New long-term health care housing concept to open in 2017
Today, Asbury Place Kingsport broke ground on a long-term health care housing concept for seniors that will offer 22 resident rooms at its Baysmont campus on Netherland Lane. The addition brings a $8 million investment to the campus. Construction is expected to be completed in 2017.
“Our team has worked hard and looked forward to this day; we’re so excited to provide this new model for East Tennessee seniors,” said Marjorie Shonnard, chief operating officer for Asbury Place. “We anticipate having these long-term care household rooms available for area seniors next year.”
In the household model, long-term care communities adopt a resident-centered approach that resembles life at home and provides seniors with opportunities to direct their daily lives. It converts a traditional health care center into an environment for smaller groups of residents with kitchen, dining and living rooms and other spaces that residents would find in regular homes.
Residents have private rooms and share common living spaces. Each household is consistently staffed, and residents, family members and staff collectively make daily decisions. Residents decide when they get up and how they spend their time during the day, including when and what they eat and when they go to bed.
Kingsport Mayor John Clark, whose mother is an Asbury Place resident, was on hand to celebrate the groundbreaking. He commended Asbury Place for making a significant investment in the well-being of the community’s seniors.
“As we celebrate a new development on this campus, I am so proud that Kingsport is home to Asbury Place,” Clark said. “This investment in these new residences is a great example of how Asbury Place cares for our community.”
Following the same model, Asbury Place Maryville broke ground June 30 on an $18.5 million expansion that will add three buildings and 66 household residential units to its campus
Asbury Place has worked with Action Pact, a senior living consultant group that developed the household model, to bring the concept to its Kingsport campus. Martin Dickmann, executive vice president of development for Action Pact, joined Asbury Place staff, residents and community leaders in Kingsport for the groundbreaking.
“Construction is just one part of this project,” Dickmann said. “The real achievement for Asbury Place today is the commitment to fostering the best life for its residents.”
About Asbury Inc.
Asbury, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, operates Asbury Place, CARF-CCAC accredited continuing care retirement communities in Kingsport and Maryville, Tenn. For more information, visit http://www.asburyplace.org.