After 24 years of financial and other support from our local hospital and following statement from Lehigh Regional Medical Center’s CEO Joanie Jeannette was emailed to the Lehigh Acres Gazette:
“We have enjoyed supporting the Lehigh Acres Senior Citizen Center for many years but our first priority is to provide needed healthcare services to our community. As many hospitals must do in this changing environment, we are evaluating how we allocate our resources to best support direct patient care. Prior to our sponsorship agreement expiring, we had several conversations with the center to find ways to be supportive. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach a new agreement and can no longer continue our sponsorship at the same level.”
The current Lehigh Acres Senior Center President Tom Smith has refused to comment on the situation. But members of the center are confused and concerned about the financial future of the senior center.
In the Feb 2015 Lehigh Acres Senior Center newsletter the following statement was printed: Lehigh Regional Center CEO Joanie Jeannette came to speak to our members at the Breakfast with the Doctor on Thursday January 22, to explain the hospital’s decision to decrease the sponsorship to us by 80% due to the fact that the hospital has just ended a tough year. CEO Jeanette also explained that the hospital had offered to take over this senior center this past summer, taking over the assets and programs in exchange for paying the bills and control, which would have managed by the hospital’s parent corporation. The Senior Center Board felt that this was not in the best interests and declined the offer in July. In the newsletter it also states, “The Board also declined the 20% support from the hospital in order to go into the community/county to find multiple sponsors and avoid conflict of interest with new sponsors in diverse business sectors.”
The hospital has helped pay for the operations of the center including their executive director.
The building belongs to Lee County Parks and Rec. and they still have a longtime agreement with the senior center.
The hospital in the past few years has reduced or stopped funding projects in Lehigh Acres such Lee County Volunteer’s in Medicine, Lehigh Acres Spring Festival and the ACS Relay for Life.
All the other senior centers in Lee County are sponsored by county government. As it should be in Lehigh! Our senior center is a hub of activity, especially in the winter season but the summer stays busy as well. This is a vital part of our community,likewise, as in other communities in Lee county.
That is terrible. People really enjoy going there and it is a ital place for seniors.
Sorry to hear that.
It would be nice if the Med. Ctr. reassess their support for the Senior Ctr. at a time when more residents are utilizing their services under the new ownership. It is disheartening to residents to loose support from one of the largest employers in Lehigh. Senior Ctr. needs you, and they are an important part of the Med. Ctr. business and Lehigh.
The Lehigh Regional Med Ctr. had been supportive in the past even when the economy had been less than desirable.