CCHS assited living facilities close to opening

DAYTON-On Monday, Columbia County Health System CEO Shane McGuire led The Times on a tour of one of the four cottages at Rivers Walk Assisted Living. The nearly completed cottage we toured was the "Palouse," which will soon house the memory care residents currently living at the Booker Rest Home. The new buildings provide all the same safety requirements but are quieter, brighter, and feels more homelike.

"Palouse" has ten spacious and airy apartments. There are nine single occupancy rooms, and one larger room for a single or married couple. There is an activity room, a kitchen, and a large communal living/dining area. With the hospital facilities close by, It is not far for staff to deliver meals from the hospital's Dietary Department.

Individual rooms have bathrooms with toilets and sinks; however, there is only one tub and shower room for the cottage.

McGuire wanted to dispel any rumors about residents bathing together.

"Nobody will shower together," said McGuire who pointed out that as an assisted living facility, residents are not safe bathing without staff aid.

The lucky residents living at "Palouse" will be allowed to exit the facility and enjoy fresh air and sunshine in a secure courtyard, something they can't currently do at the nursing home.

And what a view! The cottages are adjacent to city parks, and the river levee is just steps away.

"It's not jail," McGuire said. "If they can get up and walk, they can go for a walk."

Otherwise, staff can take them for a walk.

McGuire said no additional staff would be required than are currently working at the nursing home. Health care will be provided by Health Care Aides, rather than Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), and a Registered Nurse (RN) will be on duty to dispense personalized packets of medications – no cart needed.

Other cost savings can be realized at the new facility. For instance, Medicare will now cover the cost of certain durable medical goods, otherwise not covered.

Unlike some facilities where costs increase with the number of added services, McGuire said the rate at Rivers Walk Assisted Living would be set.

"It feels like bait and switch," McGuire said about those other facilities. "You get in for this introductory rate, but then all of a sudden, there are all of these other charges. We just want to be transparent. We are hopeful that it works and that the community supports it."

Payment to CCHS for residency at the facility would be either through self-pay or Medicaid.

McGuire said the cost to those who self-pay would be $275 per day. The state would pay up to $140 per day per individual and $250 per day per couple for those on Medicaid. McGuire noted that 70 percent of the residents currently living at Booker nursing home are on Medicaid.

The CCHS expects a large aging population in the community, at least through the years 2040-50, and more housing of this type will be needed.

But for now, the goal is to have the ribbon cutting for these four units soon and to become proficient at operating them.

A virtual tour of the homes is being developed on the Hospital District's website. After the grand opening in September, the nursing home residents will move to their new digs.

McGuire addressed concerns from a few in the community that the CCHS may be expanding too much.

"The problem with a really small health system is it places a bigger burden on the taxpayers," he said. He told The Times that when he took over as the CEO in 2016, 11 percent of the funding for operations came from the taxpayers. Because the District developed new initiatives and added new services, the taxpayer's share is now down to 4.5-percent.