Published: July 16, 2008 01:01 pm         

County home

Now is the time to speak up

If you have an opinion concerning the future of the Cass County Home, now is the time to weigh in.

County commissioners are trying to decide whether to keep supporting the facility.

The commissioners recently met privately with the home’s residents and staff to discuss its future.

The county home has been in operation since the late 1800s. It serves mostly as a home for senior citizens who are not ready to go into a nursing home.

Lately, though, the home has seen a sharp decline in population, and commissioners, faced with a dwindling budget, are looking at places to make cuts.

While the home has averaged closer to 20 residents in recent years, it now has seven residents and five staff members.

How it got to that point is a point of some contention. County officials present the number as if it reached that level on its own. Current residents contend that county officials have been actively working to find other places for the residents to live.

Either way, the number of residents would indicate a low level of demand for the home’s services. Even at 20 residents, there is some question about whether the county can afford to maintain this facility.

In many ways, county homes are a throwback to a bygone era when every county had an old folks home.

These days, such facilities have grown rare, as more and more counties have closed their old folks homes or turned them over to private enterprise.

Given the budget crunch brought on by Indiana’s recent tax reforms, it’s entirely possible that Cass County will follow suit.

Commissioners hope to make a decision at their meeting on Monday. If you feel strongly on this issue, you might want to attend.