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Attend meetings on Green Acres

To the editor:
Because a dear friend is in Green Acres Country Care in North Branch, I visit the facility on nearly a daily basis.ÝI see hard-working staff and volunteers doing their utmost to care for the ailing and frail.ÝBut I also see how hopelessly out of date this facility is to serve the needs of today.
Nursing homes these days are a far cry from what they were 20 years ago, as far as the needs of the residents are concerned.ÝThe majority of residents are in nursing homes on a temporary basis while receiving therapy following surgeries or strokes. The permanent residents are older and sicker than ever before.ÝPeople live at home or in assisted-living facilities, maintaining independence as long as possible, before going to nursing homes.ÝThis is the case at Green Acres too.
As I visit my friend, I notice that room conditions are crowded. There is no place to put anything, two beds and a couple of wheelchairs about fill the space available.ÝSpeaking of wheelchairs, the hallways are far too narrow for people to safely wheel themselves around, and the majority of residents use wheelchairs these days.
The elevators are on their last legs and so is the heating and ventilating system. And bathrooms? Theyíre too small for residents to manipulate a wheelchair in, if theyíre so lucky as to have toilets by their rooms.ÝSome people have to put up with commodes, which means somebody has to empty them.
An architect hired to assess the building says it would cost nearly $10.5 million to remodel Green Acres to serve todayís nursing home population, and about $12.5 million to replace it.Ý(By the way, the contracted architect has no stake in the proposed new facility.)
It seems that the current structure could be renovated for office space, perhaps, but itís a costly operation to remodel it to meet nursing home standards for service and safety.
There probably is little doubt that something must be done.ÝOne critical facet of the decision to remodel or replace is location. The current proposal to build a new Green Acres west of Tanger is controversial, and Iíve mulled it over in my mind for weeks.ÝI took into consideration the land that Chisago County owns at the current site, the costs of remodeling or replacing, the kinds of services demanded today and the lifestyle of the frail elderly residents. Iíve decided that the Tanger location is a good one.
One plus to the location is that the Fairview North Branch Medical Clinic will attach there, truly a huge benefit to residents and their families.ÝI know only too well the cost of transporting a sick resident to medical care.ÝHaving medical care available on site would be great.
Also, although Iíve always thought the current Green Acres site to be calm and serene, Iíve come to realize that itís beautiful but boring.ÝOnce youíve looked out the window and seen the trees, they all look alike. The residents hover around the nurses stations to people watch. If I ever get to the nursing home, I want to look at the traffic and I want to see life moving. I donít mind dying, but I donít want to be bored to death.
I know the question of utilizing and/or selling the current building and site looms large.ÝMany justifiably worry about residential growth in North Branch.ÝHowever, growth could be restricted on this acreage without halting the growth in North Branch at all.ÝThere are 36 square miles in North Branch to be concerned about growth.ÝThe new 20-acre site near Tanger is a transition area between commercial and residential areas.ÝAs currently zoned, the new site could hold several hundred apartments and truly a growth concern.
The Board of Social Ministry, which has managed Green Acres for 17 years so far, would continue to lease and operate the new facility, guaranteed for 10 years.ÝAt that time, the county could get completely out of the nursing home business by sale to BSM for the debt outstanding at the time.ÝNo taxes will be assessed to Chisago County residents, the new facility will be funded, as allowed by the state, by a projected $15-per-day increase to the nursing home residents.ÝMy friend will gladly pay the 15 bucks for the quality of life and security the new facility will offer.
You can tell a lot about a society by the way it treats its elderly population. Our grandparents deserve the best we have to offer.ÝTheyíve given their best for us. There are many meetings and hearings planned regarding the proposal for Green Acres.ÝIíve attended a couple of them.ÝPlease attend one and see what you think.
Twyla Ring
North Branch

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