At the Aug. 4 Howard County commissioners meeting, a representative for Howard Haven requested approval to admit Debbie Prather, a Howard County resident, as a private‑pay resident. The representative said the admission would make the facility a full house at 20 residents.

A commissioner moved and seconded the admission, and commissioners approved the request by voice vote. The transcript does not include Prather’s background, admission date, rate of payment, or whether any openings would be held for future admissions.

Why it matters: Howard Haven is a county‑run long‑term care or residential facility; approving private‑pay admissions affects capacity and revenue for the facility.

Context and next steps: Staff will process the admission paperwork. Commissioners praised the Howard Haven staff’s work during the meeting; one commissioner said they had recommended Jennifer to a neighboring county seeking guidance on similar operations.