In reference to your July 19 article, “Bill sets plans for veterans home in motion,” I find it necessary to add my comments.

I find it curious that legislative efforts to open a 60-bed veterans nursing home would be consumed just on the heels of mammoth efforts to close virtually every nursing home in the state through proposals to change Medicaid eligibility (a subject frequently addressed in this column). Frankly, I find these two activities to be conflicting in purpose and unfair to those who provide long-term care services.

I might mention that the governor’s budget outlines a concerted effort on the part of state government to provide every alternative to nursing home care in addition to provisions to recuce our bed capacity. I reluctantly agree with these efforts as signs of the times and our facility will stand ready to serve those in need. However, place us patients next to a 60-bed facility vying for a decreasing number of patients and economic failure will result for both facilities.

I find it also noteworthy that when Marshall Health Care Facility applied for a certificate of need for a 75-bed facility in 1978, we were awarded 62 due to expected demand projections. Based on today’s census, we would have 11 beds empty had they been granted. Where, might I ask, is the demand for 60 more beds? We have traditionally served the veterans and their wives in our facility with the honor and respect they deserve. We feel we have the capacity in the country to continue to do so.

I would suggest that our legislators and town of Machias officials prepare for a sad reality in today’s long-term care environment. The construction of a new nursing home might be symbolized as replacing a white elephant with a white elephant. Surely, the taxpayers’ money can be spent with more wisdom. Peter C. Marshall Administrator Marshall Health Care Facility Machias