BUCKEYE HIGH RISE TMHA studies adding assisted-living facility

YSU is studying the staffing requirements for such a facility.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The Trumbull Metropolitan Housing Authority, tapping into a new state program, is looking at converting part of the Buckeye high-rise building into an assisted-living facility for elderly people.
The authority's board has entered into a $42,500 contract with Archi-Atekton of Warren and Shaker Heights, which will study expansion of apartments and possible conversion of part of the building at 700 Buckeye Ave. N.W. into an assisted-living facility.
The Buckeye Building is one of two 1968-vintage high rises, which provide federally subsidized housing for people who are elderly or disabled in the authority-owned Riverview Apartments complex.
"What this will allow them to do is to maintain a certain level of independence," Donald W. Emerson Jr., TMHA executive director, said of elderly people in assisted living.
"The demand is there. This is an aging population in this county, in this state and, frankly, in this nation. The baby boomers are coming, and we need to gear up" for them, Emerson said.
Planned layout
Most likely, the lower floors of the Buckeye building would be used for the assisted-living facility, which would have to have areas for meal preparation and provision of medical services, he said.
The Archi-Atekton study will also determine the cost of such an undertaking.
Youngstown State University's health sciences department is assisting TMHA by studying the staffing requirements for such a facility.
If it decides to offer assisted living, the authority would do it under a new Medicaid-funded program, which would pay for assisted living at $1,800 per month per resident, excluding room and board.
New program
The new program, authorized by the Ohio Legislature in the biennial budget bill, would begin paying for assisted living for Medicaid-eligible elderly people July 1, 2006, accommodating up to 1,800 Ohioans in its first year of operation.
Those interested in enrolling in the Medicaid assisted-living program will apply through a regional Area Agency on Aging, which must approve the application and will assign a care manager to the client. The Ohio Department of Health will ensure that participating assisted-living facilities meet certification standards, according to a letter from the Ohio Department of Aging explaining the new program.
Funded jointly by the federal and state governments, Medicaid pays for health care services for low-income people. Traditionally the only types of long-term care it has paid for have been home health care visits under its Passport program or nursing home care.
TMHA has 41 residents participating in the Passport program, some of whom could be eligible for the new assisted-living program, Emerson said.
Savings over nursing homes
The Legislature authorized the new assisted-living program because it is less costly than placing elderly people in nursing homes, Emerson said.
"Housing authorities were specifically placed in this legislation, primarily because we already have the housing," Emerson said. Emerson added that he thinks TMHA might offer assisted living to between 25 and 40 people.
Until the recent creation of the Medicaid assisted-living program, assisted living was available only to people able to pay for it themselves, Emerson said.
The TMHA board last week also welcomed a new member, Thomas Ross of Warren, a financial consultant and former head football coach at Warren G. Harding High School. He was appointed to a five-year term by Mayor Michael O'Brien to replace Donald Guarino of Howland, whose term expired.
Atty. Gilbert Rieger was elected board vice-chairman to replace Guarino in that office.
milliken@vindy.com