Help!

CRESCO - Country Winds Manor (Patty Elwood Center)/Donald Lundak Center are hoping to make payroll this week. 

The two facilities, the former Howard County Residential Facility, have been struggling to make ends meet ever since the COVID-19 pandemic struck last year.

“We’ve been hit with tough times,” said board member Mark Grinhaug. “We were doing pretty well until the pandemic. Then we had staff and clients get sick.”

During the pandemic, the 12-bed Donald Lundak Assisted Living Center had 8-9 residents, who were either moved to Evans Memorial Home in Cresco or to private homes.

“We never got these individuals back. We had one client who moved out this weekend. We were paying a full staff for one resident,” he explained.

Then Patty Elwood Center, which is geared toward dementia patients, and Donald Lundak Assisted Living Center had to contract nurses, which is very expensive.

Grinhaug noted the facility kept having prospective clients who didn’t materialize. “We couldn’t get our census back up.”

The Patty Elwood Center has 24 beds, with only 15 occupied.

The board member added, “Before COVID, we had a good mix of private and Medicare patients. When the numbers fell below the break-even point, we were operating in the red. We have depleted our reserves.”

The board is very thankful for the help they have been receiving from Regional Health Services of Howard County. “Dr. Kammerer made [CEO] Robin Schluter aware of our problem. She made sure their nurses go to Country Winds to make sure everything is working to standards. They have been extremely helpful.”

But now time is particularly critical. Country Winds is very close to shutting its doors. A GoFundMe Facebook page has been set up for anyone wishing to donate some money. Donations can also be given at CUSB Bank directly.

For more information on this, concerned citizens can contact board members Judy Bina, chair; Bob Elwood, vice-chair; Grinhaug, secretary/ treasurer; and directors Don Wearda and Larry Shroyer.