WHITEHALL, Wis - Tri-County Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home are nearing completion of the seven-apartment addition to Sunrise Manor, according to Maintenance Director John Waldera.
The project is slated to be finished and ready for occupancy in March, Waldera said.
The seven new apartments will have two rooms, with a main living area and small kitchenette, and a separate bedroom and bath, he said.
The current seven apartments are one-room designs with small kitchenette and attached bath, he said.
All 14 apartments are designed either for singles or couples.
Waldera said Tri-County Memorial broke ground April 10 on the addition and also made extension updates to the existing facility.
Long-term care tradition with focus on future
Sunrise Manor residents live mostly independently, said Brian Theiler, Tri-County Memorial chief executive officer.
"We provide meals and housekeeping assistance, but also provide Sunrise residents a direct link to Hospital and long-term care services," Theiler said. "That's always been part of its appeal."
Doubling the size of Sunrise Manor now makes a great deal of sense because demand for assisted living is high and growing, here and nationally, Theiler said.
"The next generation of community members needing long-term care and assistance is going to have very different needs," he said.
"They're going to want a greater sense of independence and control. They're going to want options. And we want to provide that.
"At the same time, aging can bring illness, diminished mobility and a need for assistance. That's a reality. And that's why we think it's important to continue to link Sunrise Manor with Tri-County and its long tradition of health care," Theiler said.
For more information about Sunrise Manor, please call Beth Scherr, Tri-County Memorial social worker, at 715.538.4361, ext. 3015.
Here Comes the Sun
the bus ...
the bus ...
Sunrise Manor Independent Living addition nearing completion; open house planned for March 29
Social Worker
Extension 3015
Wheels on
Tri-County Memorial Activities Director Shirley Melby sums it up quite simply:
"Our new bus is smooth riding. We can take more residents at once. It's quieter. It's wonderful; we just love it!"
Tri-County received its new Ford bus mid-October, and Melby and Activities assistant Sue Howard already have taken residents on several trips.
The bus arrived after a two-year process that began in 2006 when Chief Financial Officer wrote the initial federal grant.
As that progressed, Melby and Howard worked with the Nursing Home's Citizen Advisory Committee and Tri-County Memorial Auxiliary to raise funds.
Tri-County Memorial also received numerous donations from families, friends, staff, other volunteers and from designated memorials, Melby said
"We have so many people to thank for our beautiful new bus," Melby said. "It's yet-another way we can improve the lives of our residents."
Wheels on
the
take our residents to western Wisconsin's favorite spots
'We can take more residents at once. It's quieter. It's wonderful. We just love it!' - Shirley Melby
"On the old bus, when we use the lift the whole bus shake and rattles," Howard said. "This is so much nicer."
The Tri-County staff then fastened wheelchairs into place on the floor using a quick-lock system that prevents rolling or shifting.
The new Ford bus, from Atlas Bus Sales, Inc., of Milwaukee, Wis., seats up to six wheelchairs with four other passenger seats.
It also can be configured to seat five wheelchairs and six others.
Last week, on a cool sunny morning, Howard and Activities assistant Sharon Pieklo were smiling and laughing with residents as they loaded them into the bus via the large side lift.
"Isn't that slick?" Howard said.
Tri-County's Activities department works hard to provide residents a wealth of in-house daily Activities. It also uses its buses to take residents in all four seasons to various locations.
"This time of year, residents really look forward to seeing the autumn colors and then the Christmas lights in December," Melby said.
Tri-County Memorial will keep its older bus, Melby said, "for the bigger outings when we take even more residents," she said.
For more information, about Tri-County Memorial Nursing Home and its Activities department, please e-mail Melby or call (715) 538-4361, ext. 3013.
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