11/19/2025
An Open Letter to Residents, Families, and Friends of Prairie Sunset Home
Current as of: Wednesday, November 19, 2025
We are asked to confront new and unexpected challenges nearly every week in the adult care home world. The record-breaking government shutdown has had little effect on our operations. Every day we attempt to get better at our service delivery. We started building our 2016 Budget last week. The 2016 DRAFT Budget will be presented to the PSH Board of Directors for review and consideration this Thursday. Final approval should happen at the December meeting.
We got a modest 2.8% bump in to Medicare rates which helps. Additionally, we know that every year Medicaid DOES NOT fully cover the ongoing costs of care. So, as we approach the end of the year, please consider a charitable, tax deductible, donation to PSH. Community support for this campus, and by extension active stockholders, are what will keep Prairie Sunset Home viable into the future.
You should consider becoming a stockholder in Prairie Sunset Home, Inc. Over the years, many of you have worked here. We are, by far, the largest employer in southern Reno County. We have 89 employees currently employed in a full or part-time status. Readers might find it interesting that there are currently 284 current stockholders of record. Most stockholders have had some level of moral or financial commitment to the success of PSH in the past. Support from some of those stockholders go back as far as 50 years and beyond. Some others have moved away and their interest in our success is much less apparent. A handful of other stockholders have inherited their shares from a parent or grandparent with little to no understanding about PSH value to the community at large. In any case, many of the current stockholders have grown older and are residents living on the campus—in the cottages or the adult care home. Fifteen (15) PSH employees are included in the 284 total as well.
You can become a stockholder. Stockholders may attend the annual meeting in February and are entitled to vote for the board of directors—one-share equals one-vote. Each share of stock can be purchased for only $25, and importantly, no one can own more than 10 shares ($250).
Your vitality and understanding of the greater Pretty Prairie culture and awareness of the day-to-day operations of this campus make you an asset as a stockholder and potential director. Over time, the board will need stockholders with experience to help guide PSH into the future. The board of directors need and appreciate your effort, ideas and input into the success of PSH.
Get with Gayle and fill out the “Stockholder Purchase Request.” Buy one (1) share now and another when you can. You know you are already committed to PSH success! $25 puts you in it for the long run. Most of our friends know that we are rated as a 5-Star facility by CMS. However, we continue to ask PSH residents and their families and/or legal representatives, volunteers and other interested friends, to provide recommendations and ideas that will help us to grow, evolve, and improve in every aspect of our operation.
The Courtyard renovation is nearing completion. Jeff Babson and his team have made incredible progress during this November warm dry spell. Many of us have watched their continuing progress over the past week and a half. They are really skilled at operating the smaller skid-steer loader—there isn’t one inch of excess clearance into the courtyard through the 4’ gate. We await to see if the gate survives. When it is completed, the courtyard will be much more functional for outdoor activities and easier to maintain.
Please continue to self-screen yourself at our Kiosk when you enter to visit. Screening at the Kiosk helps us with our required weekly report to the CDC related to any communicable diseases and/or vaccinations. Type in your name/phone number; who you are here to see; line your face up on the screen as your temperature is automatically taken—you are IN.
As a reminder, the 2026 Medicare Open Enrollment period is now open through December 7, 2025. During Open Enrollment, Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their health and prescription drug plans for 2026. Medicare expects over 55% of the Medicare eligible beneficiaries to enroll in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan. MA plans generally cost less per month, but have serious loopholes related to coverage. Congress continues to investigate complaints regarding the Medicare Advantage plans. Insurance executives try to explain why the Medicare Advantage plan rates of denial have increased so much in the last few years. Complaints about delays in getting approval for treatment are routine. The sad fact is most plans require “prior approval” before medical treatment or coverage will be allowed. Caveat emptor—Let the buyer beware!
As a reminder, if you are aware of someone who is dissatisfied or fed-up with the poor quality of medical care, unresponsive service, food choices, or policies at their current nursing home or are considering a move into an adult care home very soon, either assisted living or skilled nursing, please encourage them to call (620-459-6822) or visit us. Without a consistent revenue stream, it becomes more difficult to provide the superior service and medical care you expect. Today we only have one (1) skilled nursing bed empty and ready for occupancy. A couple of ALF units are available. The cottages are all occupied.
Thank you again for your referrals and continued support. For more information about PSH happenings, go to our FACEBOOK page. Keep looking in on our scheduled activities this fall. Your referrals are important to us and the finest compliment we can be paid! Working together, we make Prairie Sunset Home a great place to live and work!
Aaron D. Kelley Jr., Administrator
