Several modernizations and improvements are scheduled for the Albany County Nursing Home, which will be bonded over the next two years for a total of $2.456 million.
County legislators on Monday, Nov. 10, unanimously approved bonding $1.456 million next year and $1 million in 2016 for capital projects at the nursing home, which includes various common area renovations, room furnishing replacements and unit living area alterations. These projects were included in the adopted Capital Program for 2015-16.
“There are a lot of exciting things happening at the nursing home, right now and in the future,” Legislature Majority Leader Frank Commisso said in a prepared statement. “I want to thank my colleagues for making this possible and giving our nursing home the attention that it deserves.”
There are three separate projects rounding out improvements. The largest, totaling $1.5 million is modernization of resident rooms and living areas. This would include new drapes, cubicles, HVAC units, bathroom improvements and updating flooring in the units. Two-sixths of the units would be completed next year, with the remainder finished in 2016.
Room furnishings would total $571,000, which includes replacing beds, bureaus, bedside stands, over-bed tables and high-back chairs.
The least expensive of the three project areas, at $385,000, is common area renovations, which includes remodeling main bathrooms and showers, modernizing outer restrooms, along with replacing tables, chairs and wall covering.
County officials recently announced more than $7 million is estimated to be saved in next year’s nursing home budget. A Local Development Corporation is expected to eventually take over management of the facility.
For several years the facility has operated at a deficit. The operational deficit of the home would be reduced to about $6.3 million next year, County Executive Dan McCoy has said. Several concessions were included in union contracts, which helped realize savings.
