THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 16, 1994 TAG: 9409140159
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JUDY PARKER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 166 lines
When Sarah Grant's husband suffered a debilitating stroke in 1987, the career homemaker was confronted with financial and psychological burdens that nearly crippled her as well.
Grant took what could have been an overwhelming situation as an opportunity to help not just her 59-year-old husband and herself, but an untold number of poor, elderly strangers.
Grant, 59, and her son, Marvin, an Old Dominion University gerontology graduate student, have plans to convert a three-bedroom, 25-year-old, brick ranch house in the 3700 block of Deep Creek Boulevard in Highland Biltmore, into a 30-bed, 24-hours-a-day, adult care facility for persons 55 years of age and older with limited disabilities.
``I am committed and will not stop until this facility is built,'' Grant said in an interview from her converted side porch/office at Cavalier Estates, a residential adult care facility she runs out of her home at 410 Avondale Road.
As she was looking around seven years ago for a nursing facility for her husband, who did not require acute nursing care, Grant realized that the local nursing homes she visited were too expensive for the family to afford solely on her husband's disability benefits and the couple's savings.
``There was no way we could afford to pay the $1,500 to $2,000 a month they wanted,'' Grant said.
With a disabling back injury of her own, caring for her husband herself was an option she didn't have.
For Grant, her personal dilemma and that of her husband was solved when son Marvin agreed to move back home and help care for his father.
But Grant's experience was an eye-opener to the need in Portsmouth for limited-care, low-cost, nursing facilities for the elderly poor.
``I knew if my family couldn't afford the costs of nursing homes like Sentara and the other places I visited, then people on extremely limited fixed incomes, like Social Security and SSI, could never afford proper, home-like care when they needed it,'' Grant said.
Before long, what had been one family's answer to a nearly unsolvable problem became a business, providing shelter and care for eight older adults living on extremely restricted resources and needing limited, assisted care.
Accommodating that number of clients was made easy because what had once been a tiny, shingled bungalow, the Grant house grew over the years.
``With each new child we had, seven sons and daughters, we just kept adding on rooms,'' Grant explained.
Gradually, the house became a two-story, multiple bedroom, sun-decked sprawl that's now nearly swallowed the property, lot line to lot line.
``This is the ministry I do, taking care of people who would have nowhere else to go,'' Grant said.
The three men and five women currently at Cavalier Estates range in age from 50 to nearly 88, and receive, according to Grant, an average of $629 a month in a combination of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, or grant money from the commonwealth of Virginia. Some of the residents are referrals from the Portsmouth Social Services Department, although Grant said she also has received calls from local hospitals seeking residential placement for elderly poor patients ready for discharge but who are unable to adequately care for themselves.
Each of Grant's clients is allowed to keep $55 for personal spending money per month, she said. The bulk of her clients' incomes go toward providing room and board.
``We have three people on staff,'' Grant said, ``who help with baths three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We also try to have at least one outing a month to a restaurant and mall.
``I want to give the same loving care and compassion to my clients that I give to my husband. Everyone deserves a really nice home to live in, regardless of their income,'' she said.
According to architect Wendell Green, who has been contracted by the Grants, the proposed new facility would be an 8,000 square foot, 15-bedroom, modified U-shaped building fronting on Deep Creek Boulevard. Administrative offices would be in the present building, which, Green said, would maintain a residential look.
``The only additions to the front will be a handicapped ramp for easy accessibility, and space for nine parking spots.''
According to floor plans, the added wing would contain one full bathroom with two sinks and individual closets for every two bedrooms, a lounge area, a multi-purpose room, a sun deck, and an outside courtyard.
``A typical room will average 80 square feet,'' Green said, ``and will be fully handicapped accessible, responding to ANSI (American National Standard Institute) codes.''
Adhering to ANSI codes is just part of the licensing process that Grant must undergo.
Grant's Cavalier Estates is currently licensed by the state as a residential adult care provider. That license, however, cannot be transferred to a new facility, said Susan Hackney, licensing administrator for the Eastern Virginia office of the Virginia Department of Social Services.
``Any facility that provides services to four or more adults is required to obtain a license,'' Hackney explained.
``In Mrs. Grant's case, once she obtains all the appropriate city approvals, including a certificate of occupancy, we will look at her proposed plans and make any recommendations necessary for her to qualify for licensure. That includes not only the physical structure, but also her program plans for the maintenance and care of her clients.
``As for staffing requirements, there are no specific staff-to-client ratios established by the state,'' Hackney added, ``as there are for child-care. That depends on the number of residents and their physical and mental status.''
The project's cost would be approximately $500,000, according to architect Green, excluding a $90,000 purchase price for the Deep Creek Boulevard site. Of that $500,000, $300,000 to $400,000 would be spent on constructing the 132-foot-long wing, with an additional $80,000 to $100,000 to be spent on furnishings and landscaping.
Grant was vague in discussing financing for the project, except to say that her family has made some good investments over the years.
``We'll also solicit donations, and will seek bank financing through NationsBank,'' Grant said.
The Planning Commission unanimously approved a use permit for the Grant proposal last month, and in a first reading, City Council voted 7-0 in favor of the project Monday.
The Grants still must submit a detailed engineering site plan to the Engineering Department for its review and approval. The plan will then be resubmitted to council for final approval.
Grant's proposal, however, has not been embraced by all.
Opposition to the project has been generated mostly by Highland Baptist Church, which is adjacent to the planned facility.
In a letter to the Planning Commission, which included a three-page petition containing the names of 73 individuals opposing the project, the church listed six reasons why the proposal should be denied:
``That building (home) does not lend itself to appropriate care for proposed. We do not want our facility closed in by extended construction.
Danger is pronounced by curvature at this point of boulevard and will be magnified by increased traffic ingress and egress at proposed care center. Also, any additional parking on proposal or placement will represent a real danger (life threatening) to our members at our Deep Creek Boulevard entrance;
We feel that the continual cramming at adult care centers does not enhance or meet the need. We prefer more planning by our city for adequate and closely regulated facilities.
Also before any consideration is given, we feel the commission should limit with specifics any construction or alteration now or in the future on this proposal that will violate the residential concept we strive to maintain. That is single family residences.
We already have produced a crime area at this point by not adhering to initial residential single family concept. Our church currently has in place a security force in 2-man teams due to break-ins, vandalism, auto theft and uncomfortable trespass.
You will note organized effort in our community to enhance and hold values and maintain such an identify with our city; To encourage residential improvement and stability of population, rather than flight to the rural.
We respectfully request denial of application.''
``We have questioned whether this is a compassionate move on Mrs. Grant's part, or is it a move to make money,'' said R.E. Brinson, chairman of the 397-member church's board of trustees.
``Of course, that's really not any of our business.
Yet, the Rev. Kevin L. Wilson, Highland Baptist's pastor, vows cooperation should the facility be approved, built, licensed and opened.
``I know Mrs. Grant is very impassioned about this project, and I can assure her, that if this facility is built, Highland Baptist will do whatever we can to help.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MORT FRYMAN
Sarah Grant converted her home in Cavalier Estates into a
residential adult care facility, where three men and five women
reside. James Smith, a resident, rests on the front porch.
Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
Grant wants to use this ranch house in Highland Biltmore for a
30-bed, 24-hours-a-day, adult care facility.
by CNB