"SCAND reassesses needs of aged, seeks support for local project" from the August 25, 1977 Door County Advocate
By JOHN KAHLERT
SCAND reassesses needs of aged, seeks support for local project
By JOHN KAHLERT
The most ambitious project, like the longest journey, must start with a single step. The organization known as SCAND (Senior Citizens Agency for Northern Door County) is interested in the establishment of a retirement center for senior citizens that would include residential apartments and nursing care facilities. As a small first step it has acquired 24 acres of land within the village of Sister Bay on highway 57 northeast of the Sister Bay school. Its boundaries begin 420 feet back from the road because the strip along the highway would be more appropriately used for other kinds of development, but access to route 57 has been retained. There also is access to downtown Sister Bay about two blocks to the west.
When SCAND was organized in 1974 it began by discussing what community services were needed to enable elderly persons to remain in their own homes rather than enter a nursing home. The need for such services had come to the attention of clergymen and others who were aware that local people were entering institutions in other communities because there were no services available to them in Door County. Many could have remained in their own homes if they could have had a small amount of help. They would have been happier and the cost of their care would have been much less.
The provision of community services for the aged is still of interest to SCAND but many such services are beginning to be provided by the County Commission on Aging with state and county funds. What has become apparent is that while there is a need for community services to assist people in remaining in their own homes there also is an acute need for nursing home services as well.
The Dorchester in Sturgeon Bay constantly has a waiting list of from 20 to 45 applicants. The Door County Memorial Hospital has 30 beds in its extended care unit which it would like to use for hospital care if other arrangements could be made for its extended care patients. An estimated thirty to thirty-five Door County residents are living in nursing homes in other parts of the state - Algoma, Kewaunee, Green Bay and elsewhere, primarily because arrangements for their care could not be made locally. National authorities with whom SCAND has consulted advise that nursing care facilities are essential for a retirement center if long-time care is to be provided.
SCAND's initial plan called for the construction of apartments of varying size where residents could live completely independent lives except that there would be a central dining room and other auxiliary facilities, and a variety of protective and supportive services. It has now become apparent that both a nursing and a residential section would be desirable.
Apartments would be purchased by residents with their own funds as no government subsidy would be available. Although architectural plans have not been drawn up, it is expected that there will be studio. one bedroom and two bedroom apartments in a price range (if construction costs do not skyrocket) from about $16.000 for a studio unit to $30,000 for one with two bedrooms. In addition there would be a monthly service fee to cover the costs of building maintenance, 24 hour emergency service, health insurance, utilities, flat laundry, housekeeping, bus service and a variety of social, recreational and educational programs.
A person buying an apartment would buy not just a place to live but a home plus a program of continuous care as needed. In any emergency, someone would be on call. If he became ill, his doctor could visit him and short term nursing supervision
would be available. Each apartment would have a complete kitchen but to be sure that everyone has adequate nutrition, each resident would be required to have at least one meal each day in the central dining room. If he were indisposed, a tray could be brought to his apartment.
If longer-term nursing care was needed, he could be transferred to the nursing section on a short-term basis, returning to his apartment as soon as he were able to care for himself. If it were determined on a medical basis that continuous nursing care were required, he would give up his apartment and become a full-time resident of the nursing section. The center would not be able to provide hospital care: if this becomes necessary, the patient would have to be transferred elsewhere.
Residents would have equity in their apartment for only 5 years on a declining basis of 20 percent per year. If they give up their unit for whatever reason it would revert to SCAND for resale. Only in this way could such a center operate financially.
Nursing home care would be paid for by a combination of private funds, medicare, medicaid and insurance.
Sister Bay is an ideal location for such a center. Since there already are nursing care facilities in Sturgeon Bay, the need is in the northern part of the county. Sister Bay is the only village with community sewer and water services. It is the location of the Nor-Dor medical clinic which is being rebuilt and reorganized. It is the headquarters for ambulance services. It contains an active shopping center with a drug store, restaurants and various retail outlets. Churches are nearby. The village is interested in having such a project within its limits and has given tentative approval to the zoning changes that would be necessary.
There are several crucial but unanswered questions. One is how large the nursing section should be. Initially a 60 bed capacity was considered. but agencies dealing with such services in Door County including the Department of Social Services, the Department of Public Health and the Commission on Aging believe that the capacity should be larger
to serve the community adequately. In the last analysis, the size of a nursing facility, or even the construction of a nursing home, must have the approval of the Division of Health Planning of the Wisconsin Department of Public Health which has the responsibility for determining that new health facilities are located where they are most needed.
Another question is how large the apartment complex should be. This perhaps is not so complicated since a modest number of apartments could be built initially with additional units added as needed. A building containing 40 units has been discussed as a start.
Then there is the question of how the construction of the center would be financed. Local financial institutions have indicated their willingness to help, but a substantial down payment would be required. SCAND is a non-profit organization with no funds of its own. To secure funds for architectural and consultant services and for a down payment for long-term financing, it will be necessary to presell a substantial number of the apartments. The ability to do this will determine whether or not this much needed center will become a reality.
To aid in physical and financial planning. SCAND has retained an organization known as MED-FAC as its consultant. MED-FAC is one of the most prestigious such organizations in the country, having built some 250 facilities of this kind across the country. It is expected that they will be of great help as the project moves forward.
It is impossible to go into complete detail or answer all questions in such a statement as this. It is suggested that those wishing more information plan to attend SCAND's Annual Meeting to be held at the Sister Bay village hall on Tuesday, September 20 at 7:30 p.m. where there will be opportunity for full discussion. Among the items of business will be the election of board members.
The president of SCAND is John Harding, Ellison Bay. The Secretary is George Erickson, Fish Creek, and the Acting Treasurer is Wayne Williams, Baileys Harbor. The board of Directors consists of 15 members elected for rotating terms of three years.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
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