ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, April 17, 1995                   TAG: 9504170024
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JUDY BRUNK
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DON'T SELL THE CITY'S NURSING HOME

MAYOR David Bowers' face looked real happy in the photograph on the front page of your April 4 newspaper (``Revived landmark hotel, center open''). But that look isn't on the faces of family members and residents of the Roanoke City Nursing Home. That members of City Council are planning to sell the nursing home is the most selfish, self-centered, thoughtless thing they've done in a long time.

Roanoke has the money to put convicted criminals in a nice, air-conditioned, cushioned apartment with bars and television while they serve their days for crimes committed, but the city cares not what happens to the elderly citizens who served their community by holding jobs and paying taxes. Look what the elderly citizens get - they're sold to the highest bidder.

Council members don't care what kind of treatment these folks get. They don't have to watch programs that show abuse of the elderly in nursing homes, and wonder if that's happening to their Mom, because they have money for private home care or the best available care there is.

The best of care is given at this nursing home, and the staff and volunteers are the best you can come by. They have hearts, which is the most important thing when it comes to taking care of the elderly, and the patience of Job. They don't deserve pay cuts, but need a raise, a pat on the back, and to be told: ``Job well done.'' My mother has Alzheimer's, and has special needs, which are met by the City Nursing Home's staff. When my mother is asked where she is, she replies ``home.'' Not all nursing-home patients can say that.

My point is that we can make our criminals more comfortable, our city look better and make ourselves more comfortable, but we can't take care of those who took care of us first - our parents.

I hope the city will not sell this nursing home to a private company. That company may not care what happens to our parents, but only care where the next profit dollar is coming from.

Please leave the nursing home the way it is. Why change something that's working so well?

If Roanoke taxpayers don't believe that their money is going for something good, visit these people and see what kind of care they get. I cannot believe good, honest people would rather see their money spent helping criminals get richer than to see that the elderly don't die alone.

Judy Brunk, of Montvale, is secretary-receptionist at an insurance agency in Bedford. 


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