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Dear Editor;
The closing of Bloomfield Manor has been rumored for many years.
The Iowa County Board ripped the band-aid off so to speak when they announced its closing.
It felt very dramatic, there was not a referundum. The Iowa County Board decided to have a secret vote without a reporter representing the local newspaper.
Bussing folks to the sheriff department for a meeting in the dead of winter. No mention of where the Sun Meals would be made after the closing causing more worry.
The county board had stated a month ago that they are not in the nursing home business, but they listened for 4 years to folk who had come up with a solution to keep medicaid funds in the county. These folks had a business model, a solution, answers to some of the problems Bloomfield could no longer handle. I'm sure they knew Bloomfield was struggling to keep open...it was only a matter of time.
Imagine 4 years before, the board declared they're not in the business. That must have been exhausting for all involved.
February 3rd in the Dodgeville Chronicle Mr. Jim Massey wrote a guest editorial that should be read again. Read it twice, discuss it with friends, loved ones. Let's get on board with the team that represents the healthcare issues in this county, the ones who have a better understanding of what we stand to lose in the community. It would be a non-profit entity on green space.
We could be the ones that show the other county-owned care faculties still in operation a model if they find themselves struggling to keep there homes open. If our county can't keep their nursing home open how can other counties? If they can't then its one less place for your loved one on medicare to get on a waiting list.
It was said that the jail had to export prisoners to other jails due to lack of space for all of them. So a solution was found.
It looks like we are having a similar problem with the sick and elderly now...they may be forced to leave the county for care that we no longer can provide.
Let's get on board, ask the Chronicle where you can get a copy of Mr. Massey's editorial, dig out your old paper from February 3rd.4
Lets try to move forward.
Lori Seyfferth
Rural Cobb/Highland WI