Nursing Home is a necessity that shouldn’t be sold

To the Orleans County Legislators:

We were born and raised in Orleans County and have resided and raised our families here. We are concerned over the proposed sale of the Orleans County Nursing Home “The Villages.” Not only would we not own the Nursing Home, but it would break up the beautiful complex of County owned buildings which is a great asset and pride to the residents of Orleans County.

In the past few years, the facility was updated to the beautiful 4-star rated home it is today which added more revenue than was anticipated. It is staffed by many local people who give loving care and respect to the residents and their families. If it is sold, will Orleans county residents still be admitted there or sent to the city where they know no one and their families are not nearby to visit often?

Has all been done to bring in more revenue, or have you just given up trying and decided to sell it? What about A and B wings just sitting there mostly idle, could they be renovated for more income? One thing that is way out of line is the amount we pay for garbage disposal verses the little we pay for the nursing home. Most would not object paying the same amount for both.

This facility is not a luxury but a necessity for our senior citizens of Orleans County who need that kind of care. It’s time to stop predicting what might happen to the reimbursements in the future and tell us what our county services actually cost. It’s time to let the tax payers of Orleans County decide the future of the Villages and not let such a big decision be made by just six people who seem to turn a deaf ear to the people they represent.

I, (Theda) worked at Orchard Manor for eleven years as a medication and Treatment LPN, a few years after it was built and administered by a local family. It was a pleasure to work there and care for many local people I knew growing up. After I retired and for the last 20 years, I played the organ there once a month with “Sing-a-long with Theda.”

Over the years, I have seen the ownership change to the hospital and now to a private company. I now hear of many changes by the new owners from staffing to the small things residents enjoyed which are no longer available to them.

Please reconsider the sale of this great asset now owned by the county which you all had a hand in making the beautiful place it is today. Our seniors are counting on you to do the right thing for them and not sell “The Villages.”

Roger and Theda Millis
Waterport