Points To Consider In Support Of A New Our Island Home

To the editor: Island residents, if you were unable to attend any of the forums where the new Our Island Home and its place in the community were discussed, here are a few important points to consider:

• A Critical Need for Our Community: For many Nantucket families, navigating difficult healthcare decisions during changing healthcare circumstances can be overwhelming. It's vital to have local resources available.

• Ten Years of Careful Planning: The Town of Nantucket has dedicated a decade to studying and planning a skilled nursing facility tailored to our island's unique needs.

• Rebuilding On-Site: Despite best efforts, rebuilding/renovation at the current location will not meet new regulatory requirements.

• Understanding Bed Capacity: Please note, 45 beds in a skilled nursing facility do not equate to 45 permanent residents. The census is fluid, accommodating both long-term and short-term care needs.

• Short-Term Rehabilitation for Islanders: Our Island Home facility will continue to provide crucial short-term rehabilitation for island residents of all ages recovering from various conditions, such as orthopedic surgeries, strokes, and heart conditions, facilitating a supervised transition back home.

• Compassionate End-of-Life Care: A dedicated suite for end-of-life care will offer a private adjoining room for families to be close to their loved ones when a higher level of care than can be provided at home is necessary.

• Island-Wide Housing Crisis: Housing shortages affect all segments of our population, including elders and those requiring advanced levels of care.

• Adding Employee Housing: The project's cost includes moving existing housing (16 bedrooms) from the current site to the end of South Shore Road for town employee housing.

• Potential for Additional Housing: The project's cost also includes the potential to incorporate 6 more bedrooms within two Sherburne Commons cottages adjacent to the project.

• Private Funding: Securing an appropriate site, the cost of acquisition and the timeline make a privately funded facility unrealistic.

• The Importance of Local Control: Privately run facilities would not be mandated to accept Medicare and Medicaid, and admission decisions would be driven by the owner's financial interests.

• Prioritizing Our Community: A town-run facility like Our Island Home will maintain a commitment to serving the needs of our local Nantucket community.

• Preserving Our Community's Strength: The loss of a local resource like Our Island Home would weaken the vital social fabric and support systems that benefit the entire Nantucket community.

Friends of Our Island Home has a fund, titled Our Island Home Campaign Fund, set up under the Community Foundation for Nantucket to receive donations to help offset construction costs. This effort will begin in earnest once the project is approved and will continue throughout the construction phase. Naming opportunities will be available for donors who make significant contributions.

Kathy Grieder, President
Alison Forsgren, Vice President