Hospital/Nursing Home Lease Issues Decided

April 5, 2009

Dear Editor,

Kudos to the Hospital District Board, Banner Health, and all involved in the successful negotiation of the new hospital/nursing home lease.  Thank you for your diligence as you grappled with some of the thorny issues of health care in our county.

Now, next agenda item is the future of care for the aging in Platte County…what a chance we have to do it right!  I believe that if we look only at the issue of  “the nursing home”, we will have squandered an opportunity to do something really great for our grandparents, parents, and our own futures.  I hope that the various agencies involved in providing care to seniors will collaborate so that Platte County could develop or implement a comprehensive model of care and resources that will be accessible to all.  Some people just need a little help to stay in their own homes safely, others need assisted living, some may need more care for a temporary period of time until they can return home, and, of course, there are some people who can no longer care for themselves who require a long term care facility.  Funds are not limitless, but maybe there’s a way to craft a public/private partnership that will maximize the benefit of the funds that are available.  I certainly don’t know all the answers or even all the questions, but I would encourage each and every one of us to become involved in the discussions.

Again, thank you to the Hospital District Board members for your service and good luck as you lead us in the future!

Ann Harris
Wheatland, WY