5,000. There is a three-year plan that prioritizes those expenditures.

“We still need to get the televisions for the rooms and a steamer for the kitchen,” she said.

Abruzzino said parking is an issue during special events when visitors must park in the grass. “We want to add 15 parking spaces,” she said.

New washing machines will also be needed. “We replaced the dryers last year,” she said.

“We also need a new walk-in cooler and freezer,” she said.

The total cost of the major capital items for 2009 is $191,500.

Items identified in the three-year plan for 2010 and 2011 are office furniture, fence replacement, van and bus replacement, general renovation costing about $400,000 and landscaping.

The total for capital expenditures for all three years from 2009 through 2011 is $781,000.

Abruzzino said the 62-bed nursing home has done very well the last two years and the company expects to do well again this year.

Cookman said the current balance of retained earnings for the county is $3.1 million and the county uses the money for a wide range of health- related programs and facilities.

“Some of it is set aside for emergencies but we try to use it to benefit the health and wellness of our citizens,” he said.

The Romney swimming pool, Wellness Center, Capon Bridge Park and water and sewer infrastructure are some of the things that the retained earnings money from the nursing home has gone into, he said.

The commissioners agreed that the nursing home and the relationship with Genesis HealthCare has been a profitable one for both in the county.

Contact Mona Ridder at monaridder@verizon.net.