There once stood an awning at the entrance to the Saratoga County Nursing Home, but Maplewood Manor has been without this simple structure since a storm destroyed it two years ago.
But in many ways that absence is among the least of the nursing home’s worries, as Saratoga County officials continue to debate the future of the facility. In April, County Administrator Spencer Hellwig mentioned in an address to the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Southern Saratoga the facility has been experiencing “multi-million dollar operating losses” for at least the last eight years.
There may not be much that one person can do about the nursing home’s deep financial woes, but for one Ballston Spa woman the loss of the awning was a call to action.
Regina Rosera of Ballston Spa would visit her mom at Maplewood Manor often and was concerned about the absence of the awning. She took it upon herself to find out why it hadn’t been replaced and is doing something about it through what has been dubbed The Awning Project.
“There was talk for a long time” about how to replace it, Rosera said. “There was just no way they (the home) had money to replace it.”
Rosera is a retired teacher from Ballston Spa and actively stepped in to help replace the awning, which she described as an important feature. She said in the summer residents enjoy the chance to see part of the “real world” going on, even if it is just people coming in and going out, and the awning would shield them from the elements.
With the help of other volunteer family members of residents, Rosera is making some headway in collecting $24,000 needed to purchase what will be an all-metal structure. Past awnings have been canvas and have lasted only a few years at a time.
To date, over $5,000 has been raised, mostly through basket raffle sales.
Rosera has had a lot of positive response from area businesses that have supplied gift certificates and other items for the baskets. Each raffle sale brings in about $900. She also organized a recent garage sale at the home that yielded $3,000.
“The residents had a great time. It was a lot of fun for the residents who can no longer enjoy going out garage sale-ing,” said Brown.
Maplewood Manor Administrator Diane Brown said the awning is considered a “priority issue” by the County Board of Supervisors, but it is not at the top the list and would likely never be considered a “maintenance issue.”
“Even if it (funding) was approved, something more urgent would probably come up,” said Brown.
While the Awning Project is being assisted by volunteers in the Resident Association, the effort is not officially attached to that group or the money is raises for social activities. Social activities at Maplewood Manor have been funded by the Resident Association for most of the home’s history, which dates back to 1972.
Brown said it has always been the policy that social activities, which run about $8,000 every year, be paid for by the association. Money for activities is not available through Medicare or Medicaid, and as such need to be raised by other means.
The association raises its money through bake sales and raffles at events that include a Car Cruise and one of their biggest events of the year, Country Fest/USA Day.
This year’s Country Fest/USA Day will be held on Wednesday, June27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Maplewood Manor and is open to the public. The Car Cruise is set for Thursday, July 26.
For more information on The Awning Project, contact the administrative offices at Maplewood Manor at 885-2218 or inquire by email to [email protected].