"Trends in Long Term Healthcare", (c) Judy Spalding, The Othello Outlook June 16, 2008 

“Alternative housing such as ours is not first on the list, but we address many needs,” said Annie Smith, administrator of Avalon Care Center in Othello.

“There has been a lot of changes in long-term healthcare,” said Smith, “We have more acute stage diseases. Obesity and diabetes has caused vascular diseases, sores on legs, heart and lung problems. And most of this is in young patients.”

According to Smith the problems with obesity and diabetes are the result of a “very passive lifestyle. Kids don’t play like they used to. It’s kind of scary.”

The rehabilitation care offered at Avalon Care Center is used by around one-fourth of the residents.

“In most of these cases patients go back to a lesser form of assisted living. Programs like COPES (Community Options Program Entry System)allows for more continuum of care in the home,” said Smith.

The cost of living at Avalon Care Center is $5,600 per month for room and board. For those on Medicare the program will pay 80 percent and the other 20 percent can be picked up by a supplemental insurance. By the day - the cost is $128.

“Changes are yearly in the Medicare/Medicaid programs. When you are young you don’t think about long-term care. People would be wise to think about it,” Smith said.

Avalon provides IV hookups, physical therapy, feeding tubes and wound management.

“From five years ago we dropped to one-fourth of our patients in rehabilitation,” said Smith.

“Culturally many families want their loved one at home. If someone is providing total care it is very hard for one person to do. A good support system helps. I’ve seen many wives taking care of their husbands.”

When asked about the increased need for long-term health care, Smith said, “More chronic illnesses allow the person to live longer and they can be more stable.”

Smith pointed out that many of the residents of Avalon don’t have families that live in Othello.

“Because we are small we can develop more relationships. We have department heads that have been here 20-25 years. They want to help people and make a difference. They are giving something back. We get attached.”

“We see the patients over and over. We see them as they are now. We are not like the families that can see the decline because they knew them before,” said Smith.

One of the Avalon’s patients has been in the center since its opening in 1973.

“In Othello, we are lucky because there are a lot of communities that don’t have nursing homes,” Smith said.

The facility was originally called Beverly Healthcare. When it was built it had 62 beds and averaged 57 patients. As time went on the facility was licensed for 49 and now, on an average, has 30 to 34 patients.

“It is a dollar issue. Sixty-six percent of the elderly population chooses Medicaid as the alternate source of living. It’s logical to me that medical managers have to be there.”

Smith is a nursing graduate of the Lower Columbia College, has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Washington. For a time Smith taught home economics. Smith moved to Othello with her husband Bill Smith, who had family in Othello.

In 1984 Smith became the administrator of the care center, which she calls her second job.

“I put down roots. Othello is a nice small town.”

In 2001, Avalon Care Center remodeled the north wing of the center and is presently remodeling the south wing.

“We are making it homey - home like and inviting, with warmer colors.” said Smith.

Previously, the center investigated the creation of a total dementia unit. It was decided the two dementia units in Moses Lake - Lake Ridge and Summer Wood - could handle the flow. Avalon only accepts non-violent dementia patients.