I have been involved with Windemere for over eight years, both as the daughter of a resident who died two years ago and as a very involved volunteer. I never leave the elderly residents and those that care for them, without feeling I have been given more than I have given. I care deeply about Windemere and it’s occupants, hence this response to the disturbing news we Islanders were given last week regarding the closing of a very important part of the facility.

In my opinion, in light of this recent decision to close its Independent Living unit, the running of Windemere needs to be looked into, deeply, by an outside entity. It seems like it is being treated like it is the hospital’s ugly step-sister.

There is no other place on the Island at this level of care that accepts Medicare and Medicaid patients/residents. That means that elderly members (your parent/neighbor/friend) of our community, who find themselves not able to live alone and who need an independent living environment due to increasing care needs, and who have no other place to stay that would/could give them the care they require, must now be torn away from family, friends and community and deported to some facility off-Island. The damage this does physically, mentally and emotionally, especially to the elderly person and the family, is hard to put a price on. Something is very wrong with a system/facility that allows this to occur.

I acknowledge that Windemere is not the only facility of its type to have serious financial challenges, but to not let our Island community know there was a serious financial problem in advance of such a drastic measure, that of removing this essential part of our care system, is unconscionable. There has been little to no outreach to our community for help. However, when the needs of our non-profit organizations are made known, like those of the Y and hockey rink, look what can happen. This community rises up and donates millions. Why on earth has this not been done for Windemere?

I, for one, am furious that the seriousness of the situation was swept under the rug until some of us started asking questions and we Islanders were not ever given a chance to help. Why was this?

Because they, essentially, work for us, I ask the hospital administration and the Board the following questions: What was the date of the decision to close the Independent Living unit? I wonder if the attrition of occupants was not intentional.

How many applications for residency in the independent living unit have there been in the past two years? How many have been declined and why? Are the minutes of any meetings concerning this issue available to the public? If not, why not?

Has the administration and the Board “pulled out all the stops” and engaged the community in an all out assault on the state for proper funding? I know actions have been done on behalf of our affordable housing needs, but I am not aware of this if it has been done on behalf of our elderly.

What is wrong with the hospital subsidizing Windemere? Is the hospital operating at a loss? Has the association with Partners (MGH) put pressure on the hospital to cut the losses the hospital is experiencing by subsidizing Windemere?

What has been done, other than ads in the paper and brochures at health fairs, to introduce the independent care unit to the public?

It is my opinion the hospital board and administration have seriously mismanaged and neglected their duty and obligation to provide a place to care for some of our elderly at a very vulnerable time in their life. This is inhumane at a very deep level. I’d like to be proven wrong.

I urge everyone on the Island who has the same concerns and outrage I do, to write or call the administration and the board, and copy the state and the media, demanding answers and solutions.

Ann Floyd
Edgartown