Maintaining Valley View

I was watching Valley View Home’s community input for support of the upcoming mill levy vote for funding the nursing home the next few years.

There was one comment from a gentleman that indicated we did not maintain the building over the previous years. Well, let me give you some insight as to what we did in the twenty years I served at Valley View Home and how we invested back into the building that opened in 1969.

In 1993, a new addition and remodeling of the nursing home was completed. The main focus was the new entry, lobby, activities, beauty shop, conference room and administration offices that cost approximately $900,000. Of that amount, $500,000 was borrowed from the four local banks in Glasgow and the note was paid off within fifteen years.

In 1997, to provide additional space and comfort for the residents, our special care unit (Sunshine Square), was created with $400,000 in construction and remodeling cost.

Our heating and air conditioning systems were upgraded. The facility’s air handling system, which supplies the fresh air into the building, was replaced. This is one of the main reasons residents, families, and visitors find it so pleasing to visit Valley View Home.

We replaced carpet throughout the building twice. It is higher maintenance to have, but it provides a pleasing setting and homelike environment for those who live and work there.

Our emergency generator was starting to malfunction, so it was replaced with a much larger system that powered the entire building at a cost of $193,000. Even in short outages we were concerned that operations of the nursing home would be compromised in the nursing and dietary departments. The nurse call system and fire panel were updated or replaced due to its age and to comply with new life-safety codes.

All furniture in the resident rooms was replaced as it was in bad shape or coming apart, along with kitchen appliances, bathing systems, and the washer and dryers in the laundry. I know I am missing other examples of re-investing into the nursing home, but to say we did not is very misleading. We spent over $2 million repairing or replacing equipment or building construction.

Yes, the facility roof needs to be replaced. We had Thiel Brothers of Sidney do some roofing repairs when needed. However, when looking at the purpose of the mill levy, it is the essential funding that is needed to help maintain the operations of the nursing home and its endeavors.

Another participant at the meeting asked if we ever got involved in talking with our legislators regarding funding, mainly Medicaid. We had been talking with our representatives ever since I arrived at Valley View Home. We also had meetings at the Cottonwood or at the nursing home. I served on the Medicaid Task Group which re-designed how facilities are reimbursed. Our contact with elected officials or State agencies was throughout the year, every year, not just during legislative session.

There were a few years where Medicaid funding was suitable. However, in Gov. Schweitzer’s last term, he vetoed a rate increase that had been approved by the legislature. Then, in his first term, Gov. Bullock vetoed another bill that would have provided additional funding to nursing homes. This year, funding for long-term care may actually be retracted due to the lack of revenue coming into the State coffers. Even though I am not in Glasgow, I stay involved by contacting our legislators and visiting with State agencies regarding the issues affecting nursing homes across Montana.

Basically, the majority of nursing homes in Montana are in the same situation as Valley View Home. The average census of nursing homes has declined over the last twenty years. This is mainly due to home care services or development of assisted living centers such as Prairie Ridge Village. We did a review of our admissions and found the length of stay to be less than one year. Residents are going into nursing homes with more acute health problems, thus, shorter length of stays. The days of having a waiting list vanished years ago.

Tom Markle stated we had one of the nicest nursing homes in Montana. He is correct in that statement. But, I will carry it further. Valley View Home, for what it offers, is one of the best facilities that I have visited from New York to California. With the majority of rooms being single occupancy, the environment of living at Valley View Home is greatly enhanced for the comfort and privacy of the residents.

The development of Valley View Home began in the late 1950’s by the Soroptimist organization. Through their efforts, along with community business leaders, they provided a health care facility that residents of the area have access to other than going to Wolf Point or Malta. I too support the mill levy to ensure Valley View Home’s viability for the people of Valley County and surrounding areas.

Tom Klotz was the administrator at Glasgow's Valley View Home for 20 years.