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Albany County panel reviews nursing-home vendor renewal and reports CNA staffing gains
Summary
County aging staff requested a one-year renewal for dental and MDS consulting services at Sacred Place Rehabilitation and described workforce gains that reduced reliance on agency staff. The board moved to authorize the contracts after questions about pay, capacity and program terms.
Albany County — County aging staff asked the board on Nov. 19 to authorize one-year renewals for providers serving residents of Sacred Place Rehabilitation and Nursing Center and described staffing gains that have reduced dependence on agency workers.
John Dillon, introduced at the meeting, summarized the procurement history: a three-year request for proposals awarded in 2022 included two optional one-year renewals. Staff said the current request is the final optional renewal. The county is seeking a one-year consulting contract to review Minimum Data Set (MDS) submissions and consult with the MDS director to ensure timely, accurate reports and avoid potential penalties. The contract amount stated to the board was $207,500 for the 2026 contract year.
The presenter described how the facility’s workforce has changed in the last year. “We’ve almost doubled our CNA FTEs,” the presenter said, noting CNA FTEs rose from roughly 42 to close to 100 as the county reduced per-diem and agency use. The presenter attributed recruiting gains to an in-house nurse-aide training program (NATP) that certified about 50 CNAs earlier in the year, with current retention in the “thirties.” The presenter also said industry turnover remains high—around 50% annually—and that the county plans to continue training efforts and use remodeled training space to support recruitment.
Board members asked about pay and benefits. The presenter said the CNA pay scale is a sliding scale starting at about $20.60 per hour and increasing to roughly $24.20, and indicated the county offers a benefits package and ancillary supports such as daycare assistance. When asked for precise daycare census, staff said the facility’s capacity is 66 and current enrollment is in the low-to-mid 40s and that they would provide an exact figure later.
A motion to approve the contract was called during the meeting. The transcript records members moving and seconding the item and members voicing approval; no detailed roll-call tally is recorded in the transcript provided.
The board did not take additional public testimony on the contract; next steps identified were final contract authorization and confirming the exact operational figures requested by members.
