MONROE — Renovation of a portion of Pleasant View Nursing Home continues as a Dementia Stabilization Unit that will serve Green, Grant, Lafayette and Iowa counties is being created.
Terry Snow, director of Pleasant View, provided the Green County Board of Supervisors with an annual report March 10 that addressed the work being done on the unit as well as the state of affairs at the nursing home.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Division of Medicaid Services for long-term care provided a $271,0000 grant in 2019 to renovate a portion of Pleasant View to create the Dementia Stabilization Unit. The facility can accommodate up to six residents at any one time. The unit’s purpose is to assess individuals and develop a plan of care for them, so they can return to their communities or homes had receive long-term care.
Snow said the development of the program for the unit is ongoing with the Pleasant View still working to obtain licensure, a protocol for funding for payment and education of staff. The plan is for the unit to be fully functioning by the end of 2020.
The unit will have one nurse for every two residents and will also have a psychiatrist and nurse practitioner. Additional support staff will be available.
A new chiller system is being installed at Pleasant View which will lead to the eventual removal of all of the window air conditioners at the nursing home.
“This will be more comfortable for residents and help us eliminate some costs,” Snow said. “It’s a big undertaking.”
The project was approved for more than $2 million by the county board last year.
Pleasant View is currently in the process of writing an application for a Wisconsin Community Development Block Grant to upgrade restroom facilities. The grant will seek approximately $1 million in order that each resident has their own restroom.
There will be a public hearing at Pleasant View on April 14 asking for public input on the project. At the hearing more information on the grant will be presented.
The nursing home has received a significant amount of support from The Friends of Pleasant View Foundation, which raised money last year that was invested into a walking path and gardens. There were additional private and civic donations that added to the amenity, Snow said.
“The foundation and generosity of other families and sources has really helped us,” Snow said. “We could not have provided this using our operating budget.”
Pleasant View is licensed to have 110 residents, but renovation work on the Dementia Stabilization Unit has pushed that back. The nursing home has budgeted to have a census of 98 residents throughout the year and Snow said that the census has been running steadily in the mid-90s.
Snow said in the fall of 2019 there was a workforce crisis for health care facilities due to a lack of trained health care workers across all work fields. Pleasant View weathered the crisis and filled its open positions.
“We really value our staff and they do an excellent job,” Snow said.
The nursing home has received positive survey results from the state of Wisconsin and won awards for its long-term care.
Snow added that Pleasant View has been working with the Green County Health Department to “stay on top” of the coronavirus outbreak. Pleasant View does have an infection control specialist who works to keep both residents and staff protected.