Letter to the Editor published in the Sept. 20, 2023 issue of the Tomahawk Leader.
Pine Crest?
Please read the 158 page report (dated March 21, 2023) by the Ad-Hoc Committee on Pine Crest on the Lincoln County Board website! The Ad-Hoc committee did a very complete, investigative report on Pine Crest. The layout of the Pine Crest campus shows the situation with closed halls, number of beds, access to specfic areas, etc. Many of you have not read this report; if you had you’d know that Clifton, Larson, Allen Wealth Advisors did perform a study on Pine Crest.
NCHC also manages the Marathon County owned nursing home, Mount View. Judy Woller was on the Lincoln County Board when Resolution 2021-11-50 was passed unanimously to reduce number of bed licenses at Pine Crest.
Further, $85.00 per $100,000.00 of valuation equates to $170.00 per tax bill, per year, for a $200,000.00 valuation. Many actions were taken by county board since 2015 in attempt to bring Pine Crest operations in the black. It doesn’t have to make a profit; it just needs to break even. In conclusion, eight years, and it is in worse condition now in 2023 than it was in 2015.
Further, our habits have changed as stated in the 2021 survey. When we cannot live alone any longer, we do not feel Pine Crest is the place for us. We look at in-home care, senior living apartment with help from ADRC and meals on wheels, assisted living possibly hospice care (which by the way is not offered at Pine Crest). Yes, one may go on Medicaid and continue to live at assisted living.
Leona Vander Sanden
Gleason