The Albany County Legislature faces one of its most important decisions in decades. Should it lease the Albany County Nursing Home to United Services Group, continue to operate it despite increasing deficits, have the state take over the facility through receivership or close it altogether?
The nursing home raises concerns with an aging infrastructure in need of repairs. It is operating at an annual deficit that will exceed $100 million over the next decade. We must begin the analysis of our options with a bipartisan legislative goal, which should be to provide our elderly with needed care. We must assure them and their families that they will have the ability to receive treatment in a quality health care facility.
The County Legislature must be realistic in surmising that taxpayers will be burdened with massive increases if we are to keep the nursing home running as is. We cannot afford this option.
If the nursing home goes into receivership, we leave the long-term financial and operational workings of this facility in the hands of New York state. County residents in need of nursing home treatment now become dependent on another level of government for care.
The best option is to lease the Nursing Home to USG — a private company approved by the state, which specializes in operating and administering these facilities. The lease provides our residents needed care, and the county its best alternative to address massive financial deficits.
If a lease is approved by the County Legislature, residents can look at savings in excess of $100 million instead of deficits. More importantly, our residents can be assured of a quality health care facility for themselves or a family member. So, despite some unsubstantiated claims to the contrary, the lease addresses the needs of residents and taxpayers.
USG has also agreed to provide safety net measures and continue to provide care for the indigent and hard-to-place residents of Albany County. It also agrees to recognize union participation.
Seniors who are dependent on the facility for care and county taxpayers who are subsidizing the facility's operations deserve immediate resolution and an end to legislative stall tactics. The County Legislature should stop hindering completion of the final lease, as all other options are not in the best interest of the residents of Albany County.
Christine Benedict is the Republican minority leader of the Albany County Legislature.