Putnam County Home is closing
Putnam County Commissioners Kristina Warren, Gene Beck and Jim Baird voted to close the Putnam County Home, "Green Acres," in early September because of the cost to the county to take care of it and the low number of residents.
"I hate to do it. I always thought that place would always be there," said Beck. "It was different when there were 10 or 11 people living out there all the time. I hate to do this."
The home has only five residents currently living there and all but one receives social security benefits and Medicare. Three came to Green Acres from Owen County when they closed their facility a few years ago.
Currently, the county has about $230,000 in the budget appropriated to pay for the home. The largest expense appears to be heating the facility and that is why commissioners are hoping to be able to have the current residents placed in other facilities before the fall heating season kicks in.
The Hendricks County Home has 15 residents now and it may be possible for several residents to transfer to that facility. Because all but one of the people have Social Security benefits and are not considered indigent, the county should not have to pay any fees for their care.
"It could be a good thing for Hendricks County because it would give them more residents," said Beck.
Baird pointed out that residents were not being thrown out into the cold.
"There are viable options and, hopefully, by September they will all have a place. We can extend the timeframe if we need to, but we need a starting point," he said.
"If they are indigent and can show they do not have Medicare benefits they can appeal and ask to be certified indigent by the Putnam County court," explained county attorney Scott Hoff. "If they have Medicare, they are most likely not eligible and the county is not responsible for paying their expenses."
The county home is open to individuals aged 55 or older who are still ambulatory but do not have the means or need for nursing home care. Residents pay to stay at the home. Fees are based on income.
All three commissioners expressed distress at having to make this decision and emphasized what a good job has been done at the home over the past years.