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A long and proud history for the ACNH PSA.
View the headlines that shaped our history
This timeline of events captured through local headlines and media reports from 2005 to present offers a chronological history of the news that shaped the future of Albany County Nursing Home and its dedicated employees — the Professional Staff Association.
october, 1973
Albany County Nursing Home opens
Albany County Nursing Home opened new to the public in October, 1973, when residents of the Ann Lee Home were transferred to the new facility. It was haled as a $9 million, national award winning state-of-the-art facility for its time.
July 6, 2005
Nursing home venture floated
Officials from Albany and Schenectady Counties announced Tuesday they have embarked on a joint nursing home venture that could entail a new facility to accommodate residents from both counties and ease the taxpayer subsides needed to keep current outdated homes operating.
November 28, 2006
NYS Department of Health releases Berger Commission Report
The Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century issued a set of sweeping recommendations to restructure the hospital and nursing home systems in New York State and reduce excess capacity that plagues these industries. The recommendations address one-quarter of all hospitals in the state and will reduce approximately 4,200 hospital beds statewide, representing around 7% of current supply. Nearly fifty hospitals will be restructured and nine will be closed. In addition, the nursing home recommendations will make highly-targeted reductions of approximately 3,000 beds, almost 3% of the state’s supply, while creating home and community-based alternatives to nursing home placements. In many cases, facilities closed or downsized will be replaced with facilities or services better suited to the needs of the local community. Approximately one-third of the recommendations reflect voluntary initiatives developed by providers with the Commission’s active encouragement and assistance.
- Berger Commission Report (pdf)
- Berger Commission Report press release (pdf)
- Berger Commission summary (pdf)
january 18, 2007
Union members rally to keep hospitals public
Berger Commission recommendations became law as of Jan. 1
With legislators failing to act on the Berger Commission recommendations before the Dec. 31 deadline, SUNY hospitals in Syracuse, Brooklyn and Stony Brook continue to face privatization; nine other hospitals around the state are that much closer to closure. About 400 union members and health care workers took to the steps of the Capitol in December, urging lawmakers to reject the commission's call for privatization. In a rally peppered with color and noise — yellow plastic clackers, shouts of "Just say no!" and a palette of bobbing umbrellas shielding health care workers from rain — workers recounted stories of patients who will be harmed and future health care providers who could lose out on educational opportunities.
February 27, 2007
Commission moves could hurt elder care
NYSUT continues efforts to protect public nursing homes and SUNY hospitals
For three centuries, visitors to New York have been greeted by the famous Emma Lazarus poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, which reads, in part, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses." If a controversial nursing home merger recommendation is implemented in Albany County, that promise will now be delivered with a qualifier: "at least until our beds are full."
May 11, 2007
County Should Fight Berger’s Suggestions
The recent news articles about the downsizing of the Ann Lee Home and the Albany County Nursing Home should be or great concern to all county citizens and legislators, many of whom do not seem to understand the gravity of the situation or the county’s legal responsibility.
- Read More (pdf)
August 13, 2007
Legislature establishes special Albany County Nursing Home Facilities Committee
The Albany County Legislature passed a resolution to establish a special Albany County Nursing Home Facilities Committee to exercise legislative oversight for all issues relative to the planning and construction of a new Albany County Nursing Home facilities.
September 11, 2007
Nursing home project advances; Albany County Legislature hires firm to draw up request for bids
Paving the way for construction of a new county nursing home, lawmakers approved hiring a Rochester architectural firm Monday night to help prepare requests for bids.
January 25, 2008
Ann Lee Home residents move out five months early
Five months earlier than planned, the last resident of Ann Lee Home was moved Thursday to the Albany County Nursing Home as the merger of two long-term care facilities was completed in under a year. Marilyn Picarazzi, 76, was wheeled across Albany Shaker Road to her new home as her husband, Louis Picarazzi, also 76, of Selkirk, looked on. His wife had been at Ann Lee for about 11/2 years, he said. "It's the end of an era," he said. "After 80 years, they finally closed the place. Everything went off fine."
July 2, 2008
Berger Commission recommendations finalized, Ann Lee Home is no more
Berger Commission: Merge with Ann Lee Nursing Home, downsize by at least 345 beds for a combined total of 250 beds, rebuild a unified facility, and add financial support for non-institutional services. Last patient transferred January 24, 2008; operating certificate surrendered January25, 2008.
March 15, 2009
Nursing home critical for county
While Schenectady County seniors and other people in need will soon have a new nursing home, Albany County , after a decade, is still flapping in the wind.
June 3, 2009
A letter from Charles E. Houghtaling, Chairman, Albany County Legislature
I understand that resolution No. 205, calling for the development of plans for a new county nursing home, has been introduced to the Albany County Legislature. Understand that is may be the subject of discussion at the next caucus meeting and in the June meeting of the Legislature, I felt it was important to bring you up to date on some developments.
June 7, 2009
Elder care on county's agenda
A major step in the debate over the future of Albany County's long-term elderly care comes Monday night. County legislators are ready to approve a measure that would push County Executive Mike Breslin into outlining
his plans for long-term care of the elderly, including the building of a new nursing home.
June 8, 2009
Don’t let Mike Breslin close the Albany County Nursing Home
by Michael Conners
Albany County Legislators found out this past Thursday that Albany County Executive Mike Breslin and New York State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Richard F. Daines began secret negotiations to close Albany County Nursing Home in March of this year.
June 9, 2009
Nursing Home Bill Wins Approval
County Legislators unanimously passed a resolution Monday night calling on County Executive Michael Breslin to develop plans and present them in 90 days for a new facility to replace the current nursing home.
June 21, 2009
Older Citizens an Asset, Not a Burden
The Times Union recently reported that the Capital Region’s median age is above the national figure. Throughout New York, we face a daunting demographic challenge. There are more people over age 50 in our state than under age 5. Soon, those over 85 will outnumber the preschoolers.
July 5, 2009
Home Care Too Unpredictable
Letter to the Editor
Recently, there have been reports about the future of Albany County Nursing Home, including the possibility of closing it and not building a new one. That would mean sending residents to other facilities (even out of state).
July 13, 2009
Nursing home plan is needed
Letter to the Editor
The June 24 letter “Breslin supports long-term care” missed the mark about Albany County’s need for a new nursing home. County Executive Mike Breslin has demonstrated his inability to provide nursing home leadership throughout his tenure.
July 17, 2009
Nursing home is long overdue
Letter to the Editor
In response to the article, “make home care the norm,” elderly and disabled people living home alone can be vulnerable and lonely.
August 30, 2009
Affordable care for our seniors
Fred LeBrun Column
Government dramatically changing how health care is administered is a nuclear issue for a wildly divided public. Congressman Tonko got blasted about it last week during a dismal and offense town meeting in Delmar.
September 3, 2009
Nursing home provide safety net
Letter to the Editor
I am writing in response to the August 23 article, “Practical solutions for long-term care.”
September 8, 2009
Unions fight to save Albany County Nursing Home
Albany County Nursing Home employees are launching a postcard and phone call campaign to keep the 250-bed nursing home open.
September 10, 2009
County Executive Proposes Long Term Care Plan That Supports Choice, Independence
Plan Expands Home and Community Based Services
Albany County Executive Mike Breslin joined by New York State Office for the Aging Commissioner Michael Burgess and County Legislators Lucille McKnight and Ryan Horstmyer has announced a comprehensive long term care plan that would create more choices for people to live independently in the community.
September 10, 2009
A letter from County Executive Michael Breslin to Nursing Home employees
Over the last several months I have been developing a comprehensive long-term care plan for Albany County. Today, I have delivered my recommendations to the Albany County Legislature and I would like to take this opportunity to outline the details of my plan to you.
September 10, 2009
Breslin: Close Nursing Home
Using the Watervliet Senior Center as a backdrop, Albany County Executive Michael Breslin said today that he is prepared to close the Albany County Nursing Home.
September 11, 2009
Breslin: Shut county nursing home
Staff and residents of the Albany County Nursing Home were in tears as word spread that County Executive Michael Breslin planned to close the facility under his plan to provide community-based long-term care to the elderly in their homes.
September 14, 2009
Fighting for county nursing home
Three women are regulars at the monthly meetings of the Albany County Legislature, at which they advocate on behalf of the county nursing home.
September 19, 2009
Breslin’s speech was fine, his vision unrealistic
Letter to the Editor
I give Albany County Executive Michael Breslin credit for the nice words he spoke while proposing to close the Albany County Nursing Home, keeping the elderly in their homes. The reality of doing this is a completely different thing.
Fall, 2009
Metroland Online: Time to Build?
Proponents of a new nursing home in Albany County score a minor victory. On Monday, Albany County legislators Chris Higgins (D-District 6) and Lucille McKnight (D-District 2) were targeted with dinnertime candlelight prayer vigils by small groups of protesters in front of the legislators’ homes. These protests were organized by SEIU 1199 to put pressure on the lawmakers to support the construction of a new county nursing home.
September 24, 2009
Nursing home plans differ: Marking split with Breslin, County Legislature panel says it wants new facility built
After hearing Albany County Executive Mike Breslin present his plan to replace the 37-year-old county nursing home with community-based home health care for the elderly, a lawmakers' committee has called for construction of a new skilled nursing facility instead.
October 1, 2009
Nursing home design offered
Albany County legislators to consider plan toward building a new facility
County lawmakers took the next step toward a new nursing home Wednesday night, presenting a schematic of a complex with several buildings, including assisted living and adult care facilities on the same campus as the nursing home and other amenities.
October 5, 2009
Albany County unveils nursing home design
Albany County has presented a five page, computer generated, schematic design of the Albany County Nursing Home in the US. The 250-bed Albany County Nursing Home on Albany Shaker Road was built in 1974 in favor of a comprehensive plan for community-based health care for the elderly in their homes. The nursing home houses several buildings, including assisted living and adult care facilities along with nursing home and other amenities, on the same campus. Gary Domalewicz, chairman of the committee, was reported stating that the drawing represents the future of elderly care in Albany County, adding that a rehabilitation unit and assisted living facility would generate money for the county.
October 6, 2009
Nursing home debate continues
Letter to the Editor
I am writing in response to the October letter about whether to build a new Albany County Nursing Home. It seems some people just aren’t listening.
October 6, 2009
Times Union Perspective: A new county nursing home?
Four people speak out on how to best provide long-term care in Albany County.
October 10, 2009
Poll: County residents want all options
Prompted by the recent debate over whether to close Albany County Nursing Home in favor of home health care, AARP conducted a survey which showed county residents want it both ways.
October 11, 2009
Nursing homes offer needed care for many
Letter to the Editor
Albany County Social Services Commissioner Vincent Colonno’s made the point that aging babyboomers want to remain independent in their own homes and communities. I want to remain home as long as I can myself. However, as someone who visits the Albany County Nursing Home, I see the reality that many of the residents served cannot remain in their own homes.
October 12, 2009
County homes have high quality
Albany County Executive Michael Breslin stated in his October 4 commentary, “We can do better than offer facilities of last resort,” that he has been working with local nursing home operators to dedicate beds for our “hard to place” residents and their families.
October 14, 2009
Breslin says county cannot afford to operate and maintain ACNH
While County Executive Mike Breslin waits for the amendment to his plan for long-term care, which includes the construction of a new skilled nursing facility, to arrive on his desk, Breslin said the county cannot afford to operate and maintain the facility that Albany County Legislators are proposing through the amendment that was passed at a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
October 14, 2009
Lawmakers: Build new nursing home
County legislators delivered a triple whammy Tuesday night to Executive Mike Breslin — voting overwhelmingly and sending the message that he revise his long-term health care plan to include a new nursing home, fill empty beds at the current home and stop furloughing county employees one day a month.
November 11, 2009
Unions fight to save nursing home – Billboard, postcard campaign readied
Albany County Nursing Home employees are prepared to launched a billboard advertising campaign to promote the need to keep the 250-bed nursing home open.
January 28, 2010
Metroland magazine feature on Breslin plan
As Albany County charts the course for the future of long-term care, the executive proposes a controversial direction Sitting at a conference table inside the Albany headquarters of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, certified nursing assistants Doris Jourdanais and Polo Ranggel are discussing their day-to-day responsibilities at Albany County Nursing Home. Ranggel is peeling and eating a Clementine. “I gotta getall the nourishment I can get when I can get it.” He just got off the 7 to 3 shift.
February 3, 2010
Nursing Home Debate Sharpens
The debate over the Albany County Nursing Home and a spinoff issue – that of county residents going out of state to find a facility when no beds are available at the county home – intensified this week.
February 9, 2010
County to Hire Nursing Home Expert
County lawmakers took the first step Monday night in the construction of a new nursing home by agreeing to hire a consultant to examine the finances of the current facility and explore various designs and costs for a new one.
February 23, 2010
Nursing Home Transfers Add Up
Earlier this month, County Comptroller Michael Conners argued too many county residents were being placed in out-of-state nursing because of a lack of beds in Albany County. On Monday, he produced additional numbers that showed 768 people were placed in facilities in other counties across New York.
March 17, 2010
No Private Sector or Public Sector Nursing Home Utopia
By Phil Steck, Albany County Legislator
I attended the opening meeting of the Coffee Party in Albany. The majority of attendee cited the loss of civility in politics as the issue that prompted their involvement.
April 5, 2010
Conners proposes new Albany County nursing home
Albany County Comptroller Mike Conners presented a plan to build a new $18 million Albany County nursing home. Conners says a new facility, properly run, will save the county money. Conners announced in February that more than 100 patients were sent to what he called inferior, out-of-state nursing homes and he wants that to stop. Conners says the proposed new state of the art facility, together with a new management team, would save millions of dollars in the long run and greatly improve the lives of the homes residents.
April 6, 2010
Albany County Nursing Home carries above average costs
A consultant found that the current Albany County Nursing Home, compared to other area facilities, has above average costs for food, nurses, laundry, and management.
May 1, 2010
Bradt named No. 1 health leader
Jeff Bradt has been beyond busy in the past seven years. He went from organizing a union in his workplace in 2003 to saving the nursing home where he works from closing in 2010. Honored on Friday as Health Care Professional of the Year at the RA, Bradt not only saved 80 jobs, he also saved homes for the 100 diverse residents of the Albany County Nursing Home, a long-term facility.
June 23, 2010
Don’t Sacrifice Nursing Home
Opinion Piece
I am tired of hearing Albany County Executive Mike Breslin mantra about how much the nursing home is draining the county budget. These questions must be answered.
August 8, 2010
Nursing home’s future unsettled
A resolution County Executive Michael Breslin needed from county legislators to apply for a grant for up to $15 million for the planning of long-term care of the elderly, including what to do with the nursing home, was sent to committee Monday night without a vote or discussion.
September 9, 2010
Home Game
Letter to the Editor
Your recent expression of support for Albany County Executive Mike Breslin and his “bold stand” on closing the Albany County Nursing Home in the face of a legislature “more concerned about embarrassing him” rather than “trying to right our fiscal state” is uninformed and therefore inaccurate.
October 8, 2010
Breslin 2011 budget proposal calls for closing nursing home
County Executive Mike Breslin presented his 2011 budget proposal on October 8, which drastically cuts spending by over $24 million to close a budget gap driven largely by a loss of revenue of nearly $40 million. The proposed budget also calls for closing Albany County Nursing Home. Breslin said, "The taxpayers of Albany County can only take so much. We must take action and be out of the nursing home business by the end of 2011. By selling County Nursing Home beds, we can achieve savings and increase the availability of Medicaid-eligible Assisted Living Program beds in our community, which are so desperately needed."
October 21, 2010
Albany County Nursing Home residents speak out
Residents of the Albany County Nursing Home are speaking out against it's proposed closure, saying if it goes through, those in need will have to go out of state to find a bed.
October 21, 2010
Facebook postings
We are advocates for Albany County Nursing Home
We have recently been made aware of the fact that a lot of Counties in NYS are trying to either privatize or close their nursing home facilities. PLEASE HELP US PREVENT THIS! County nursing homes take in all the people that private nursing homes do not want or have to to take in. Without them we will have a crisis on our hands in a few year, with people having nowhere to turn. Please help us make people aware of this crisis. We need to keep all county facilities operating in order to take care of the people left to fall through the cracks in our health care system.
What happens when there are no facilities left to take in the elderly and the young that are in need?
Street people, people with no families or monies. etc? There are no promises for these people, as decent human beings we need to make a voice loud enough for all to hear! Keep our County facilitys up and running. Running FOR THE PEOPLE who have lived, worked and paid taxes in these counties, or better yet - for those currently living, working and paying taxes that will need help in the future. Help them. Write your County Legislators and speak out please!
October 22, 2010
Nursing home supporters rally
Residents at the Albany County Nursing Home, taking aim Thursday at County Executive Mike Breslin, said they won't sit still and watch him sell or close the place they call home.
October 22, 2010
Nursing home residents react to possible closure
More than 200 nursing home patients may lose their homes if the Albany County budget gets passed. Our Erin Connolly spoke to some residents about the potential impact.
October 27, 2010
Letter to the Editor
ACNH only home that would accept me
I am an Albany County Nursing Home resident. Out of the very long list of nursing homes I applied to, it was the only one in this area that would accept me. If it closes, our many residents will have to find new places to go, which could be far away from our families and friends. County Executive Mike Breslin wants to close the nursing home and not build a new one. The building is old and needs many repairs, but the staff is excellent. I hope anyone who reads this will write to the County Legislature and ask it to keep our nursing home open. Albany is the capital of New York. We should have our nursing home. We all need a place to go that is nearby, and the Albany County Nursing Home is it.
I want to stay locally. If the nursing home closes, that may not happen for me and for many others. If I am hours away, I will not see my three sons that often and I don't think I will receive such an excellent level of care as I do here. Please help in keeping our nursing home open.
October 28, 2010
Times Union Publishes Moving Letter From Local Nursing Home Resident
I wanted to take the time today to draw attention to a letter published in Tuesday's Times Union. Entitled "Nursing Home Must Stay Open" and written by Albany County Nursing Home resident, Donna Lynn Mosley-Simpson, it contains a passionate plea to keep the nursing home open. County Executive Mike Breslin has been advocating for the nursing home's closure without any plan to building a new one to replace it. He has stated that the nursing home is too costly and that the County would save millions if it was to be closed.
November 1, 2010
Stop bashing Albany County Nursing Home
Letter to the Editor
There goes Albany County Executive Michael Breslin bashing the nursing home again. In his mind, operating the facility amounts to the “largest financial drain on county property taxpayers.” He has said so many times and has made it his personal mission to see the facility close by the end of 2011.
November 5, 2010
Professional Staff Association invites legislator and families to roundtable discussion on future of Albany County Nursing Home
We realize the uncertainty over the future of Albany County Nursing Home continues to raise concerns in the minds of many of you, who are worried about what type of care will be available for your loved ones in the future. To help our Legislators sort through this difficult decision that in turn will affect the lives of many, we ask that you join our nursing home’s dedicated staff at an informal evening of dinner and roundtable conversations.
November 16, 2010
PSA produces Question and Answer brochure entitled: “Life Support: What is the future of Albany County Nursing Home and its residents”
The Professional Staff Association of the Albany County Nursing Home produced a six-page, full-color brochure entitled, “Life support: What is the future of Albany County Nursing Home and its residents,” and distributed that report to all county residents through an insert in the Albany Times Union newspaper. The brochure, written in a question and answer format, tackled several of the issues surrounding County Executive Michael Breslin’s plan to close the nursing home from the view of the ACNH staff, residents and their families.
November 18, 2010
Professional Staff Association holds roundtable discussions on future of Albany County Nursing Home
The staff and families of the Albany County Nursing Home invited members of the County Legislature to a special informational forum to discuss the future of the nearly 40-year-old residential health care facility. About 40 people gathered at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center for an hour of roundtable discussions on a variety of questions.
November 28, 2011
PSA submits Op Ed column to Times Union for publication
Time has come to resolve ACNH issue once and for all
With the deadline looming for the Albany County Legislature to finalize and adopt the 2011 budget, the time has come to resolve the issue of the Albany County Nursing Home, once and for all.
December 6, 2010
Professional Staff Association membership speaks on behalf of Albany County Nursing Home at county budget hearing
Members of the Professional Staff Association spoke before the County Legislature advocating for the importance of the Albany County Nursing Home, its staff, residents and families.
December 6, 2010
RESOLUTION NO. 454: AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A CERTIFICATE OF NEED APPLICATION TO THE NYS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REGARDING BUILDING A NEW NURSING HOME
December 10, 2010
2011 budget approved by Albany Co Legislature saves some jobs, nursing home
If Albany County Executive Mike Breslin has any plans to veto the approximate $555 million 2011 budget passed by the county legislature this week, officials anticipate that he will do so today since the deadline is 10 a.m. Sunday. The budget, passed on Monday, comes with a 5 percent tax increase, 33 layoffs, restored programs, including those for early childhood development, and would keep the Albany County Nursing Home open.
December 14, 2010
Way cleared for new Albany County nursing home
Breslin pulls budget veto after pact with lawmakers saves 3 jobs
At an 11th-hour showdown, Albany County Executive Mike Breslin and legislature leaders, who at times have been at loggerheads, came to terms over the past two days on next year's $540 million budget and the building of a new nursing home.
December 15, 2010
Albany County Executive Michael Breslin reconsiders stances on county nursing home, 2011 budget
After recommending the permanent closure of the Albany County Nursing home for more than a year, Albany County Executive Michael Breslin now supports the construction of a new 200-bed facility.
December 16, 2010
Professional Staff Association thanks Legislature for approving 2011-12 county budget and supporting new nursing home proposal
Dear Legislator: I wanted to take a moment to thank you for voting in support of the Albany County Legislature’s 2011 budget at your meeting on December 6. Your vote, and the hard work of the Audit and Finance Committee, sends a clear message to County Executive Breslin and the people of Albany County that you support the residents, families and workers of the Albany County Nursing Home, and we are extremely grateful for that.
January 1, 2011
2010 summary letter to Professional Staff Association Membership
2010 was certainly an eventful and stressful year for everyone associated with the Albany County Nursing Home, especially members of our NYSUT work force.
February 8, 2011
Local action saves nursing home, jobs
Well-planned union activism helped convince the Albany County Legislature to keep the Albany County Nursing Home open, and to begin the process of building a new facility.
February 14, 2011
Budget cuts threaten health care services
With the largest cuts to health care services in New York's history looming, health care professionals, the poor and elderly are especially concerned that the level of care they give and receive will be severely weakened.
october 6, 2011
Third time's a charm for nursing home budget
For the first time in three years the Albany County Executive’s Office has presented a budget that does not call for closing ACNH. While the finances look bleak for the county in 2012, Albany County Executive Michael Breslin’s final budget proposal in his tenure does include funding for ACNH as plans proceed to build a new facility.
nOvember 1, 2011
Nursing home Professional Staff Association launches new website
The Professional Staff Association (NYSUT) at the Albany County Nursing Home launched a new website called Albany County Nursing Home C.A.R.E.S., which stands for Caring About Residents Every Second. The website ‘s purpose it serve as an employee resource for news and information, and to recognize the talents and contributions of the caring and dedicated membership.
