(a)    The board shall establish, maintain, and operate a nursing home or other facility or service for the care and treatment of aged, convalescent, and chronically ill individuals.

(b)    The board has the following powers and duties:

(1)    (i)    to accept gifts, legacies, bequests, or endowments for purposes of the board; and

(ii)    unless otherwise specified by the donor, in the discretion of the board, to spend both principal and income of a gift, legacy, bequest, or endowment for the purposes of the board;

(2)    (i)    to acquire and hold property in the name of the county commissioners or county council of the county;

(ii)    to preserve and administer property acquired by the board; and

(iii)    to sell or otherwise dispose of property acquired by the board;

(3)    to provide adequate facilities and services for the care and treatment of aged, convalescent, and chronically ill individuals, including:

(i)    physical care;

(ii)    medical care;

(iii)    nursing care;

(iv)    recreational services;

(v)    rehabilitative services;

(vi)    special education; and

(vii)    dissemination of information relating to causes and prevention of chronic and debilitating illnesses;

(4)    (i)    subject to item (ii) of this item, to charge fees for admission to and maintenance in a facility and for services provided; and

(ii)    to charge fees to indigent individuals in direct proportion to the individual’s ability to pay;

(5)    to apply to the purposes of the board all money, assets, or property the board receives;

(6)    to adopt rules and regulations for the board’s facilities and services;

(7)    to cooperate with and assist, as much as practicable, any unit of the State, the United States, any subdivision of either, or any person;

(8)    to hire a director of any facility or service and to provide for additional employees and the qualifications and wages of the employees;

(9)    to require any facility or service to maintain standards to qualify for a license as a hospital under Title 19, Subtitle 3, Part III of the Health – General Article; and

(10)    to integrate each of the board’s facilities with those of the Secretary of Health.