Aug 18, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      

Contact: Karen Hawes, Lee County Human Services
              (239) 533-7930
  
COUNTY TO TURN OWNERSHIP OF NURSING HOME FACILITY TO PRIVATE ORGANIZATION

FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 18, 2005) - Lee County will turn full ownership of Shady Rest Care Pavilion to a not-for-profit organization in a "Passing of the Keys" ceremony Monday (Aug. 22).

The ceremony will be at 11 a.m. at the nursing home, 2310 North Airport Road, across from Page Field.

County Commission Chairman Doug St. Cerny will serve as master of ceremonies and will be joined by other commissioners and representatives of the city, the community organization buying the facility, the Industrial Development Authority, and the county's Human Services Department.

The community-based, independent, not-for-profit organization buying the nursing home, Shady Rest Care Pavilion Inc., has been operating the 180-bed facility since 1998.

The transfer of operations, and now ownership, to a community organization allows for the continuation of high quality, cost effective, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services without the burden of tax support from Lee County citizens.

In May, the Board of Lee County Commissioners authorized the issuance of $7 million of Industrial Development Authority Bonds (tax-exempt financing) by Shady Rest Care Pavilion Inc. to purchase the nursing home.  Fifth Third Bank also advised Shady Rest in the transaction.

The county got into the nursing home business in 1958 (see timeline below), with the opening of the 60-bed County Home for the Aged.  Over the years the facility was expanded, and in 1994, the county completed construction of the current facility just east the 1958 facility.  Shady Rest's operations were privatized in 1998, but the county continued to own the facility until now.

History - This facility has a long and interesting history.  Some of the highlights include

• June 29, 1958 - The original facility is opened at a cost of $225,000.  This facility was directly to the west of the current facility and had 60 beds.  It was called the County Home for the Aged and residents paid $125 per month.  Approximately 4,000 people attended the ribbon cutting ceremony.
  
• 1961 - The addition of 20 beds brought the total number of beds to 80.  The Lee County Board of County Commissioners changed the name of the facility to Shady Rest.
  
• 1963 - An infirmary was added to the facility.
  November 1965 - The Chapel, paid for by private donations of $5,182, was added to the grounds.
  
• October 20, 1974 - The addition of 25 more beds brought the total number to 105.  This addition was completed in response to a long waiting list created by the community need for the facility's services.
  
• December 1993 - Construction began on the new 180-bed facility, which was located directly to the east of the original 1958 facility.  The Lee County Board of County Commissioners named this new facility Shady Rest Care Pavilion.
  
• May 13, 1994 - Construction on Shady Rest Care Pavilion was completed and ready for occupancy.  The new facility included an Adult Day Care Center where 24 clients paid $25 daily for day care services.  It also included a special care unit, currently 44 beds, designed for residents with Alzheimer's or other dementia diseases that require a secure environment with structured activities.  The 105 residents from the old facility were transferred to the new facility.  Shady Rest Care Pavilion became a special needs hurricane shelter and continues to offer this service to the Lee County community.
  
• April 1998 - At the request of Lee County officials who wished to privatize the organization, an Advisory Board comprised of Lee County citizens from various backgrounds was formed to begin the process.
  
• October 1, 1998 - The Advisory Board became a full governance Board with the creation of a private non-profit corporation named Shady Rest Care Pavilion, Inc. In the privatization, the facility's license was transferred to the new corporation with real and personal property leased from the County. 
  
• March 2003 - The Board of Directors of Shady Rest Care Pavilion, Inc. and the Lee County Board of County Commissioners began formal negotiations regarding the sale of the facility.
  
• March 2004 - Shady Rest Care Pavilion, Inc. began discussions with Fifth Third Bank and the Industrial Development Authority regarding purchase financing.
  
• June 1, 2004 - The Lee County Board of County Commissioners approved the sale of the facility to Shady Rest Care Pavilion, Inc.  This also included the approval of the purchase agreement entered into by the County and Shady Rest Care Pavilion, Inc.
  
• July 28, 2005 - The closing documents for the purchase of the facility were signed by Lee County officials and officers from the Shady Rest Care Pavilion, Inc. Board of Directors.
  

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