We urgently need your help.  Next Tuesday, May 19, 2009 the City Council will be voting on the fate of McFadden Manor.  As you know, the Geriatric Authority of Malden is in the process of transferring the license from the City to the Authority.  To do so and adhere to the requirments of the Department of Health, McFadden Manor must be Medicare approved.  To make this happen, an isolation room and private bath must be added.  To do this, the Authority needs $130,000.  No Medicare room, no license transfer.   Another requirement is the Authority must show they have money to keep the facility open.  Last June, Mayor Howard committed $600,000 to fund McFadden.  THis was money from the much talked about million dollar Federal Grant.  After living under the threat of closure for the past 3+ years, and a period of time where no new residents were allowed in (a freeze), the headcount is down.  The Geriatric AUthority has worked with an accountant for the past several months, and it looks like it will take 12-18 months to get back to full headcount.  When this happens, the facility will break even.  But, they need money to support the facility until that time. 

Mayor Howard addressed the City Council last evening (Tuesday, May 12).  He explained to them where the money would come from (capital money left from the Senior Center).  It would not mean any cuts in any department.  Attorney Levine, who is working on the license transfer, also addressed the Council, showing them the projections and plans to make the transfer happen. 

KEEPING MCFADDEN OPEN SAVES THE HOME FOR 61 SENIORS AND DISABLED.  IT ALSO KEEPS 66+ JOBS IN MALDEN.  McFadden is the only nursing home geared to low income people……  IT HAS PROVIDED PHENOMENAL CARE  TO those in need for over 200 years.  It is one of the few facilities IN THE STATE that is not on the Medicare watch list (causing harm to patients).  How can we let this facility be closed?  How do we tell the most vulnerable they must leave their homes?

Please contact the Councilors at Large, your Ward Councilor, and all other Councilors.  Tell them we must continue to provide quality care in Malden.  Please call and/or email them today.  They vote next Tuesday!

Council President:  Craig Spadafora  781-397-8988      cspadafora@cityofmalden.org

Councilor at Large:   Paul Anderson  781-397-7130     panderson@cityofmalden.org

Councilor at Large:   Greg Lucey   781-605-3290    gregluceyformalden@comcast.net

Ward 1:  Gary Christenson    781-324-4820      gchristenson@cityofmalden.org

Ward 2:   Paul Condon    781-322-9216     pcondon@cityofmalden.org

Ward 3:   Paul DiPietro    781-322-5140    pdipietro@cityofmalden.org

Ward 4:    James Nestor    781-324-2672    jnestor@cityofmalden.org

Ward 5:   John Furlong    781-322-4718    jfurlong@cityofmalden.org

Ward 6:   Neil Kinnon    781-321-1857    nkinnon@cityofmalden.org

Ward 7:   Neil Anderson   781-321-3167    neilanderson7@comcast.net

Ward 8:   Judith Bucci    781-480-4069    ward8info@yahoo.com

Thank you in advance.  Please pass this information on to all family and friends.  We can’t let them close the doors to McFadden…..we must keep our loved ones in their home.

Valerie

CONTACT INFO:   friendsofmcfadden@verizon.net     or call me at 978-640-0169   THANKS!!!!!