LeadingAge New York Adviser Winter Vol. 1 | Page 16

Long Term Care

AS UNIQUE AS A FINGERPRINT
Often when thinking about long term care thoughts go to some type of congregate setting that is designed to
meet the needs of an aging population by delivering quality care and services. For many LeadingAge New York
members this is a good analysis of their missions. However, for some the long term care needs are geared in
whole, or in part, to a much younger or specialized population.
Realizing the long term care is indeed as unique as a fingerprint, LeadingAge New York Adviser reached out talk
to some members serving special populations within long term care to explore some key questions including:
how mission changes as needs change, how has managed care affected their services, what issues keep them
up at night, the definition of success and future plans. Also in this section, a series of articles about hospice and
palliative care, itself a niche within long term care, illustrate special populations and issues that require unique
approaches and offerings.

ST. MARGARET’S CENTER
By Beth Barends, executive director

As a Pediatric Skilled Nursing Facility in Albany, St.
Margaret’s Center, is committed to supporting the
clinical and social needs of its residents to create
and afford opportunities for them to reach their
greatest potential. St. Margaret’s has a long and
rich history beginning in 1883 as a small home
for abandoned babies. It had ties to the Episcopal
Church and was named after the patron saint of
orphans. St. Margaret’s flourished and grew and
moved to new locations over time. Today’s location
has been its home since 1936.
Today St. Margaret’s is home for 92 children and
young adults. It is part of a larger continuum of
programs and services for people with disabilities
that are offered by our parent corporation, the
Center for Disability Services.
St. Margaret’s is the only skilled nursing facility in
New York State with a single, dedicated campus
for both children and young adults. Admissions
are accepted for children from birth to age 21
and for young adults ages 21 to 40. Our 20-bed
Young Adult living unit was created in 1999 in
response