The League of Women Voters of Albany County is concerned by the Legislature's inability to decide on the Albany County Nursing Home privatization. The county needs a timely viable solution for the costly nursing home and a plan that will care for all county residents who require long-term care — not just the fewer than 200 living in the nursing home.
The data have always and continue to illustrate the high burden placed on taxpayers by this facility. According to publicly available data, the county home lost $117 million between 2001 and 2011; is estimated to have lost another $12.4 million in 2012; and is already looking at a $2 million loss for the first three months of 2013.
With the expansion of Medicaid, long-term managed care and other potential federal and state changes, county-operated nursing homes will face even greater challenges.
County funding for the in-home and community-based services for those needing long-term care have been severely cut and waiting lists grow. With 45,000 seniors living in the community, more county resources should be invested in home care and support programs to keep many of our residents out of institutions. Most frail people can and prefer to receive long-term care at home and in community-based programs.
Instead of focusing on limited solutions revolving around the county nursing home, we should be discussing ways to efficiently build on existing programs and create the best balance of long-term care services.
Mary Berry
President, League of Women Voters of Albany County,
Delmar