Strafford County delegation backs Riverside nursing-home budget after review of staffing, cyber defenses and maintenance needs

The Strafford County Delegation approved support for the commissioners' recommended portion of the Riverside nursing-home budget after a detailed budget review that covered staffing levels, infection control, cybersecurity and building repairs.

Delegation members raised a motion to support the commissioners' recommendation for the Riverside budget portion and approved it by voice vote; the meeting record does not list a mover, seconder or a roll-call tally.

The nursing-home presentation emphasized several factors that shaped the budget request: staffing and acuity-driven reimbursement, infection-prevention work that the facility said has kept its infection rates below regional averages, the ongoing cost of oxygen and other medical supplies, recurring cybersecurity costs to defend resident and employee data, and capital needs such as replacement dishwashers and plumbing work. A presenter noted that 80 percent of the long-term administrator's salary is reported to Medicaid and that the administrator's week is based on a 50-hour schedule to satisfy…