Questions and Answers for website views

Thank you for visiting the Albany County Nursing Home CARES website. This Q & A section is designed to give viewers answers to some frequently asked questions regarding this website and matters related to Albany County Nursing Home and the Professional Staff Association.

If your questions are not answered here please feel free to submit them via email to the following address:

webmaster@albanycountynursinghomecares.org

Is this the official website of the Albany County Nursing Home?

No, this is not the official nursing home website set up by Albany County. This site was created in the fall of 2011 by the nursing home's Professional Staff Association (PSA). Its purpose is to tell our story, serve as an employee resource for news and information, and to recognize the talents and contributions of our dedicated and caring membership. To visit the nursing home's official site and learn about the admissions process, employment and other matters, select http://www.albanycounty.com/nursinghome/

What is the PSA?

The Department of Residential Health Care Facilities Professional Staff Association or PSA for short was organized in 2003 at Albany County Nursing Home. Its Constitution was written and accepted by the membership on April 16th of that year. It is affiliated with the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and its national affiliates (AFT/AFL-CIO). There are approximately 80 members.

What does the PSA do?

The PSA membership fills a variety of diverse needs at Albany County Nursing Home. Their roles range from providing direct care and services to the residents to maintaining the building and grounds. The PSA staff includes managers/supervisors and directors and professional staff working in the areas of Admissions, Resident Care, Pastoral Care, Buildings and Grounds, Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Recreational Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Dietary Services, Nursing, Pharmacy, Store, Social Work, Volunteer Services, Leisure Time Activities, Computer Programming, Clerical, Fiscal Operations, Medical Records, Food Services, Central Supply, Laundry Services and Security.

Who oversees the PSA?

According to the ACNH Professional Staff Association Constitution (pdf) adopted in April, 2003, the PSA elects an Executive Committee made up of the following officers: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and various Building Representatives. The officers serve two-year terms. The Executive Committee is required to meet at least once a month and has the following responsibilites:

• Approve an annual budget and act upon expenditures as may be required;
• Act on policy matters for the organization between the meetings of the general membership;
• Make policy recommendations to the remembership for their consideration.

 

Who are the PSA officers right now?

To view a list of PSA officers, see their photos and read their bios, click here.

Why does the PSA need a website?

During recent years of uncertainty over the future of Albany County Nursing Home, may members expressed concern that they didn’t know where to turn for quick and accurate information. Many were forced to rely on news reports, which were few and far between. This website was designed to provide PSA membership with information that is instant, pertinent as well as newsworthy and entertaining.

How did the website get its name?

Where did the name come from? The acronym C.A.R.E.S., which stands for Caring About Residents Every Second, was chosen because, simply put, that is what the Professional Staff Association does as an organization.

What does the website offer ?

Some of the features viewers will notice after logging on to www.albanycountynursinghomeCARE.org are:

• Quick links to staff resources, legislative contacts, NYSUT postings, officer information, local news articles, and the Albany County Nursing Home official website.
• Archived information about “Where we’ve been,” “What we’ve accomplished,” and “Our promising future,” which documents our long history as a facility and organization, our triumphs in the face of adversity and the challenges that lie ahead.
• A large, full-color revolving photo gallery slide show featuring various ACNH programs, activities and events, as well as PSA staff in action.
• Regular features highlighting a staff member, resident or resident’s family story, ACNH department, volunteer efforts in the community, and the actions of the Albany County Legislature and County Executive’s office, etc.

 

Why is Albany County Nursing Home in the news so much?

Albany County Nursing Home, now nearly 40 years old, has a long and winding history. Since the turn of the century and, in fact, before the PSA was even created, county officials and lawmakers have debated its future. They've gone from one end of the spectrum to the other — considering everything from closing the home all together to building a new, modern facility. Those debates have captured the attention of the Capital District media, which have generated many a news story over the years. This website has archived many of those stories in a timeline you can access by clicking here.

I heard the nursing home is going to close, is that true?

No. There was a time not too long ago when the Albany County Executive had proposed closing Albany County Nursing Home and replacing it with in-home care services for the elderly and disabled. Those who needed the services of a nursing home would received private home placements.

But the PSA organized to fight this move, realizing that closing the nursing home would have cost 385 jobs and left 240 elderly residents without a place to live. Many residents would not have been accepted elsewhere because their care would be considered too complicated. Most County Legislators agreed, and on December 6, 2010, they voted 36-2 against closing the nursing home, and even further, to send a certificate of need to the New York State Department of Health to finally build a new facility. A special legislative facilities committee was formed to oversee the project.

You said the PSA organized to fight the ACNH closure. What did you do?

There were actually two separate campaigns launched by our membership. The first time the Albany County Executive proposed closing the nursing home in 2009, the PSA launched a billboard and postcard mailer campaign to advocate for saving the nursing home. That seemed to work when the ACNH funding was restored in the budget by the County Legislature.

Then, a year later in 2010, the nursing home closure issue raised its ugly head again when the County Executive once more did not include funding in his 2011-2012 county budget. This time the PSA knew it had to do more to engage our representatives in serious dialogue on this issue and tell our side of the story. It was time, once and for all, to put an end to this threat of closure year after year. So, in October, 2010, our membership launched a well organized, strategic campaign to get our message out and preserve services and care for needy county residents. This included speaking before the Legislature, writing an Op Ed piece and Letters to the Editor in local newspapers, holding community roundtable discussions, and distributing 50,000 position paper brochures to Albany County residents as an insert in the Times Union. To see the whole story read the PSA President's October blog.

Who is on the County Legislature's special facilities committee to oversee the new nursing home's design and construction?

The Albany County Legislature appointed the committee membership. It consists of seven (7) members of the Majority Conference and two (2) members of the Minority Conference. To view a list of members and their contact information, click here.

When will the new ACNH open and where will it be?

At the present time, the Albany County Legislature is awaiting approval from the NYS Health Department for the go-ahead to begin the planning, design and construction process. The application is for a 200-bed, modern facility that would be building up the road from the existing ACNH at the site of the former Heritage Park baseball field near the airport in Colonie. Planning and construction could take up to two years. Visit this website often for project updates.

Who do I contact if I have further questions/comments?

If you have questions about the new county nursing home project, meeting schedules, etc., please contact the Office of the Albany County Legislature by phone at (518) 447-7168 or visit the website at: http://www.albanycounty.com/legislature/

If you have questions about Albany County Nursing Home, the admissions process, employment or other matters, please contact the nursing home by phone at (518) 869-2231 or email at ACNH@albanycounty.com. Visit the website at: http://www.albanycounty.com/nursinghome/

If you have questions about the PSA or matters regarding the membership, please see the contact information at the top of the home page or click here.

If you have comments about the website, stories ideas or other input please contact the news editor by email at: webmaster@albanycountynursinghomecares.org.