STULIGROSS: MANOR SALE

TO BE COMPLETE IN WEEK

INDEX – Otsego Manor, the county nursing home, will change owners Wednesday, Oct. 8, moving from public to private hands, county Rep. Kay Stuligross, president of the Local Development Council that negotiated the sale, announced today.

“Otsego Manor prides itself on being ‘home’ to all its residents. That doesn’t mean their home away from home, but the place where they really feel at home when they need skilled nursing care,” Stuligross said.

She stated that all the members of the LDC are confident that the quality of medical and nursing care will remain high and may even improve.  There may be small changes but residents should barely notice the change in ownership.

Joseph Zupnik, CEO of Focus Ventures, said, “I am very impressed with the level of professionalism and the caring spirit staff members demonstrate with their patients.”

He continued, “We encourage all employees to apply and help us grow.  Most have expressed a desire to join Focus and continue working at the Manor.  To insure a smooth transition and plan for expansion of services, we have begun discussions with the CSEA.”

In a year-long process, Otsego County considered all its options before reaching the conclusion that it could no longer manage The Manor in an efficient, cost effective manner, Stuligross said.  She pointed out that counties across New York State have reached the same conclusion regarding their public nursing homes.

Members of the LDC visited many privately owned nursing homes, some multiple times. They recognized that as much as Otsego County might wish the Manor to remain a County facility, privately owned nursing homes can provide excellent care.  After visiting and learning about Focus Ventures, the LDC selected Focus Ventures as the new owner of Otsego Manor.

Jean Pysnik, president of the Otsego Manor Resident Council and auxiliary member of the LDC said, “After attending recent Resident Council and Family Council meetings with Mr. Zupnik, we anticipate having the opportunity to work productively with Focus.  We expect that Mr. Zupnik and his team will keep open the lines of communication among the residents, family and staff.”

Otsego County departments have worked diligently with representatives from Focus to assure a smooth transition and the continuation of quality care. “The standard of quality medical and nursing care provided in a truly caring manner will be everything the residents, their families and the entire county expect,” Stuligross said.

Otsego County Board Chair Kathleen Clark said, “Eighteen months ago, with the realization that the financial burdens of operating the nursing home had become unsustainable; the county board began the painstaking process of finding a suitable buyer for the Manor. With the recent, Dept. of Health’s issuance of the Certificate of Need to Focus Ventures that mission is nearing a successful conclusion. I would like to commend LDC chair Kay Stuligross and all the members of the LDC board for their diligence and devotion during this process. We are confident that as a result of the untiring efforts of County Attorney Ellen Coccoma, the legal team from Harris Beach and key personnel from IT, Maintenance, Personnel and the Treasurer’s office the transition to private ownership will be effectuated smoothly. I also wish to express my gratitude to Manor Director Kurt Apthorpe and his team of dedicated men and women who have worked tirelessly to provide reassurance and quality care to our home’s residents throughout this process.