Unused space blamed on lack of staff

The new south wing added to the Manor during the remodel and expansion of the Weston County Health Services hospital facility remains unused, except for its use for treating COVID patients during the last month. 
According to CEO Maureen Cadwell, the space remains unavailable for housing Manor residents because of staffing issues plaguing all such facilities across the state. The wing was built during the remodel and expansion of the facility, partially funded by local taxpayers and completed in 2018.
“It’s because of our staffing. We haven’t been full (fully staffed) for probably a year or so,” Cadwell said. 
At least three people are ready to move into the facility, Cadwell said, and the current waiting list has about 20 people on it, although most are not ready to move in.
The Manor is fully occupied if all 58 beds are being used. The staff required for a fully occupied facility is six aides on the day shift and five at night. 
A full staff would also include two nurses during the day and one at night. She noted that hospital staff do help in the Manor when needed.
“We try to have four to five aides during the day, and we have four at night because of the (Alzheimer’s disease) unit; we have to have one in there,” Cadwell said. 
The Manor currently has 42 residents. 
Cadwell explained that the staffing structure will need to be adjusted once the south wing is in use because that wing is separated by a door from the rest of the Manor, a feature that made it the perfect area to house COVID-19 positive residents. 
As of Sept. 2, there was only one COVID-19 patient in the wing. Cadwell reported that the illness was not life-threatening and that the separation was required. In addition to separating the patient from the other residents, staff was wearing the required personal protective equipment and following other standard precautions. 
According to Cadwell, the plan is to continue using the space for this purpose until directives are changed. 
Cadwell, staff and the Weston County Health Services board of trustees have discussed various options for addressing the lack of usage of south wing of the Manor and the staffing shortages blamed for its ongoing emptiness. 
One option discussed by the board was creating more individual rooms, she said. 
This would spread the residents out, using the south wing space without adding residents. Currently there are 24 double rooms and 10 single rooms, according to Cadwell. 
She noted that managers are constantly looking at ways to attract and retain staff. 
“This is a constant challenge as it has been in the past,” Cadwell said.