Bethlen Almanac 1997 (Ligonier)
The Bethlen Home
which means, each year we must request a waiver from the Department of Health in order to occupy them. Each year this becomes more difficult due to the extreme care needed by more disabled residents, upon admission, which means the rooms diminish in size even more because of the required equipment to meet their needs, i.e., oxygen concentrator, walkers, geri-chair, wheelchair, i.v. therapy. This year we again submitted our request to the Deparment of Health which was approved. My staff is challenged by the Federal guidelines “concept” of Quality of Life care, and see a major change in “just taking care” of our residents, to improving their condition and abilities, sometimes with the result of having them return to their homes. We now and always have provided excellent nursing care. I am proud and pleased to tell you that our recent standard survey, which lasted six days, was completed by the Department of Health, and they found that our nursing home is in substantial compliance with the participation requirements. This means, we are a “deficiency-free” nursing home. We were so happy and proud that an Appreciation Day for all the departments was planned on March 11th with sandwich platter/macaroni/potato salad, cake and drinks for each shift. The Activity Department requested a grant from the Ligonier Valley endowment for the purchase of “hand bells” in the amount of $2,000 and was approved as was a donation of $7,900 from the Hungarian Reformed Evangelical Church. Ongoing repairs, maintenance and upkeep, and the air conditioning which was completed in the dining room at a cost of $6,629. The rubber roof over the front entrance was replaced at a cost of $1,700 as well as three activity room windows $ 1,825 and four dining room windows which had deteriorated and were not working, and parts were unavailable, at a cost of $2,133. Old covers over the bed tables were replaced at $1,187. Side rails purchased for the beds $1,500. A new outstide grill was purchased for the activity department for use on the patio as well as a new stove in the activity room $300. A steamer was purchased for $4,750 and disposal for $775 in the Dietary Department. The hot water heater in the east wing was replaced at a cost of $2,631.81. Miscellaneous such as wheelchairs, mattresses are ongoing. The original boiler in the west wing, dating 1954/ 1964 was replaced. The cost was $18,380. A fax machine was purchased in the administrator’s office as well as the telephone system renewed. The six-year-old telephone system was updated at a cost of $4,509.57. 42
