"Scandia village not just for the wealthy" from the August 24, 1978 Door County Advocate and a subsequent advertisement
By JOHN KAHLERT
Scandia village not just for the wealthy
By JOHN KAHLERT
As it goes about trying to raise $75,000 in "seed money" to build Scandia Village, a retirement center in Sister Bay, the board of directors of SCAND has been dismayed to learn that many people are under the impression that this project is for "the rich." Nothing could be further from the truth.
The nursing section of Scandia Village is the most important part of the Center as the need for this kind of care is crucial and immediate. One wing of Scandia Village will provide nursing care for 60 patients.
In order to be admitted to the nursing center the only requirement will be that the person is sick and his doctor feels that nursing care is needed. This will be the only requirement whether the patient is receiving some kind of public aid or is a millionaire. Illness, not income, will determine his admission.
Of course somebody must pay the bill. Certain people may be able to do this from their own funds or through insurance. If they are receiving Social Security, Medicare funds are available. If they have no other resources the cost will be paid through Medicaid administered by the County Department of Social Services.
These are the same procedures which apply at the Dorchester or any other nursing home. .
Another section of Scandia Village will consist of an apartment complex containing 50 efficiency, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. To occupy one of these apartments a person (or couple) must pay an entrance fee which will vary from $17,000 for an efficiency apartment to $23,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and $36,500 for a two-bedroom apartment. The only other requirement is that the applicant (or one member of a couple) be 62 years of age or over.
In a sense people do not "buy" an apartment. What they buy is the right of occupancy for as long as they live and can take care of themselves. They have equity in it for seven years. This means that if they cease to occupy the unit for whatever reason, one-seventh of the entrance fee will be refunded for each year they do not use it. The occupant cannot rent it or leave it as part of his estate. The apartment remains the property, of the Center and when vacated permanently will be made available to another applicant.
If a resident becomes ill and requires nursing care he will be assured of care in the Village's nursing center. The Center will not be able to care for acutely ill persons but a person who requires hospital care can return to his apartment or to the nursing center as soon as his condition permits. One of the great things about Scandia Village is that anyone who takes up residence can be assured of a place to stay and receive proper care for the rest of his life.
Scandia Village is a not-for-profit project. No federal funds are available to assist with its construction or maintenance so income must cover expenses. Thus each apartment occupant will have to pay a monthly service fee which is estimated to range from $290 to $475 depending on the size of the apartment and the number of occupants. It is estimated that in addition to the entrance fee, a family should have an annual income of $5,000 per person. This is less than the maximum amount of income permitted to applicants to Bay View Terrace, a government subsidized, low income housing program. Anyone with this amount of income could scarcely be labeled "rich." However, it is not fair to compare Scandia Village with BayView Terrace as they are separate, very different programs. The elderly have a variety of needs and the community ought to provide a variety of programs to meet them.
SCAND believes that Scandia Village will offer a unique residential and health care center and as such deserves community support.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the "seed money" needed to get Scandia Village started is invited to send a contribution to SCAND, Sister Bay, Wis. 54234.
From the November 2, 1978 Door County Advocate
Both are courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
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