The News-Gazette editorial board weighed in on the county Nursing Home's plan to lease out some of its unused space to house a separated wing for drug treatment to Rosecrance, a local mental health provider that has acquired and expanded a variety of local services. More on that issue in the March COW post. Their support was not without reservations:
Bucks, but not big bucksFull editorial here.
Champaign County officials are in no position to turn down a request to lease out part of their nursing home. But the state is.
Given the Champaign County Nursing Home's terrible financial problems, it's no surprise county officials are willing to consider any offer that boosts cash flow there.
Still, it was a bit of a surprise to learn county officials are considering leasing a portion of the facility for use as an addiction treatment center for more than 20 patients.
Drug addicts mixed in with elderly and infirm nursing home residents? What could possible go wrong?
County officials, obviously, had the same concerns, and it looks as if the safety question will be adequately addressed if this plan gets off the ground.
Under the agreement, Rosecrance Health Systems will pay $16,860 a month to lease one wing of the nursing home for six months, possibly longer.
That's a pittance compared with the nursing home's debts of about $4 million to its vendors as well as the county itself. But it's better than nothing.
If these two operations can be conducted simultaneously and safely within the nursing home, fine.
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