Support Pleasant Valley Manor | Half of Medicaid dollars go to Nursing Homes. Half of your income tax dollars go to the military. Government wants to cut Medicaid and give more to the military. The Generals in the Pentagon are not asking for the increase. So why? Arms manufacturers get richer at my Mom's expense. It's Obscene.

Just not right.

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			172 Responses to Just not right.

			
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						Admin says:		

		
		
			January 31, 2013 at 5:42 pm		


		I haven’t been doing anything with the site.

I can tell that no one is visiting the site.

I get lots of spam.

So, I’m stopping posting for now.  Sorry.

Everyone is content that things are O.K.

I know later this year, as we approach 2014, it may be a different story, but there is little interest at the moment.
So if there is any important news, please email me. jjhban@yahoo.com

Thanks, John


		
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			January 1, 2013 at 8:01 am		


		From the Pocono Record

By Michael Sadowski

Pocono Record Writer

January 01, 2013
Pleasant Valley Manor’ future

After a year of wondering whether the county-owned nursing home would be sold, we know it’s staying with the county in 2013. But what happens this year — when union employees are up for contract negotiations and county commissioners seek continued reductions in the facility’s annual subsidy — could go a long way in determining whether the Snydersville nursing home will stay that way.
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130101/NEWS/301010305/-1/NEWSLETTER100


		
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						John Hoban says:		

		
		
			December 16, 2012 at 11:32 am		


		Thank you to the generous and anonymous person who donated the funds for the PVM Christmas dinner.

A very pleasant afternoon and evening for all.


		
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						Old Man says:		

		
		
			December 21, 2012 at 7:02 am		


		In case you haven’t noticed, things have simmered down.

So, I’ll leave the site here and hope there’s no need to post anything.

“Monroe County taxes stay same in ’13 budget. A 2013 Monroe County budget that keeps property taxes at 21.25 mills won unanimous approval Thursday from the three commissioners.” says the Pocono Record on 12/21. I guess that’s what it’s always been about.

Just people doing their job. Do me a favor please? Next time trim costs somewhere else. I’m too old for this stuff!


		
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						Admin says:		

		
		
			November 19, 2012 at 8:31 am		


		By Chad Smith

Pocono Record Writer

November 19, 2012
In January, Pocono Lutheran Village, an assisted-living center in East Stroudsburg, will close because of economic difficulties.
On Friday, Diakon, the company that owns Pocono Lutheran Village, which is on East Brown Street, said in a statement that it would have to close the upscale facility because of financial losses it has incurred throughout the years.
Diakon lost $4.6 million at the village from 2007 through September of this year, the statement said.
“We did not make (the decision to close the facility) hastily or without considerable deliberation. … However, demand for personal care services in this region has never met initial expectations,” Mark Pile, president and CEO of Diakon, which owns many other assisted-living centers in Pennsylvania, said in the statement.
FOLLOW LINK FOR FULL ARTICLE:
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121119/NEWS/211190306/-1/


		
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						Old Man says:		

		
		
			November 9, 2012 at 7:56 am		


		PVM in the Pocono record again today

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121109/NEWS/211090336/-1/NEWSLETTER100
1.2 million budget allowance for PVM yearly

12 million budget allowance for the jail yearly   We are taxed to fund that.

10 times as much for criminals. Correct me if I’m wrong.

The State mandates we have a jail. How much more a year would each citizen have to pay in taxes to double PVM’s budget?

Would Homerule allow us to lower the jail budget. To send offenders from other counties, other states back to their own jails?

I’m just asking.
The point is if we can shave a million or two tax dollars off the jail, they could be used for PVM. No?


		
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The Story:
			Monroe County Commissioners  have threatened  to sell Pleasant Valley Manor to a private interest if it continued to exceed it's meager budget (the jail is budgeted for 10 times as much) and they can do it  as Moyer and Garris make  2 of the 3 County Commissioner  votes needed to do it.  If that happens most of the present and future residents will not be able to afford a home.  On October 9th, the union workers voted to take a cut, which amounts to $500,000. This does not bring PVM under budget. Other  ways to get under budget (or raise the budget) are being sought.

		
			
		
The Facts
			County Contributions to PVM – 2003 to 2011
2003- $2.7 million

2004- $2.9 million *

2005- $1.5 million

2006- $1.2 million

2007- $925 thousand

2008- $1.024 million

2009- $1.047 million

2010- $1.092 million

2011- $980 thousand


 The County prison receives approx. 14 million per year of our taxes.


Over 1 million of the 14 million in just overtime alone.
School taxes are killing taxpayers not County taxes. Wheither you own or rent, you pay School taxes, if you rent, the owner adjusts the rent to cover his property taxes (you bet!)

County taxes are much smaller.  PVM receives no, Zero, 0,  School taxes Only County. The jail receives County tax money too. 14 times more than PVM. Factor in all the other places County taxes go and it becomes apparent that selling PVM will have no appreciable affect on our taxes. So what's going on? Why  PVM? Why not the jail?   It makes no sense, unless we're not getting the whole story.

		
Where do the Commissioners stand if expenses exceed PVM’s present budget? 
			
Charles Garris, President

 is for Selling PVM

 Suzanne McCool, Secretary

 is for Keeping PVM

 John Moyer, Vice-President

Commissioner Moyer is clearly the deciding vote.

He hasn't taken as definite a public stand as the other Commissioners, yet. He is Mr. Garris' fellow Republican and popular opinion has it he will vote with Garris.
Commissioner McCool stated,

 "As I see it I have no support on the board. It will be totally a decision by the majority of the three commissioners, which means two commissioners could vote to sell to a private (for profit) company."

If you'd like to ask  Commissioner John Moyer where he stands, just click on his name, it should open your email, ready for you to send him a letter.

		
Here’s what would happen,  what it would mean to sell PVM
			An earlier post from Jeff -



 "To clarify your question before I attempt to answer, you are referring to IF PVM would be sold to a “for profit” group that did not accept Medicaid (Medical Assistance) for room and board correct (only private funds, Medicare and private insurance)??

If that is your concern, my best GUESS would be there would be no “for profit” group that would be willing to house what would currently be approximately 120 Medicaid residents for the amount they could pay monthly from their income. Average income for a Meidcaid resident is less than $1200/mo. . Assuming a charge of $8000/mo for a private pay resident, this would lead to a loss of $6800 per bed or $816,000.00 per month ($6800 x 120 beds). WAY more than a facility could likely afford or would be willing to sacrifice."



		
Unbelievable!  3 people should not be making a decision this big In a  democracy.
			A board of 3 people with a vote of 2-1 can do this???       YES!


Supporters of Gracedale, the Northampton County nursing home in Nazareth, successfully headed off an effort to sell that home by placing a 2011 referendum on the ballot. Residents voted by a 3-to-1 margin to keep the county home. Northampton County which voted for Home Rule. We could have Home rule in Monroe. It was proposed in Monroe County, but didn't pass. Maybe we should try again. Click the two reports on Home Rule below:

---------------------------


A Primer on Home Rule

August 2009

The Institute for Public Policy & Economic Development

---------------------------

Home Rule and the Size of

County Government in Pennsylvania

by

David A. Latzko

Business and Economics Division

Pennsylvania State University, York Campus" 

---------------------------




		
Gracedale

	
Gracedale vote in the Morning Call
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER
Northampton County residents vote overwhelmingly to disallow Gracedale sale
Saving Private Gracedale

	

An asterisk* indicates who is asking for your vote this November. Click on each name to send them an email.
	
* Contact Michael B. Carroll – THIS NOVEMBER
* Contact Michael Peifer – THIS NOVEMBER
* Contact PA State Rep. Mario Scavello – THIS NOVEMBER
* Contact Rosemary Brown – THIS NOVEMBER
* Contact State Sen. David G. Argall – THIS NOVEMBER
* Contact State Senator Lisa Boscola – THIS NOVEMBER
* Contact U.S. Senator Bob Casey – THIS NOVEMBER
* Contact U.S.Rep. Lou Barletta – THIS NOVEMBER
4Animals.org
Contact PA Rep. John Yudichak term up November 2014
Contact Senator Pat Toomey term up November 2017
Contact State Senator Patrick Browne – term up November 2014
Email County Commissioner Garris – term up November 2015
Email County Commissioner Moyer – term up November 2015
Email County Commissioner Suzanne McCool – term up November 2015
Governor Tom Corbett (worthless)
Hoban Cleaning
Hoban Computing
State Senator John P. Blake term up November 2014
State Senator Lisa Baker term up November 2014



	
		



			

				
					
						Non-Profit vs. For-Profit Nursing Homes: Is there a Difference in Care?
			

In 2011, the first-ever analysis of the ten largest for-profit nursing home chains reported that between 2003 and 2008, compared to all other ownership groups,[6] facilities owned by the top ten for-profit chains had:



The lowest staffing levels;

The highest number of deficiencies identified by public regulatory agencies; and

The highest number of deficiencies causing harm or jeopardy to residents.[7]

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported in 2011 that nursing facilities acquired between 2004 and 2007 by the top ten private equity firms:

Had more total deficiencies than not-for-profit facilities;

Reported lower total nurse staffing ratios; and

Showed capital-related cost increases and higher profit margins, compared to other facilities.[8]

In 2010, the GAO reported that compared to other nursing facilities, Special Focus Facilities (i.e., those identified by CMS as among the poorest performing facilities nationwide): [9]
Are more likely to be part of a chain and for-profit, compared to other facilities;

Have fewer registered nurses per resident day; and

Are ranked lower on CMS’s Five-Star System.[10]

The GAO reported in 2009 that compared to other nursing facilities, Special Focus Facilities, which have more deficiencies and more serious deficiencies than other facilities, are:
More likely to be for-profit;

More likely to be part of chain; and

Have almost 24% fewer RNs/resident/day and fewer nursing staff at all levels/resident/day.[11]

In September 2007, an investigative report in The New York Times found that:
Nursing facilities owned by private equity firms were 41% more profitable than other nursing homes;

One facility it focused on, in the year after its takeover by a private equity firm, cut the number of registered nurses in half and cut spending on nursing supplies, activities for residents, and other supplies, leading to poorer resident care.

A recent study by LeadingAge New York, the association that represents not-for-profit nursing facilities in New York State, found that not-for-profit facilities:
Performed better on most measures than for-profit facilities in the state;

Had fewer residents using antipsychotic drugs or with physical restraints;

Had lower hospitalization rates, and more discharges to home;

Had more nursing staff and fewer survey deficiencies and spent more money per day on nursing costs and food.

A review and meta-analysis of 82 studies comparing quality of care in for-profit and not-for-profit nursing facilities reported that nearly all the studies found higher quality, higher staffing, and fewer pressure sores in not-for-profit facilities.  Not-for-profit facilities had better outcomes on four key measures of quality:

"More or higher quality staffing;"

Lower prevalence of pressure ulcers;

Lower prevalence of restraints; and

Fewer government-cited deficiencies.

The authors estimated that if all nursing homes in the United States were operated on a not-for-profit basis:

		
					

				


				
					
						Non-Profit vs. For-Profit  continued:
			7,000 residents with pressure sores would not have them;

Residents would receive 500,000 more hours of nursing care each day.[12]

Conclusion
Ownership and sponsorship type have repeatedly been shown to make a difference in the quality of care given to residents.  The Affordable Care Act recognizes the importance of ownership information and requires nursing facilities to report, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to make publicly available, detailed ownership information.[13] Families looking to place loved ones in a nursing facility should use the available information to help them make informed decisions about where to find the best care.  In addition policymakers should design reimbursement systems to ensure that nursing facilities spend public reimbursement dollars in ways that policymakers intend – on care for residents.
Click here for source and complete article 

		
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Information Links
	
Ballotpedia – search details on politicians
Get Out the Vote!
Initiatives and Referendums
Monroe County Democrats events calendar
PA Election Code Requirements for Referenda
Republican event calendar for September
Wikipedia on Monroe County

	

Related Links
	
County Jail Public Info search (search Monroe)
Monroe County Correctional Facility website
Monroe County Jail in the Pocono Record
One Picture is Worth 10,000 Words
Pleasant Valley Manors Web site

	

Government by the people
			---------------------------

Home Rule and the Size of

County Government in Pennsylvania

by

David A. Latzko

Business and Economics Division

Pennsylvania State University, York Campus" 

---------------------------




A Primer on Home Rule

August 2009

The Institute for Public Policy & Economic Development

		
					
				


				
					
									There are so many good posts. Please click the 'Older Comments' links above to page through them. Here's an example:



Barbara Deppner says:

August 29, 2012 at 5:07 pm

Each day I get up, get dressed and head out my door. I kiss my family goodbye and head to work to take care of my other family. My 104 year old school teacher who has out lived her family. We’re all she has. My 95 year old who broke her hip and is now seperated from her husband of 76 years. I could go on and on with stories of people who became part of my family over the past thirteen years there must of been almost a thousand. My point being they come to Pleasant Valley Manor because they need care and we may not be the most beautiful building in the county, but the care they recieve is above any other. Most of the people I work with have been there for years, some twenty five or thirty, that says something about Pleasant Valley. Sure we have a few hard noses who really hate life in general there and take it out on the Manor. I always felt if you hate your job get another. Why stick around to bring everyone around down. I do know if they decide to sell and it goes into for profit the only losers will be the wonderful residents who pass through our doors. Think commissinors what you will be doing. It will be wrong. God bless one and all



----------------------------

		
			When my Mom was failing I brought her to live with me. I have to work. When I would come home after work to find my Mom sitting on the floor for who knows how long I didn't know what to do. She thought she could walk to the bathroom.  She'd be sitting there everyday or injured or worse if it were not for Pleasant Valley Manor, We and many others don't have the money for private care. She worked hard all her life as a single Mom. Often two jobs at a time.  Full-time days and part-time evenings.   Check for yourself.  Can you afford it?   

You might be in for a very rude awakening.
Average income for a Medicaid resident is less than $1200/mo.

My Mom worked 40 years for a big company and other jobs before that. She worked all her life, yet between retirement pension and Social Security she gets $1200. per month.

Private pay nursing homes can cost $5000 - $8000. per month.

Can you afford it?   

What's in your wallet?

		
The Past Remembered
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Media
	
Channel 13 email links
download & print SAVE PVM POSTER pdf
download and print SAVE PVM POSTER Word format
Submit a Pocono Record Letter to the Editor
WNEP channel 16
WYOU

	

Gracedale
	
Gracedale vote in the Morning Call
NORTHAMPTON COUNTY HOME RULE CHARTER
Northampton County residents vote overwhelmingly to disallow Gracedale sale
Saving Private Gracedale

	

					
				


				
					
									Other questions are allowed on the ballot such as for funding for open space and for the community college, so why not a question for saving the nursing home.  I suspect that it may be that those other types of questions actually asked taxpayers if they wanted to be taxed for open space or the community college. The open space one passed, but the one on the community college did not.  In that case the legislature passed a bill to make it possible for gambling revenues to be directed to the building of the Monroe Campus for twenty years. The politicians got what they wanted, one way or another. And the prison seems to get as much as it wants.

Casino and Lottery revenue go to all sorts of things including NC college with it's declining enrollment.

 In Northampton County, they asked and the voters did the right thing.

“Supporters of Gracedale, the Northampton County nursing home in Nazareth, successfully headed off an effort to sell that home by placing a 2011 referendum on the ballot. Residents voted by a 3-to-1 margin to keep the county home.” Are they better than us?

		
Monroe County Commissioner Meetings
			The next commissioners meeting is Wed Sept 5 at 9:30 AM on the 2nd floor of the Admin Bldg on 6th and Sarah Sts. Please come.
The regularly scheduled meetings of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners’ for 2012 will be held on the first (1st) and third (3rd) Wednesday of every month at 9:30 AM in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, Room 203,  on the following Wednesday’s
September	 5 & 19

October	 3 & 17

November	 7 & 21

Nov 23, 2010 Special Meeting – 2011 Budget Presentation

December	 5 & 19

		
			“The principle of compassion is that which converts disillusionment into a participatory companionship. This is the basic love, the charity, that turns a critic into a living human being who has something to give to—as well as to demand of—the world.” – Joseph Campbell

 More Photographs

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Time for the web project provided by:



Martin Office Cleaning

http://www.martinofficecleaning.com

4Animals Pet Care

http://www.4animals.org/


http://www.johnhoban.com/





If any links or downloads on the website don't work or you want to change or delete your post or you notice typos or inaccuracies in facts or you have timeouts or other difficulties reaching this site - you won't read this, but if you remember to - email me or post it, thanks!
jjhban@yahoo.com




		
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