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 McCready expanded its health care services in 1968 when it opened a nursing home and named it in memory of a beloved local resident, Alice Byrd Tawes. Mrs. Tawes was the mother of late Maryland Gov. J. Millard Tawes. That single-story structure will be replaced in 2010 by the new Alice B. Tawes Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Construction currently is underway.
 Why replace the nursing home? After four decades, it became apparent the original building was too small, too cramped and just too old by current nursing home standards. The original 69-bed facility also needs additional skilled nursing beds. Patients need -- and deserve -- larger rooms as well as modern dining and recreational areas. The staff needs more office space, more storage space and more room to work. A new $12½ million, four-story structure with a waterfront view of the Little Annemessex River will fill those needs.
 Mrs. Tawes’ great-grandson, Crisfield entrepreneur Jay Tawes, is working with fellow civic leaders, dedicated staff members and community residents in a campaign to raise $1 million that will go toward construction of the new nursing. The rest of the construction financing is a combination of local, state and federal loans, gifts and grants plus several million dollars of McCready Foundation funds. The Rural Development office of the federal Department of Agriculture played an instrumental role in providing a low-interest $6 million loan and guaranteed a bank loan for an additional $4 million. When ready for occupancy in 2010, it will accommodate 76 nursing home patients, plus an additional 30 Assisted Living residents who will live on the top floor.
 The first story will be connected – as is the original nursing home – with McCready Hospital so patients, residents and the staff can travel back and forth easily. This floor will contain a reception area, dining facilities, administrative offices and several large spaces for McCready and community meetings and social events.
 The second and third floors will accommodate 76 skilled nursing beds in private and semi-private room settings. The top floor will be the Assisted Living center featuring dining and leisure spaces, and large enough to accommodate 30 residents in single- and double-bed room configurations.
The McCready Foundation is in the home stretch of raising $1 million for the capital building campaign. A little under $65,000 is needed to reach its goal. We encourage you to help. For more information, please go to "Ways to Give.".
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