Western Home Communities breaks ground on new senior living development

GRUNDY CENTER – Last Wednesday, Western Home Communities of Cedar Falls broke ground on the long-awaited Creekside Cottages project – a new senior living development located south of Titan Machinery in Grundy Center.
Once finished, the Creekside Cottages will become home to all 55 residents currently residing in the Grundy County Memorial Hospital’s Long Term Care unit. Through the hospital’s partnership with Western Home, all GCMH long term care employees will be retained, and will work at the new Creekside development.
“Today is a very exciting day for Grundy County Memorial Hospital, for Western Home Communities, and most importantly for our associates and our residents. We are very fortunate to have such a dedicated team of nurses, CNAs and long term care leaders who put residents first and foremost,” said Grundy County Memorial Hospital CEO Jennifer Havens. “It’s that desire that brings us to where we are today – breaking ground on a brand new home for the seniors in our community.”
The new development – which is expected to cost around $10 million – will consist of three different craftsman-style cottages; two cottages that will each house 20 residents, and one memory-care cottage that will house 16 residents.
According to GCMH Long Term Care Administrator Kim Schilling, the new cottages will not just be ‘home-like,’ they will be ‘home’ for the residents, with all the makings of a home, including a front porch and front door complete with doorbell, window boxes for flowers, a back patio for outdoor activities, a great room with a fireplace and an open concept kitchen where residents can even help with cooking. 
For the full story, see the November 3 edition of The Grundy Register.