The next meeting of the Geriatric Authority is Monday, May 4 at 4PM at the Senior Center.  I will contact Attorney Nancy McPheeters to see when she can attend a Friends of McFadden meeting to give us an update.  I will let you know!

The meeting of the geriatric authority on April 27 was cancelled due to an administrative issue; the meeting was not posted.  It has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 30 at 4:00PM at the Senior Center, 7 Washington Street, Malden, MA.  Come show your support and learn about the status of the license transfer.  There are hurdles that must be overcome for the license to be transferred, the biggest being funding.  We are hoping the Geriatric Authority will have learned how much money Mayor Howard is going to give the Authority.  If you recall, last June the Mayor said he would commit $600,000.  That amount, and more, is needed to support the running of McFadden until the headcount can be increased.  Due to the threat of closure, the number of beds filled has decreased.  The Authority needs the financial support to stay afloat until the beds are filled.  

  McFadden provides superb care and we cannot let our loved ones be moved out of their home, away from their fellow residents, the staff they love and the home they have known.  The residents of Malden need to let the Mayor and City Councilors know how important this facility is.  Call them and let them know how important McFadden is to the community.  Hope to see you Thursday.

Val 

It’s important we attend the April 27th meeting of the Geriatric Authority.  The public meeting starts at 4PM at the Senior Center at 7 Pleasant Street, Malden.  This is an important session as the Board members discuss the future of McFadden Manor.  If they cannot secure funding, they cannot transfer ownership from the city to the authority.  If this doesn’t happen, the Mayor will close McFadden.  We can’t let this happen. 

   HEadcount is low due to the threat of closure.  Who wants to put a loved one in a facility that might close in the next 6 months???   Due to the low headcount, the Board needs about 1.2 million to keep the facility running for the next 12-18 months until the facility is near capacity.  They have plans to hire an administrator who can get the beds filled.

 At the last meeting the board voted to have Attorney McPheeters meet with the Mayor to see how much money he was commiting to McFadden.  About 1 year ago, Mayor Howard attended a Friends of McFadden meeting and told us he was willing to fund $600,000.   Attorney McPheeters should have an answer from the Mayor that she will present Monday.   

Attend the meeting; show your support.  Come with your ideas on how we can make this happen.  If you are aware of any other sources of funding, let us know!!  We need you more than ever.  

Val

We also need contractors and licensed professionals who would volunteer to help with needed repairs.   This would include electricians, plumbers, masons, painters, etc. etc.  If you or anyone you know can help us out, bring the names to the meeting or email them to me at www.friendsofmcfadden.com   Let’s keep this awesome care for our seniors and disabled available in Malden. 

Hi to all!  There was a great turnout at the last meeting of the Geriatric Authority (April 8).  Many employees were there to show their support and stay abreast of the progress.  Presentations were made by Ruth Neeman on physical changes and costs necessary for Medicare certification,  and Dick Carr on the financial viability of transfer to the authority.  Attorney Levine was there to answer questions.  The next meeting is Monday, April 13 at 4:00PM at the Senior Center.  Following this public session, the Geriatric AUthority Board will meet in executive session to make some decisions on the transfer. 

It is so important for us to support their work.  We just mailed letters to Malden residents asking them to sign and mail pre-addressed postcards to Senator Tisei, Representative Fallon and Representative Donato.  We are asking for their help to fund McFadden both through stimulus money and any other means possible.  We need to keep the pressure on, because without funding, the doors may close.  We owe it to the residents and employees to keep this facility open.  Our seniors deserve phenomenal care.

The Friends of McFadden will meet at approximately 5 PM on Monday following the Geriatric AUthority’s public session.  Please come with your ideas on how we can keep McFadden in the limelight and keep the pressure on the city to keep the doors open.  See you Monday.  Happy Holidays!

Val

Once again the Friends of McFadden were not disappointed.  The support for McFadden Manor was evident by the turnout at the recent Friends of McFadden meeting (March 23rd).  The meeting was attended by family members, staff, concerned Malden residents, a member of the Geriatric Authority, a City Councilor and two representatives of the Mass Senior Action Council. We are enthusiastic and hopeful the Geriatric Authority will be successful in getting the license tranferred to them to oversee  McFadden Memorial Manor. 

Attorney Nancy McPheeters, a board member of the recently enacted Geriatric Authority of Malden, gave the group an update on the authority.  The following are the highlights of Attorney McPheeter’s talk:

The Geriatric Authority of Malden was enacted and signed into law at the end of 2008.  In January 2009 the City Council invited Malden citizens to submit their names for serving on the board.  The City Council appointed the following members to serve on the board:  Margaret Clarke, Billy Coleman, Dana Brown, Nancy McPheeters and Maueen Teal.  In addition, by virtue of their positions in the city, Chris DiPietro, Director of Human Servicek, and Chris Webb, Director of Public Health, also serve on the board.  The board began meeting February 9, 2009 and meet almost weekly.

Attorney Levine has been hired to help the authority and the city accomplish the transfer. This includes planning for, documenting and submitting all paperwork necessary for DPH approval.  Once of the key requirements is that the city must make McFadden a Medicare facility before any license is issued.  To make this happen some improvements must be made to the building (e.g. an isolcation room must be added).  Ruth Neeman, of Levi & Wong, is preparing the architectural and engineering plan.  This is being paid by the city.

The next step for the Geriatric Authority is to put together a 12-18 month budget, with one of the outcomes to show that McFadden Manor can be financially viable.  Dick Carr is preparing these reports for the boards review, based on several different scenarios, including new income provided by Medicare reimbursement.

The next meeting of the Geriatric Authority is Monday, March 30 at 4:ooPM in the meeting room at the new Senior Center.   This should be a very informative session as the agenda includes presentations by Ruth Neeman on physical changes and costs necessary for Medicare certification, Attorney Andy Levine on the process to transfer McFadden to the Geriatric Authority, and Dick Carr on the financial viability of transfer to the authority.  The session is open to the public.  Try to attend to learn more and to show your support.

Val