Dayton mental health facility may move late next year

Dayton residents needing mental-health care won't be losing those services, but they may have to travel to Silver Springs for their appointments.

David Dummar, Rural Clinics Northern Regional director, said space problems and high rent will likely preclude the state-funded organization from maintaining the Dayton Community Mental Health Center on Pike Street, sending the 100 or so Dayton clients to Silver Springs.

"Eliminate is not the purpose," he said. "We have discussed consolidating in Silver Springs because the price is so much more reasonable, but a decision has not been made. We're not reducing services, just moving them about 15 miles."

Dummar said the state does have vans available to transport patients who have no way to get to the new location, if and when one is chosen.

The Silver Springs-Stagecoach Hospital District is considering building a new facility, larger than the current Lahontan Medical Center, Dummar said, and that the mental-health center would be welcome in that building.

Dummar said the rent on the Pike Street building has increased to $1,700 per month, and added the state has just renewed the lease for one more year, so nothing will happen until it expires. He also said the building is too small for the increased need, and that since it is in a historic district, enlarging it would not be possible.

He said finding appropriate space was difficult in Fernley and Dayton, because the growth was driving up the rents. Silver Springs is also being considered because of the medical facility.

Dummar said that most of the 260-300 residents seeking help in Lyon County were from Silver Springs.

Rural Clinics helps patients in all Nevada's communities except Reno and Sparks, Dummar said. The program has a sliding scale for patients without health insurance. No one is turned away, he said.

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.