Gunther:"we will need more beds"

Albany -- Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther of Forestburgh has introduced legislation which seeks to prevent the Berger Commission from cutting back 40 beds at the Achieve Rehabilitation & Nursing Facility in Sullivan County.   Gunther, a former nurse and chair of the Assembly Subcommittee on Women’s Health, called the legislation a necessary step to maintain quality health care for the region.

“We know from the state’s analysis that Sullivan County is short 137 nursing home beds,” Gunther said. “Increasing the shortage by another 40 beds will further stress county services and residents.”

Couple that with the growth in the county and that will mean more residents, said Gunther.

“In Sullivan County, we are the fastest growing county in New York State, so we are going to see an increase in population, not a decrease in population, so probably in the future, we will need more beds.”

The Senior Legislative Action Committee of Sullivan County concurs with Gunther. “The county already has a deficit of 137 beds,” said Priscilla Bassett of the SLAC. “Cutting more beds could force seniors to go into facilities outside the county, miles from their friends, family and home.”

Downsizing at Achieve might also mean Achieve would have to close, Gunther said. Terminated employees would be forced to look for greener pastures elsewhere, citizens would seek care out of Sullivan County causing personal hardship, and businesses would suffer.