Seniors: Keep Crest Haven County Run

CREST HAVEN — Are Cape May County senior citizens preparing to mount a campaign to spare Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and home health aides from private operators?
Both county-run operations seem to be among the departments that may be privatized as a cost-saving measure to trim future taxes, although nothing has been finalized.
At the freeholders’ March 23 meeting, two seniors and a home health aide addressed the board. All expressed similar concerns over the possibility of losing county control of those two entities to private hands.
Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and home health aides, serve a large senior citizens population, and come under the directorship of Freeholder Gerald Thornton.
He has been shunned by board peers and the county Republican organization for reelection, and announced his intention to seek the GOP nomination in the June primary election.
Thornton made a point to thank those who spoke, and added, “I didn’t know any of you were coming in here. This was not a setup here. I want to make that plain.”
Patricia Henry, a clerk in the Home Health Care Division, directed a comment to Thornton. “We appreciate all the work you have done for the health and welfare of your constituents.”
Citing the privatizing of the county Youth Shelter, Henry said she hoped the “trend in privatizing does not continue to the nursing home and health department.”
She turned to look at some fellow workers in seats behind her and said, “These people sitting here tonight are living, breathing human beings, not dollar signs to make decisions to privatize.”
Henry cited the blossoming “baby boomer” generation, which will begin to require ever-increasing amounts of home nursing and possible nursing home care.
“Home health services are needed more than ever,” she said. “These people cringe at the thought of asking for help.”
“Once strong,” she said, “They have faith in their governing bodies. They fought for the independence of others. It is unfortunate some have reached a point where their bodies have betrayed them,” said Henry.
She cited the important of home health care in the well being of those people who “benefit emotionally and psychologically” by staying in their homes and enjoying the privacy and independence their homes afford.
“The cost of keeping a person in a nursing home is three times that of staying at home,” said Henry, citing American Association of Retired Persons’ statistics.
“It is unfortunate our program is up for bid or lease,” Henry said.
A task force found the division lost $500,000, she said. She then cited the county’s purchase of the Beesley’s Point Bridge for $1, which now carries an estimated cost of $32 million to repair. “Imagine how much health care that could have bought,” Henry said.
Marina Bay Towers, North Wildwood resident Joseph Bakanowsky related how, five years ago, his wife, was a patient in Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center when it was rated five stars by federal standards, and now has an overall rating of two stars.
“Something went wrong in the last year. Something is not right there,” said Bakanowsky.
He wondered why the state spent $70 million removing the traffic circle in Somers Point, yet this county let its nursing home and home health staff falter to the point of having to hire an outside administrator on a six-month contract basis.
“Home health care is a vital service. We should be getting money for this stuff. I don’t know why it’s not getting here,” he continued.
He cited the “dedicated staff” which is “interested in working.” He urged freeholders to seek federal dollars to help fund the center and home health nurses.
He warned against private operators, and cited the Wildwood Water Company sale to a private company, which subsequently was repurchased by the city.
“For the first time, senior citizens will be banding together,” said Bakanowsky.
“The time has come we all must work together. Social Security was cut and Medicare increased. The time has come for us to speak as one,” he continued.
“In the future, Crest Haven Nursing home may turn into an agency,” he warned.
To address those concerns, Bakanowsky asked for “two spokespeople from each (senior citizens’) building, such as Victorian Towers, Marina Bay Towers, Lions Center, Sandman Towers, etc. come to a meeting to give us your opinions.
“Our opinion is now that the most important thing is saving Crest Haven Nursing Home and home health agency or put the money ($32 million) for the bridge to nowhere,” said Bakanowsky.
Bonnie McNamara, also of Marina Bay Towers, told freeholders she was “Concerned for the home health care workers who work hard with seniors and youth in Cape May County.”
McNamara cited nurses who visit the Towers’ residence and noted that they are “such a wonderful group. We see them come in and take care of these people. You cannot give these people pink slips. It would be the biggest loss to Cape May County in all time.”
The staff, “fought like troopers to hold it together, not because of politics, but because they really care about these people. To give pink slips to all these people is a slap and punch in the face to every senior citizen and to everyone in Cape May County,” said McNamara.
Thornton responded to their concerted comments by saying the “Numbers were very difficult.”
Regardless, Thornton said, the board’s decision was that no more money be placed into replacements at the nursing center or home health aides.
Because of that, the license (certificate of need, valued at $2-million or more) for the home health division was placed in jeopardy. For that reason a central Jersey organization was hired to administer the program until a final decision is made regarding its future.
Thornton said he had heard “rumors about the nursing home” privatizing, “But I don’t know anything other than the rumors,” Thornton said.
Because of the present outlook on funding, Thornton said, “There is not a lot to do but struggle along.”
He lauded the staff at the center and home health division, and singled out the certified nurses aides for praise, since they have “the lousiest damn job in the county…I couldn’t do it, but thank God there are people in this county and nation who do.”
“The staff is the best staff I have ever seen in my life,” said Thornton.
“We tried to find a reasonable alternative for the home health agency, but the battle is over,” said Thornton, “Unless they said Gerry we support you and will make that agency work, but I heard nothing but the contrary,” said Thornton.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com