Bloomingdale specialized care facility's plan to move blindsides patients' families
CHICAGO (CBS) – This story started with an email from a concerned suburban parent about the upcoming closure of the facility that houses her medically fragile son.
She fears that kids like hers are "often forgotten by society." The nonprofit that runs the aging home invited CBS 2 in to see for ourselves.
Morning Insider Lauren Victory had the story.
Mark Weber needs tender loving specialized care.
He's part of a group of medically fragile kids and adults living at the Marklund Philip Center in Bloomingdale.
The 13-year-old's parents try to visit him multiple times a week. They fear they'll need to cut back if a plan to shut down the Boomingdale building and move to a Marklund facility 25 minutes away in Elgin happens.
"It's putting us farther away from him," said Pauline Weber, Mark's mother.
Another mother of a patient, Theresa Delgado said of her child, "She knows the nurses. She smiles when she sees them."
Celeste's mom and Tiernan's mom worry the staff and outside medical experts that their children know and rely on won't make the extra 25-minute drive.
"Disrupting his hospitals, his doctors, his school, his routine in general, and that's really going to cause a big stress on him," said Janna Merema.
"It left us blindsided," said Sue Smith.
Other parents lament the transition from an intimate 21-bed environment to one that'll house upwards of 80.
"I feel like they're breaking up our family," said Wendy Perry, another Marklund mom.
But the change is necessary, said Marklund CEO Gil Fonger.
Victory: "Are you surprised that there's pushback from parents?"
Fonger: "No. No. Any change is difficult."
He pointed to outdated features at the Bloomingdale location like bathtubs in the middle of residents' rooms.
Fonger said people like Mark would benefit from upgraded suction and oxygen systems.
"We can't really justify the millions of dollars it would take to renovate," Fonger said.
As it is, Marklund needs to bring in $2 million in fundraising a year to fill a more than $11,000 gap for each resident. State and federal funding cover the cost of care only, what the nonprofit calls "sheets and eats."
"Our margins are so thin," Fonger said.
CBS 2 asked management if a mega million dollar donation could scrap the plan to move to Elgin and keep the Bloomingdale facility open.
"It just wouldn't make any sense to continue to do the care here when we can do it better at an expanded facility in Elgin," Fonger said.
The proposal is to add on 22,000 square feet to the Elgin location and upgrade certain sections. The additional classes, outdoor space and spots for therapy are funded through donated and borrowed dollars.
"You're going to question things a little bit more because it's a big change in his medical plan," said Pauline Weber.
At lest some parents remain skeptical.
The Marklund move to Elgin is still a year-and-a-half away. The project needs approval from the state.