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Assisting the lives of others

A retired New York City firefighter sees a need, and tries to fill it, by buying and taking an active role in housing centers.

By LINDSAY MICHEL
Published August 16, 2006

PINELLAS PARK - Firefighter Greg McFarland had just finished a 24-hour shift when he learned that the first plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Center buildings on Sept. 11, 2001.

He left his wife at their Staten Island, N.Y., home soon after to help his fellow firefighters in Manhattan as they navigated through debris and dust, hoping to save lives.

McFarland doesn't consider himself a hero. He says he did it because it was the right thing to do. It is that same kind of impulse that motivated the now-retired firefighter to buy two assisted living facilities in Pinellas County.

The responsibility of an aging mother and a severely disabled daughter sent McFarland, 49, hunting for an assisted living facility a few years ago. But he didn't find a perfect fit. Prices were too high or conditions were too poor.

"I started looking at places and I didn't really see one I liked," he said.

With the support of his wife, Lisa, and five kids - Nicole, Leo, Christina, Victoria and Evan - McFarland decided to create a facility for families like his own, who do not have enough money to send their loved ones to luxurious facilities but seek a home with a high quality of life.

McFarland plans to give discounts to retired police and firefighters.

In 2004 the McFarlands bought Hagey House, a 10-bed assisted living facility in St. Petersburg. In March, the couple bought the Arbors Retirement Center, now G&L Arbors Retirement Center, in Pinellas Park. The facility is home to 21 residents but has the capacity to house 33.

One of the first tasks on McFarland's list was to make changes in the organization's administration. He looked for compassionate health care professionals who shared his goal of offering affordable services - about $2,000 a month - without cutting corners on care.

The new head administrator, Diane Hollins, said she is very enthusiastic about achieving McFarland's goals.

"I enjoy working with the elderly," Hollins said. "I feel that we need good people who are committed to making a difference."

Hollins has worked for two other assisted living facilities in Florida as an admissions director and coordinator. She said she enjoys her job because, when the day is over, she has been able to positively influence peoples' lives.

"It's not just about the paycheck; it's about making a difference," she said.

When McFarland came to Florida about a month ago to help his new staff with the transition, the facility was surrounded by dirt and weeds, and the residents were being served frozen or fast food at meal times.

Now, the courtyard has been covered with the light tans and deep browns of freshly laid mulch, the patio and sidewalks have been washed and the residents are eating homemade shepherd's pie. "These people didn't have anything before," McFarland said.

A few weeks ago, when McFarland was still getting a feel for the place, a resident was complaining about the hamburgers that were served for lunch.

Staff members told him not to be alarmed because that particular resident often complains. But that didn't stop McFarland from getting to the reason for her worries.

"She's right," he said. "These hamburgers are garbage," explaining that he eats most meals alongside the residents.

So McFarland went to a home improvement store and bought a barbecue grill for the center. One resident even cried after the gesture.

McFarland hopes the new grill will brighten up employees' lives as well.

He plans on organizing outdoor barbecues for the staff and their families when temperatures fall a bit.

The former fire lieutenant - who recently was forced to retire because of an injury to his shoulder - is not licensed to care for residents in an assisted living facility, though he said he is beginning his certification classes this week.

"This is like going swimming without knowing how to go swimming," he said of his new endeavor.

But with years of fighting fires behind him, McFarland has a perspective that brings calm to hectic situations.

"Greg doesn't get flustered during an emergency," Hollins said. "He keeps his cool."

As he headed toward Manhattan on Sept. 11, McFarland said his mind was filled with a checklist of things to do, not emotions or worst-case scenarios.

After grabbing tools from a construction worker friend, McFarland boarded a ferry to Manhattan with about five other firefighters from his engine company. Firefighters from other stations were also on the boat.

As the men and women in hard hats stepped off the ferry, a group of civilians rushed toward the boat, seeking refuge from the chaos.

"We were the only ones going the other way," he recalled.

When the civilian group saw the firefighters push forward into the dust and debris, they began to clap.

"They all stopped and applauded, and I'll never forget that," McFarland said, adding that he stayed at the site until the early morning, when he went home so he could celebrate his son Evan's second birthday on Sept. 12.

During the four months that followed, his time was consumed by 24-hour work shifts, funerals and spending his off-duty time working at "the pile," what he and other firefighters called ground zero.

He shares his New York stories with some of the residents, who staff members say have taken a liking to McFarland. They participate in arts and crafts activities, a priest makes a weekly visit to bless the food and sing songs. There is a new regularly scheduled movie night, popcorn included.

One resident never smiled before McFarland took over, said Edie Gunter, house supervisor and activities coordinator.

"I can't remember seeing him smile," Gunter said. "It's a 360, a total 360."

McFarland is using his own money to fund the changes, which makes him feel somewhat vulnerable. But, he said, he believes the need for assisted living facilities will continue to grow as more baby boomers retire.

And soon he will have a place to put his oldest daughter, giving the rest of the family a chance to get away on a vacation for themselves.

Times researcher Carolyn Edds contributed to this article. Lindsay Michel can be reached at lmichel@sptimes.com or at 727 893-8333.

[Last modified August 15, 2006, 21:43:19]