Coalition hopes to save cash-strapped Poughkeepsie nursing home after sudden leadership changes
Coalition leader Rich Schuster learned Thursday afternoon that the nursing home's board's president resigned and the remaining members voted to install Schuster as president.
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A grassroots group in Poughkeepsie says it's trying to "pull off a miracle" and prevent the permanent closure of a 153-year-old nursing home that's on the verge of folding.
Dorothy Schuster, 86, and one other senior are still living at the Vassar Warner Home on South Hamilton Street.
Before a recent shakeup that led to resignations of two members of the nursing home's executive board, the board informed the state of New York the home would be closing because money has run out.
"They talked about things were going wrong around here that things were going to be eliminated," said Dorothy, about the informational meeting last week in the nursing home's common area.
Dorothy's son, Rich Schuster, has been leading a coalition that is looking for new partners, new leadership and new funding to keep the home alive.
Schuster learned Thursday afternoon after his interview with News 12 that the board's president resigned and the remaining members voted to install Rich as president.
He said he hopes the change puts him and his coalition in a better position to attract funding from public and private sources.
Schuster is also making the most of some extra time afforded by the fact that Dorothy and the other one senior living at the home have not yet been placed in a new facility.
As long as those residents are living at the home, it remains open.
"Hopefully we can live to fight another day," Schuster said, "and if we can get a little more funding, then we can bring everybody back."
Schuster said the previous board had not done much fundraising in recent years and has not raised rents to keep up with rising costs.
He said his coalition can change that.
The group is seeking help from public officials at all levels of government.
About 20 coalition members showed up at Tuesday's meeting of the Dutchess County Legislature to ask county officials for $750,000 for them to keep the place operating until they bring back residents and establish cashflow.
Staff members told News 12 Thursday the coalition's persistence gives them hope.
"We can feel the support from the community, families and our staff," Vassar Warner Home personal care supervisor Luann Zadora said. "It's just been amazing. It's definitely been overwhelming."
Prior to Thursday's board meeting, a spokesperson for Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino said financial assistance from the county is unlikely.
She said the office has not received a specific plan from the coalition to fund and operate the home, and that the plan may not be eligible for assistance from the county's housing trust.
