Seniors fear new rates could sink access to therapy pool

COEUR d’ALENE — Kootenai Health is implementing a decrease in hours and an increase in rates for public use of the Terrill Aquatic Center therapy pool in the McGrane Center beginning in January. 

The announcement made earlier this month has some community members speaking out as the changes will impact frequent users, many of whom are seniors on fixed incomes and individuals with physical disabilities.  

“They’re basically eliminating public use,” Karen Johnston, 77, of Post Falls said.  

Current independent pool hours, limited to a 45-minute swim session per participant per day, are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Rates are $7 per single visit and $5 for seniors, cancer survivors, veterans and Kootenai Health Auxiliary members.

The new pool hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pool classes will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Prices will be one flat rate of $15 per session or $80 for an eight-session punch card. Kootenai Health is discontinuing the use of independent physical therapy gyms. 

A communication from Kootenai Health stated that increased demand for pool therapy and the need for space for patient care are driving up the rates.

Johnston said many people may not be able to afford the increase.

“Those of us who have been using the pool feel they just don’t want us here,” she said. 

Johnston’s brother, Mike Kerfoot, 81, of Post Falls, is an amputee with neuropathy who depends on the handicap lift and the warm waters of the pool to keep up on his physical therapy.

“The only time he gets to stand erect and walk is in the McGrane Pool,” Johnston said. 

The cost increase is a significant concern for the siblings. 

“I’m on Social Security, I’m disabled, I’m on a limited income,” Kerfoot said.  

Andrea Nagel, Kootenai Health communications, media and public relations manager, said that when the Terrill Aquatic Center opened in 2001, the intention was to serve community members who required specialized rehabilitation and therapy for a wide range of physical and medical needs. 

“From the beginning, our mission has been to provide exceptional care and support for recovery,” she said. 

She said Kootenai Health understands that affordability is important. 

“While these changes reflect the need to prioritize patient care, we encourage community members to explore other local facilities that offer discounts and scholarships for seniors, veterans and individuals with specific needs,” she said. 

When the McGrane Center opened, aquatic therapy options in the region were limited, Nagel said.  

She said public use historically has averaged 15 to 40 individuals, so the new schedule reflects actual demand while ensuring patient care remains the top priority.

Nagel offered the following alternatives to the McGrane Center pool: 

• The Kroc Center, which offers senior discounts and scholarship programs

• PEAK Fitness provides discounts for seniors and military members

• The YMCA in Sandpoint 

• The Coeur Center in Worley 

“We’re happy to help connect individuals with these resources so they can continue their wellness journey,” Nagel said. 

The temperature of the Terrill Aquatic Center therapy pool is 90-92 degrees, with a shallow area that slopes to a depth of 5 feet. 

Cooler pools at other facilities aren’t ideal for therapy purposes, Kerfoot and Johnston said. 

“There's a lot of people in my age group that just can't take the cold water,” Kerfoot said. 

He is also concerned that, as a person in a wheelchair, he won’t have enough time to get in and out, given the limited time and locker room space.

“With a two-hour window, what if I get in there and there’s a line?” he asked. “What if I don’t get into the pool?” 

Crowding is already an issue, said Roxann Berge, 70, of Coeur d’Alene, who has used the therapy pool for over five years to maintain mobility following a knee injury. 

“You see a lot of people in the pool and you think we’re all getting along, but we're all dancing with each other to get our stuff done,” Berge said. “If it’s cramming us up in two-hour sessions, am I going to be able to get my whole workout? Is it going to negatively affect my workout?” 

Berge said the verbiage in the letter from Kootenai Health was upsetting. 

“I just felt that we were really disrespected," she said, “as if we’re totally stupid. It just seems like they're trying to get us out of there.” 

Private donations and hospital funds financed the McGrane Center. The pool area is called the Mildred and Everett Terrill Aquatic Center, in honor of the parents of Jim Terrill, a former Kootenai Health Foundation board member and longtime Kootenai Health supporter who died earlier this year. 

People have questioned whether the changes to the Terrill Aquatic Center’s public access would align with the facility's original vision.  

Nagel said Kootenai Health has always been committed to serving the community, regardless of a person’s ability to pay. 

“The fact is, Kootenai Health Rehabilitation Services is here to serve patients in need of rehabilitation,” she said. “This decision is not about exclusivity; it’s about ensuring we have the time and space to meet the growing needs of patients who require specialized rehabilitation services.” 

She said the McGrane Center is a clinical environment designed for recovery from surgery, stroke, neurological conditions, speech therapy, pediatric care and other complex needs. 

“As our region grows, so does the demand for these services,” she said. “While we’ve been proud to share our facilities with the public, extended community hours have begun to limit patient care, which is our top priority.”