The West River Health Services Foundation Board of Directors met for their quarterly meeting on Monday, November 27th. They agreed to provide funding support of $55,000 per year to Western Horizons Care Center (WHCC), thereby allowing every resident who desires to be in a private room, to do so. This will be without the financial burden of the additional $10 per day charge (or $3,650 per year) that has historically been in place. Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for private room services, so payment for a private room in the past has come privately from the resident or resident’s family. Most of the area care centers still charge $10 per day (and some even more) for private rooms.
Providing every resident who desires to be in a private room with that opportunity, has been a long-time goal of the entire organization at West River Health Services. The staff at WHCC is grateful for this financial support from the WRHS Foundation Board of Directors. And especially for the gifts from donors who give to the Western Horizons Living Centers and General Funds via the WRHS Foundation.
“I congratulate the Western Horizons Living Centers Board of Directors on their decision to offer a private room at no extra charge to all of their residents,” said Steve Hedstrom, Chairman of the WRHS Foundation Board of Directors. “Our Care Center is home to many of our friends and relatives. The staff and WHLC Board are working hard to make it a good home.”
Western Horizons Care Center in Hettinger is currently licensed with the state for 45 beds. According to Heather Boxrud, Administrator in Training, who works alongside WHLC Administrator, Tony Hanson, “We currently have available rooms, and now, because of the generosity of the WRHS Foundation, we can offer a more homelike feeling and experience for our residents, with private rooms for all at no extra charge.” And resident families might also want to consider, that only a stone’s throw away is a Top 100 in the USA Critical Access Hospital, with a 24 Hour Emergency Room and West River Ambulance Service. There are not very many Care Centers in the country that offer such proximity to top healthcare.
If any families are interested in a tour of the facility or would like more information on the services provided and costs associated, please contact Western Horizons Care Center at 701-567-2401. We’d be more than willing to visit with you and your family about your potential residency, give you a tour of the facility, and maybe enjoy a cup of coffee. Boxrud went on to say, “Over the last year, the WRHS Foundation has been a huge factor in being able to provide some of our newest amenities, including a new bathing room, facility van, new beds, and recliners. We could not be more grateful for the WRHS Foundation always going above and beyond for our residents.” And of course, the donors who give.
Together with our area communities and donors throughout the country, we are making a difference by improving our top-notch healthcare “close to home.” If you’d like to participate in giving with the WRHS Foundation, please contact Ted Uecker at 701-567-3666. Our qualified 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization is always ready to visit about the future, especially heading into our annual “Giving Hearts Day” magic, which culminates on February 8th. Plus, the WRHS Foundation also has three qualified endowment funds – Healthcare Heroes, Physician Recruitment Endowment, and General Endowment. With gifts of $5,000 or more toward any one of these funds, ND citizens are eligible for the state’s amazing 40% tax credit.
Thank you WRHS, WHLC, and Foundation leaders and staff for looking out for our residents. They’ve impacted our area communities in the past and now it’s our turn to “pay it forward” to them. Onward! Ted Uecker, FDO