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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977 11-09 Ramsey County measures needs for new nursing home THE REVIEW RamseyCounty measures needs for new nursing e- home f1 9/ 10177 by Pam Thorsen competiiton with private nursing homes presently fully developed with lawns and because the home should provide care for related plantings. All utilities are "The old gray mare,she ain't what she those with"special"problems.These are presently in existence and contain suf- used to be," said Hal Norgard, Ramsey problems that sometimes cannot be dealt ficient capacity to accept the proposed County commissioner in reference to the with in a private nursing home. The-- facility." Ramsey County Nursing Home at 2000 report cited examples of alcoholism, "It's a good location," said Norgard, White Bear Ave. in a recent interview. psychiatric problems, extreme bad "close to shopping,bus service,churches A new$3.6 million facility at the same temper, heavy care patients and and recreation." Those who are interim site has been proposed to replace the old, comatose patients. The home also would patients will have the opportunity to make he said. This is not a new proposal. In be expected to meet the needs of use of these advantages. 1970, the State Health Department emergency and short term situations in The Commissioner said the closing of examined the nursing home.According to connection with the Ramsey County state facilities recently makes the need a proposal report, they found the home Welfare Board. for this new home even greater. was "obsolete, did not meet new state Seventy-five nursing homes in the Twin "We also work closely with Ramsey physical plant standards or the standards Cities said they could not be responsive to Hospital," he said. "This might be con- of the Minnesota Life Safety Code." handling the needs of those type of sidered an annex to the hospital in a patients because of lack of proper sense." Following that inspection, the Ramsey facilities, personnel and the conflict it The cost estimate of $3.6 million, ex- County Welfare Board set up a study may have with other patient care. plained in the report, was arrived at by committee to make recommendations for The report indicates that the county using the Welfare Department's Rule 49. the future of the nursing home. After sees their role as providing for problem, "Rule 49 sets out construction cost study, they recommended the present short-term and emergency situations limits per bed for nursing homes. If a facility not be remodeled.They suggested only. Because of this, the 360-bed home is built at a cost which exceeds the a new 360-bed nursing home to provide recommendation by the first study limits of Rule 49, the depreciation on the comprehensive medical and social health committee was considered to be too large. excess cost is disallowed when services serving all ages of the county The present 216-bed home has an ap- calculating the rate the home will be population. proximate occupancy rate of 95 percent reimbursed for government assistance The Board of Ramsey County Com- according to the report. After reviewing patients. Similarily, if the total in- missioners, after examining the the population at the home in light of debtedness of the nursing home exceeds recommendations, requested further recommended patient characteristics, the construction cost limit,the interest on study, "to determine which areas of the board determined 180 beds would be that portion which is in excess of the nursing home care would most ap- adequate for present and future needs, limits is also disallowed. propriately be a function of Ramsey The proposed home would be located on "The present construction cost limits County," according to the report. the same property only further back from per bed are $16,406 per bed for double They concluded that the Ramsey White Bear Avenue,The 12.17 acres being occupancy and$24,608 per bed for single County Nursing home should not be in considered is"located on high ground and occupancy." t.r x. •, a A, . , , pe00'4'**"*".44.•^04. +" . •"‘" � l- 77 00k o' ' „..''''''''' 10 .i '• .f- °-1,-„1,•,),,,' . t&—t....,' - „, : .,<- .,,r.. , ,,,r!....: ./141111111111111T ,. . jiiiiii.,.., _ . A REPORT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH indicated the Ramsey County Nursing Home,2000 White Bear Ave. "obsolete,inefficient,did not meet state physical plant stan- dards or the standards of the Minnesota Life Safety Code." ivod 9, /9.22 Q. (21114-u-"2-) The report further said that the Health Department requires that for new con- struction a minimum of five percent of the beds must be in single occupancy rooms. Thus the estimated cost for 170 bedsis $2,789,020 and 10 beds at single occupancy is $246,080. In addition, there is an estimated$250,000 cost for demolition and $350,000 for fees and contingencies.Total cost for the project is$3,035,100. Norgard said the unit will be self- sufficient. Many people have been working in the direction of the new home for several years. Representative Richard Kostohryz and Senator Jerome M.Hughes are very supportive of the project,he said. Payment of the project will be by the issuance of county bonds authorized by the legislature.The issuance will have a reverse referendum clause.That means (if within an allotted time period) five percent of the registered voters may petition to stop the project. Letters from nursing homes in the Twin Cities were included in the proposal supporting the need for the new home. "In my judgment,the Ramsey Nursing Home performs a unique and valuable service to a specialized kind of client and I believe, with the background of ex- perience that is housed within that staff, this program should continue,"said A. Luther Moberg, president of Ebenezer Society in Minneapolis.