Putnam County Home is closing

Monday, March 16, 2009
By MARIBETH WARD, Staff Writer

(Courtesy of co.putnam.in.us)
[Click to enlarge]

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.

Comments

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if this closes - where will we vote?

I hate to see it close. Wow - I bet it is very hard and expensive to heat it. It is so old.

I think you are making a right decision, but most of the residents probably grew up in Putnam county.. why send them to Hendricks? isn't there somewhere else in PC that they can go?

-- Posted by luv2bmom2001 on Mon, Mar 16, 2009, at 10:24 PM

I think it is disappointing that the home has to be closed. I do understand the cost of keeping it opened, but maybe the stipulations could be changed to included more people. Why just 55 and older? The Away Home Shelter is also turning away people. There are single men who cannot find jobs, but are probably capable of working at Green Acres as maintenance to help with the upkeep. This idea would benefit both the unemployed men, Green Acres and the expenses for the county. Perhaps the cost savings of maintenance work being done by residents could be used to update the heating system or if the cause if insulating better this could be done.

-- Posted by Taxpayer5253 on Tue, Mar 17, 2009, at 6:47 AM

Once we are into a full-blown depression, there will be more people who need this kind of help. Maybe the county should consider selling the property and reserving the proceeds to build a more efficient place for future residents should the need arise.

-- Posted by tackleberry65 on Tue, Mar 17, 2009, at 8:51 AM

How much ground goes with the property? What is the assessed value of the home and property? Once it is closed, what will be done with the property? There will be no cost savings to the taxpayer since the budgeted $230,000 will only then be spent elsewhere in the county budget. Who will benefit from the closing?

-- Posted by bondsman on Tue, Mar 17, 2009, at 9:20 AM

It is sad that only three people are involved with this decision. This is a beautiful, well run facility. I have been inside the house on two different occasions and was very impressed. I am like the other writers, with the economy the way it is now, we could end up with a lot of homeless people. This could be turned into a homless shelter, or,perhaps, a group home. These are people who can work and pay their way but still need help in some areas. If it is closed it will probably just sit there empty for years. That would be a real waste.

-- Posted by interested party on Tue, Mar 17, 2009, at 11:38 AM

where is the respect??? what happens to us when we get old? the next generation throws us out on the street as well you should be ashamed of yourselves it wont be so funny when it happens to you you can find ways to do everything else in this county can they move in with you???

-- Posted by ironmaiden on Tue, Mar 17, 2009, at 9:47 PM

Move the homeless men and transits out there,the away home shelter was meant for women and children.I can see the land being sold and money used for something a lot less important.I have heard they can't advertise-maybe if some folks knew more about the county home it would be a better place for some to go and live.And the way things are going this county may really need this home.

-- Posted by bam on Thu, Mar 19, 2009, at 6:21 PM

Excuse me, but the Away Home Shelter is for ANYONE in need. NOT just women and children. I'm not sure where you got your facts,but you need to re check them.

-- Posted by churchmouse on Fri, Mar 20, 2009, at 11:34 PM

Churchmouse move near the shelter and know the facts of what goes on around the shelter-those are facts.

-- Posted by bam on Mon, Mar 23, 2009, at 5:55 AM

A lot of effort from the community which is a good thing has been put into saving our Animal Shelter. A lot of folks have worked hard and volunteered their time and skills to keep our the Animal Shelter open for the good of Putnam County-why can't we all pull together to keep the County Home open for folks that need a place to live? I am sure we all know of someone that would know of someone that needs this home. 3 people get to decide to close it-that is not right.

-- Posted by bam on Tue, Mar 24, 2009, at 9:02 AM

I think this is a big mistake. Where will they go. They are there because they can't afford anything else. I feel sorry for those who live there. What will they do. What if your parents lived there . Would you want them put out in the streets. How sad.

-- Posted by pure woman on Tue, Mar 24, 2009, at 3:30 PM