New county health care facility opens
By MARY PERHAM THE LEADER

PHOTO BY MARY PERHAM THE LEADER At left, last week's ribbon cutting ceremony inaugurating the new Steuben County Health Care Facility. From left: State Sen. George Winner; legislators Ken Isaman, Robert Nichols and Philip Roche; Assemblyman James Bacalles, Leg. John Walsh and facility Administrator David McCarroll.

BATH - The new Steuben County health care facility opened for business last week with a ribbon cutting ceremony and an open house for local dignitaries, professionals and the media.

It was a week of celebration and looking forward. And it also was a week that may not have happened.

Nearly four years ago, Steuben County legislators were facing tough economic times - and an even tougher crowd, as supporters of the county health care facility filed into the legislative chambers in July 2004.

With a financial reserve rapidly draining due to the high cost of operating the original 105-bed facility on Mt. Washington, and already low state funding in flux, legislators were considering selling or leasing the facility.

But residents there had other ideas.

"I realize it is a hard job for you to decide what to do with us old folks, but you are going to be old someday yourselves," Phoebe Hughes told the Legislature as she stood at the public comment podium. "But with all the taxes that I have paid over the years, I deserve a little bit in return… I realize there is a lot of expense to it but there is a lot of expense to the (jail) prisoners, too, and they are being taken care of."

Hughes, a number of other residents such as Virginia Smith, Marie Van Skiver and Cecilia McChesney, the families of residents and union leaders spoke out strongly on the benefits of the county-operated nursing home. And after a vigorous debate, legislators turned down, 10-7, a last-minute proposal to look for more offers and then unanimously rejected the single purchase proposal the county had received.

Within months, plans to build a new facility were back from a year-long hiatus, with experts predicting state funding would improve.

Van Skiver and McChesney have passed away since the day they lobbied the Legislature for their home. But Wedn esday, Smith, formerly of Canisteo and a facility resident for eight years, and Goldie Webster, of Prattsburgh and a resident for the past five months, toured

their new home.

Both women inspected the place during the leisurely walk-th rough, peering around corners and peppering facility Administrator David McCarroll and Director of Nursing Raellen Melius with questions.

"I'd want this (seat) to be a little higher," Webster told Melius.

"Yes, dear, it will be," Melius said.

The new facility is more spacious and filled with light, with the residents' rooms larger and the kitchens and offices smaller.

"This is all about putting them first," McCarroll said. "This is about comfort and dignity."

The tour took in semi-private and private rooms, new common rooms with fireplaces and game tables, nurses' stations, and a bath area that includes a state-ofthe art, accessible tub. The new "no-lift" facility also has equipment installed to help staff to easily move patients.