This page was last updated on January 9, 2013.
Friendship Ridge needed; Lois Sestito; Beaver County Times; January 9, 2013.
Previous letters from Ms. Sestito were entitled “U.S. must change ways - and fast,” “Smokers violate others’ air,” “Address our real problems,” and “Bring U.S. troops home this year.”
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“Friendship Ridge is operated by hard-working professionals who go above and beyond every day.”
[RWC] “Commissioners should protect Friendship Ridge” is another letter on this topic.
“My daughter is a resident there, and I’m very satisfied with her care. Every service needed is available with no travel needed. They have shopping trips and activities, many of which involve volunteers. It is easy to forget that these residents are retired workers and veterans who have paid taxes.
“As for the nurses and aides, they provide professional, personalized care and truly care about their patients. Money is tight these days, but we cannot afford to not have Friendship Ridge. We have elected officials who are capable of finding the money needed to help.”
[RWC] Back in 2010, Ms. Sestito wrote, “Our government can’t and shouldn’t provide every service imaginable.” Ms. Sestito was absolutely correct, so why does she appear to believe Beaver County needs to own and operate a short-term/long-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility?
“The real question is ‘Does anyone care?’ What if your loved one needed 24/7 care that you cannot provide? I encourage both elected officials and members of our community to volunteer at Friendship Ridge and see first hand the wonderful things they do.
“Incidentally, my daughter is only 51 years old. No one plans to be in a nursing home, but life is unpredictable. What would you do if you or a loved one needed long-term care, but there was nowhere to go? Think about that.”
[RWC] As for “nowhere to go,” there are at least six of these facilities in Beaver County (including Friendship Ridge) and over the years I’ve had the opportunity to visit all of them. My parents spent time in three of these facilities.
Beaver County should sell Friendship Ridge, or phase it out should there be no buyers. The issue isn’t whether or not Friendship Ridge provides a good product or that it may be “operated by hard-working professionals who go above and beyond every day.” The issue is Beaver County should not be in the medical care business, whether it breaks even or not. It might be different if there were no private-sector service-providers for this market, but that’s not the case.
© 2004-2013 Robert W. Cox, all rights reserved.