New Nursing Home Proposed to Replace Zanetti Cominelli Facility
The initiative to establish a nursing home capable of replacing the ‘Zanetti Cominelli’ is becoming increasingly tangible, as a recent study suggests that upgrading the existing facility would not be as cost-effective.
The new building is planned to be adjacent to the new private elderly care institute, which is already considered a given. The ‘Zanetti Cominelli’, located in the very center of Via Garibaldi, maintains a more than respectable appearance despite its century-old age.
This condition has been supported by various improvement interventions over time, the most recent and significant of which occurred in the 1980s. However, the current nursing home is no longer capable of meeting new demands, which prioritize the renewal of concepts and equipment for an elderly population, increasingly composed of non-autonomous individuals.
Funding and Future Prospects
The board of directors has realized it cannot finance the substantial costs required (around eight billion lire), as the only available resources are the fees collected and an insufficient regional health contribution. A simple renovation, therefore, would not entirely solve the problem.
For this reason, the idea of constructing a new nursing home—driven also by local government initiatives—is gaining ground. This facility would be built according to the most modern and rational standards, capable of satisfying the demand for elderly care for several decades. The estimated cost for 73 beds is eleven billion lire.
Agreement and Project Development
This topic was discussed at a municipal meeting between the ‘Zanetti Cominelli’ council and local administrators (mayor, city council, and party leaders). It was agreed that, in addition to the private institute, a new public nursing home should be built.
«This», — explained Luigi Bianchi, president of the ‘Zanetti’ — «would be constructed using the proceeds from selling our current headquarters, which would also provide its 73 already accredited beds and all organizational and management apparatus. We cannot offer more. The Municipality — undoubtedly interested in continuing the centuries-old activity of elderly care — could and should assume the remaining financial burden.»
Next Steps
The only thing missing now to kick off the initiative is the formalization, sealed by a memorandum of understanding between the municipal administration and the board of the nursing home.