Plans for Glendale Nursing Home available online

Schenectady County has posted on their website the plans for a new Glendale Nursing Home. On the site you can see video of the Glendale public hearing, photos of the County Legislators who were present, and see the drawings for a new facility.

Below you can read a letter by County Legislator Dr. Brian Gordon explaining the history of the nursing home discussion:

Two myths have been perpetuated about the Glendale nursing home discussion.

The truth is, the issue of a new Glendale home has been discussed by the Legislature and the community at length over a period of years, and preliminary site plans were first presented on May 28, 2008. The Gazette has been covering this topic since 2005.

Plans exist for a new Glendale Home, including preliminary renderings of a new facility which were available at a public hearing Feb. 12 and at the most recent Legislature meeting May 12. The drawings can also be seen on the county Web site. The bond authorization voted May 12 is also part of the plan.

To say “serious” discussion has not occurred is disingenuous. In 2005, we explored several options, including regional approaches for a combined nursing home with Albany County. We ultimately decided it best for Schenectady County residents to construct a new home. The first Certificate of Need application was authorized by the Legislature in November 2006. Serious discussion occurred again Dec. 14, 2006, when a resolution rejecting the Berger Commission recommendations was approved. On June 28, 2007, we authorized the county manager to submit a preliminary implementation plan to the state Department of Health.

In fact, serious discussion occurred four more times. And let us not forget the public hearing held Feb. 12, attended by nearly 200 people.

Schenectady County needs the Glendale home. On average, there is a 99 percent occupancy rate at our skilled nursing facilities. Due to the increased number of patients in need of skilled nursing services, and the decreased availability of beds in the county, hospitals have had to place patients more than 50 miles away — away from their families, who in many cases will never see their loved one again due to the necessary travel.

Glendale serves residents that may not be as attractive to other private facilities, as evidenced by Glendale’s payer mix of 78 percent Medicaid, which is higher than the county’s other facilities. Glendale works directly with Ellis Hospital to take complex cases that other facilities will not, particularly those with cognitive issues such as dementia.

The county Legislature has deliberated for years on the Glendale issue. We have finally decided to develop a new, state-of-the-art complex. It is our moral and ethical responsibility to care for those in need, and to assist those who cannot help themselves. The new Glendale is being built with those goals in mind.

Brian Gordon, M.D.
District 3 County Legislator representing Niskayuna, Glenville, and Scotia
Co-chair of the Glendale subcommittee

Schenectady County Democrats support Glendale Home

Democrats on the Schenectady County Legislature unanimously voted in support of a highly needed new Glendale Nursing facility to protect our senior and disabled population who need skilled nursing care. For over three years the county Legislature has discussed, debated, and been updated on various proposals. Last Tuesday night was the culmination of these discussions and the beginning of another public process to see the development of final plans and construction.

Recently, the county Legislature held a public hearing at the Glendale facility to allow families, residents, health care professions, and the general public to comment on the proposed new facility. Click here to see what the public has said.

Sadly, not a single Republican county Legislator even showed up to hear what the public had to say. Instead, Republican Minority Leader Farley proudly led his delegation to a political fundraiser while residents of the Glendale Home came out to speak about their future, share their fears, offer their hopes, give insights into their care, and provide hospitality in their home. Maybe their purposeful absense is why the entire Republican minority joined with the new national Republican Party mantra and declared itself the "Party of No" by voting against this important facility.

What the Public Has Said

A key priority for Democrats is ensuring seniors and others in need of skilled nursing home care can receive that care here in Schenectady County. On Febuary 12, Democrats on the County Legislature called a public hearing and the response was overwhelming. Over 200 members of the public attended the public hearing and expressed support for continuing to operate Glendale and building a new facility, which will compliment the outstanding care provided there. Over two hours of testimony were given about the importance of this facility. Doctors and nurses, Democrats and Republicans, families and patients, all came together to express the continuing need for Glendale and building a new facility.

Without Glendale, many families of the patients have told their Legislators that they would be forced to send loved ones to facilities hours away and, in many cases, even out of state. During the critical winter months, when hospital admissions spike, health care professional have warned that without Glendale surgeries could be delayed and the local public health system already strained by the Berger Commission recommendations would be further burdened.

Members of the public also have stressed that the project will provide a major boost to the local economy by creating construction jobs during the tough economic times of the Bush Recession.

Listen for yourself to what the public has to say:



Hubert H. Humphrey famously said, "The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped." Schenectady County Democrats have taken this challenge to heart by defending the Glendale Home from repeated Republican privatization schemes that would have resulted in closure. Now, County Democrats continue to demonstrate their commitment by working toward building a new facility that will enhance the already high quality care provided at Glendale.

Public shows support for Glendale Home

At Thursday evening’s public hearing, members of the public showed their support for continuing the Glendale Home and building a new facility. Over 200 members of the public attended the public hearing and expressed support for continuing to operate Glendale and building a new facility, which will compliment the outstanding care provided there. The project will also provide a major boost to the local economy by creating construction jobs during the tough economic times of the Bush Recession.

Without Glendale, many families would be forced to send loved ones to facilities hours away and, in many cases, even out of state. During the critical winter months when hospital admissions spike, surgeries could be delayed and the local public health system already strained by the Berger Commission recommendations would be further burdened.

Hubert H. Humphrey famously said, "The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped." Schenectady County Democrats have taken this challenge to heart by defending the Glendale Home from repeated Republican privatization schemes that would result in closure. Now, County Democrats continue to demonstrate their commitment by working toward building a new facility that will enhance the already high quality care provided at Glendale.



Click here for more news coverage.