Citing a need in Greene County for affordable housing for the elderly and options for ‘aging in place’ close to centralized medical services, Columbia Memorial Hospital broke ground January 12 for a new 21 unit senior housing complex. Called Kaaterskill Manor, it is being built in Jeffferson Heights in Catskill next to Kaaterskill Care Nursing and Rehabilitation.
Five years in the planning and implementation, the $4.5 million dollar project began with a $3.2 million grant from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, with additional funding coming from the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal.
“This is the start of a continuum of care campus to meet the needs of the elderly at all levels,” said Todd Zbytniewski, Vice President of Operations of Kaaterskill Care, an affiliate of Columbia Memorial.
“This is a way to centralize services for the elderly close to medical services such as dialysis and rehabilitation,” said Jay Cahalan, COO of Columbia Memorial.
Cahalan cited the rural nature of Greene County and how far some have to travel for services at Kaaterskill Care or at the Greene Medical Arts facility.
“This is affordable housing with a medical service benefit,” said Cahalan.
The 18,000 square foot facility will have 21, one bedroom apartments of approximately 600 square feet with a large first floor commons and common areas on the other two floors of the three-floor facility.
“This project is a feather in our cap,” said Town Supervisor Peter Markou of the Kaaterskill Manor project spearheaded by Columbia Memorial Hospital.
“For Columbia Memorial to begin a project like this in hard economic times and make a commitment to Catskill is a great step forward.”
Jane Ehrlich, Chief Executive Officer and President of Columbia Memorial Hospital, said that this was a new initiative for the hospital. She cited studies which show that access to care for the elderly shows as a positive improvement in preventing illness.
|
