SENNETT - Deb English spent her first day as new administrator at the Cayuga County Nursing Home looking to how she could work past one of the facility's most controversial periods last year.

"The perception in the community is a bit negative," said English, 50, after unpacking some boxes in her new office Monday. "People focus on the one or two things that don't have anything to do with patient care."

One of her first objectives is to help the community get over that perception. In 2004, the state Department of Health cited the 80-bed facility for multiple cleaning deficiencies and former administrator Rob Flynn resigned amid harassment charges by Rebekah DeTomaso, the home's former director of nursing.

"It's hard to overcome perceptions of people. We have a challenge ahead of us to show the community what a good facility this is," said English, who lives in Elbridge.

But during her first day, she took on smaller battles, like figuring out where extra parking spots could be put to accommodate families who visit in the late afternoon.

English is not new to the practical problems of overseeing the nursing home. While working as Auburn Memorial Hospital's director of social work, English took classes toward her nursing home administrator license, knowing she'd eventually want to move on. She received her license four years ago.

"I always wanted to make the change, and it seemed like a natural progression," she said.

After 19 years with the hospital, English received a call from Cayuga County Legislature Chairman Herb Marshall asking if she would help out at the nursing home after Flynn's resignation. The facility already had Alice Amoia, former head of nursing, as acting administrator, but she didn't have the administrator license New York state requires.

English didn't first come into the new job intending to staying as full-time administrator.

"As the weeks went by, I saw it as a real possibility," she said. "I didn't apply until the 11th hour, but I'm glad I did."

In the interim 19-week period, English worked with Amoia on several strategies to improve the nursing home's image. They developed a new brochure for the facility and marketing strategies to recruit short-term residents.

For some of the nursing home's staff, it didn't seem like the traditional transition of a new administrator.

"I said to Deb she can't be nervous coming in," said Kelly Albrecht, nursing home controller. "She's already part of the team."

Albrecht and others can already see a change in the staff and the nursing home's atmosphere.

"Deb's very positive," she said. "A lot of the staff have a more positive outlook."

Among English's goals for the nursing home are improving communication with residents' families and giving the 25-year-old facility an updated look.

"People do better when they're in a warm environment that makes them feel better about themselves," English said.

One effort to encourage a more social environment is the programs the facility is hosting this week to mark National Nursing Home Week. This year, the week's theme is the Wild West, complete with the dining room transformed into a western town. Later in the week, residents can watch western movies and horse races between some of the nurses on staff.

"Deb is very supportive of the activity programs," said activities director Jessie Pehird after delivering a piece of cake to a resident while celebrating English's arrival.

Based on the contributions English made to the nursing home even before her first day, Albrecht is confident English will leave her mark on the facility.

"She started out doing things right away," Albrecht said. "Deb's very upbeat. She has a good vision for the nursing home."

Staff writer Liz Hacken can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or e-mail elizabeth.hacken@lee.net