Why a New Facility is So Critical
In May 1958, St. Michael’s opened its doors in a former nursing home built the end of the 19th Century and which was renovated to accommodate the Home’s first 30 or so residents. In the last decades of the 20th Century, the structure underwent another renovation with the addition of two wings on each side of the building: the north side to house a chapel and the south wing to include 18 private rooms with baths.
While this project beautifully transformed the old facility, it was unable to change the reality that most bedrooms are semi-private with communal bathrooms located in various locations in the hallways, nor were additional ancillary spaces possible to provide areas to meet the needs of a changing community. While this was acceptable to those older immigrant residents, it has become less and less desirable to the next generations of American-born seniors. Despite these limitations, for decades the Home has provided its residents with a unique environment and exemplary care.
Towards the end of the 1990’s, it became apparent that the facility was unable to truly fulfill its mission in serving the needs of the elderly population. Its capacity is 60 residents but more importantly, there is only one licensed level of care from the NYS Department of Health (DOH). As a licensed residential “adult care facility,” residents must be somewhat self-sufficient and above all, ambulatory. Over time, many require higher levels of care due to the natural aging process. Because of cultural, religious and in many cases linguistic needs of residents, the DOH has been somewhat accommodating when it comes to individuals being self-sufficient. But in the course of any year it has become necessary as per the ever-increasing stringent regulations of the DOH, to transfer anywhere from 10 to 20 individuals to facilities offering higher levels of care—this at a time in their lives when they truly need the embrace of the Church and community. Moreover, over the years many applicants exceeding the DOH criteria for admission had to be turned away.
Faced with this harsh reality and unable to expand at our current location, after an exhaustive search, a new site in Uniondale, Long Island was purchased in November 2014 upon which we will establish a continuum care facility to meet the ever-increasing needs, numbers and changing identity of the elderly in our community. Located on the 11-acre site is a former high school building, encompassing over 100,000 square feet. Because of the efforts to rebuild St. Nicholas (Ground Zero) which were underway at that time, the Board made the conscientious decision to delay its fund-raising to prevent a negative impact on that project, while also not placing a burden on the community.
Because of the critical need and the innumerable queries, however, the expansion project could no longer be delayed and in 2017 the Home initiated its efforts to realize the long-awaited dream of a new expanded facility. After an extensive study, the vision for this expansion was identified and necessary applications submitted to the DOH. During this time, Phase One of the project was completed which involved extensive asbestos remediation, the gutting of the entire complex of buildings as well as the preparation of initial architectural drawings. Having finally secured the necessary permission from the DOH in November 2020 to renovate the structure, construction began in January 2021. This approval by the DOH is a clear indication that they believed in the mission of this new facility and that St. Michael’s is more than adequate to operate it. This state-of-the-art continuum care facility will be able to accommodate over 150 residents and will secure various DOH licenses (versus the current one) allowing it to offer progressively higher levels of care, thus minimizing—if not eliminating the need for any resident to leave for another institution. Also, we will be able to accept applicants who do not qualify for the current Home since their care needs exceed those permitted by the State. While no longer limited to Greek Orthodox members (so as to qualify for Medicare/Medicaid), it will maintain its unique identity and as such, expects to attract primarily members of our community especially since there is a high concentration of them within close proximity and the Tri-State area.
Included in the renovated structure will be: independent living one-bedroom apartments; studio bedrooms for independent and assisted living; a secure Memory Care Wing for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia as well as a Greek Orthodox house of worship; a library; computer room; exercise room; arts/crafts room; Wellness Center and so many other ancillary spaces to provide an attractive and nurturing environment for all residents. This is all critical in developing the new facility as a viable option for those looking for such an institution.
At this point in the construction, the cost to complete Phase Two of this monumental and life-changing project is approximately $32,500,000. While the current facility in Yonkers did not lose any residents to COVID, (something we are most thankful for and proud of) we did lose over 1½ years of fund-raising. As the pandemic is waning, the Home is able to reengage its fund-raising efforts and the Board of Trustees is diligently working to secure the funds needed to complete the expansion. It is our fervent hope, especially now that construction is moving along smoothly, that friends and supporters of the Home will assist in the realization of this critically needed facility, so that it can open its doors by the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023.
In planning this new facility several years ago, the Board responsibly engaged the services of the Filben Group. They have 40 years of experience in elder care and have been serving as consultants throughout our process of developing the various care programs, which will be offered in the new facility. Moreover, because of the expanded resident numbers and levels of care, the Uniondale Home will be a quantum leap to operate, so for the first year they will assist with the operation of the new facility, thus allowing our staff adequate time to “learn the ropes.” To that end, the Filben Group has prepared an Operations Model “business plan” which outlines what that will entail, with the expectation that the new facility will be financially viable—which is a priority for the Board.
Times are a changing and while the expectation of the prior generation was that Greek American children would take care of their aging parents, that is no longer the reality. People are living much longer, so oftentimes their children are in their 70’s with many challenged to care for themselves. Many children are in that middle generation, having to balance caring for their parents while helping to care for grandchildren. An additional note is that American-born individuals do not want to live with their children and refuse to be considered a burden, preferring to maintain a degree of independence and live life to its fullest, despite the limitations apparent at that stage in their lives. Another sad reality is that there are plenty Greek Orthodox elderly who do not have family to look after them. The new St. Michael’s is an attractive option to all of these individuals. While there are many facilities for the elderly, St. Michael’s offers a unique environment. Even though there are more and more American-born generations, most still identify with their Greek heritage. They enjoy speaking “Greeklish,” eat some occasional Greek food, dance the kalamatiano every now and then, socialize with others with similar backgrounds and experiences, and have the option to attend church service.
Certainly at this point in their lives, deal with the loss of family and friends, while also facing their own mortality, the elderly have a great need for embrace and support from the Church and community. The new St. Michael’s maintains that connection and avoids the isolation which very often occurs when elderly attend institutions affiliated with other Faith-communities or which are secular institutions.
Who knows what the future holds for each of us. If we haven’t already done so, we may soon need to deal with aging parents who require more care than we can provide. Isn’t it comforting that they can be entrusted to a place like St. Michael’s which has earned a stellar reputation, not only within the community but also with its licensing agencies? Moreover, no one at St. Michael’s ever thought they would end up there but rest assured, they are most thankful that the facility exists to provide them with its unique environment and quality of care. Testimony to that quality in care is the fact that as stated before, St. Michael’s did not lose any resident to the pandemic, something in which the community should be most proud of, especially in light of what happened in other elder care facilities throughout the state. National statistics indicate that a growing percentage of aging individuals (the fastest growing segment of the American population) will at one time or another need a facility like St. Michael’s.
It is past time for the Greek Orthodox community to respond to the needs of those individuals—their beloved Yiayia’s and Pappou’s who raised incredible families, all while donating their time to labor long and hard on behalf of our parishes, institutions and organizations. It is time to provide them and perhaps ourselves, one day in the future, with a beautiful and sophisticated facility with all its comforts and services—unlike any and all others which can be secular, belong to other Faith-communities or are for-profit with exorbitant fees. To paraphrase that popular Greek expression, “there where you are, I once was, here where I am, you may one day be!”
Ground-Breaking Ceremony for St. Michael’s Home Expansion
On Sunday, December 13th, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America officiating at an Agiasmos Service followed by a ground-breaking ceremony marking the start of Phase 2 of the expansion project of St. Michael’s Home at its future site in Uniondale, (Long Island), NY. Having completed Phase 1 which included asbestos abatement and interior demolition work in the existing building, the Home recently received from the New York State Department of Health the necessary permission to begin the construction of the new state-of-the-art continuum care facility which will increase not only the capacity of the current Home which will be moving from Yonkers to this new location, but more importantly, the licensed levels of care offered.
In his remarks, His Eminence commented on how impressive the 11-acre site is and the great potential which exists to create a beautiful facility and expand the ministry to the elderly. He exhorted those present that this undertaking should not be viewed as “charity” but rather our sacred obligation and responsibility to provide an appropriate home for our elderly, thus responding to the Old Testament admonition to “honor thy father and thy mother”.
President of the Board, Haeda Mihaltses, thanked His Eminence for his presence on the auspicious occasion which marks the beginning of a dream which began almost 20 years ago when it was decided that the Home needed to expand to meet the ever-increasing needs of the elderly which is the fastest growing segment of the American population. She invited all those members of the community who have not yet participated in the project in a tangible way, to now do what they can to support the endeavor so as to realize in a timely fashion the completion of the expansion which is anxiously awaited by so many in the Greek American community.
Board of Trustee and head of the Building Committee, Manny Kratsios, thanked his fellow members of the committee who diligently worked to help bring St. Michael’s to this moment. He shared that it was a long and arduous process which needed to not only navigate the rules and regulations of the Department of Health but also to work within the confines of the existing building which was a former high school. The design not only meets the stringent requirement of the State but above all, will offer a magnificent 100,000 sq. ft. facility with multi-levels of quality care and all the amenities residents so deserve. The $45 million dollar project, which includes hard and soft costs, will take approximately two years to complete.
For more information on this project and/or to discuss making a generous contribution please contact the Home at stmichaelshome@msn.com or at 914-476-3374.Or visit the Home’s webpage: stmichaelshome.org.In addition to Naming Opportunities, all major gifts will be acknowledged on a Donor Board at the entrance of the facility while ALL donations, large and small, will be included in a digital donor program which can be viewed in the same area
June Message from the Director
Dear friends of St. Michael's,
As Director of the Home it is my great pleasure to share with you this update on the expansion of the facility which will mark the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in the history of this Archdiocesan institution which just celebrated its 63rd Anniversary. This expansion will be a quantum leap from what St. Michael's has offered our elderly for over 6 decades by increasing its capacity from 60 to approximately 150 residents and more importantly, expanding from one level of licensed care currently offered, to four progressively higher levels of care thus minimizing the need to transfer out any individual who needs additional care because of the aging process. Moreover, we will be able to accept those who are currently ineligible for admission because they exceed the criteria established by the State for our current license.
After some delay primarily because of the pandemic, the New York State Department of Health finally issued towards the end of 2020 the necessary permission (ECC) to begin the construction on the Uniondale site. Following a blessing service in December officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, construction started this past January and has been progressing smoothly. A crew of over 50 workers has spent the last 5 months working on required infrastructure. Over 60 dry wells have been installed all over the property, 40 or so trees had to be removed, asbestos abatement completed in second floor area which will house independent living one-bedroom apartments, a second floor was constructed within the former gymnasium to provide the space which will house the Memory Care Wing and underground water and sewer lines are being installed throughout the ground floor. If all goes according to plan the new magnificent state-of-the-art continuum care facility should be ready by the Fall of 2022.
Early in May we were informed by the Department of Health that they had approved our application for 33 ALP beds which came as a pleasant surprise since these beds, offered on a limited basis, are highly sought after by facilities throughout the State. We expect that once the structure has been completed, the State will approve our additional licenses as soon as they have verified that the building meets their stringent regulations and codes. Our attorneys in Albany who have been working with the Department of Health assure us that the Early Construction Commencement (ECC) approval which we received last November occurs after there has been a preliminary review of our application, with a particular emphasis on the architectural plans. Projects that come to this point have always been ultimately approved, since the DOH looks for any gating issues prior to issuing the ECC approval..
While this is all very positive and hopeful, we still need to reach our Capital Campaign goal AS SOON AS POSSIBLE and raise the funds needed to complete the project. As you can well appreciate, "fund-raising" was extremely challenging during the pandemic. Now that things are opening up and people are slowly but surely returning to some degree of normalcy we are hopeful that we will be successful in this effort.
To those who have already made a substantive contribution to the expansion, please accept our heartfelt appreciation and know that you have brought us one step closer to the realization of this long awaited dream. To those who have not yet been a tangible part of the project, on this website you can find a list of Naming Opportunities still available. Feel free to reach out to me at developmentoffice@stmichaelshome.org if you want to discuss making a contribution or to arrange a possibly visit to the site.
I know that those who do participate by offering what they can to the completion of the expansion will feel a deep sense of contentment and pride that they have been a part of this noble endeavor which will so positively impact the lives of countless elderly and their families who entrust them to our care.
We need your generous support at this time otherwise we may have to slow down or briefly stop the construction on a expanded facility which is so desperately needed by our elderly. The time to make a substantive donation is NOW!
Looking forward to hearing from you and wishing you and all your loved ones an enjoyable and restful summer filled with the abundant blessings of our Lord, I remain in His Service,
+Bishop Andonios
Director
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