By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
STOCKTON — Solomon Valley Manor is building a new $6.5 million facility to replace its existing facility in Stockton.
The Solomon Valley Manor is owned and operated by the City of Stockton. The building is going to be at 315 S. Ash on land adjacent to the current facility.
The nonprofit has paid for $1.5 million of the facility's cost through operational savings, grants and private donations. The rest was financed through Solutions North Bank.
Several years ago, officials started investigating repairs to its current facility, which is about 55 years old, said Amanda Atkisson, manor administrator.
Officials determined building a new facility would be more cost-efficient than trying to remodel the existing building.
"As we started thinking of the future, we thought about where we wanted to move health care," Atkisson said. "Where did we want to move long-term care and the amenities that we provide to our community going forward?"
Parkway Construction out of Lewisville, Texas, is the contractor on the building. It specializes in the design and construction of senior living facilities.
Ground was officially broken on the project in November. Officials hope to have the facility completed by December.
The new facility will have all private rooms with their own restroom/shower facilities, which will not only provide more privacy for residents but is being seen as a move to prevent the spread of infection within the facility.
Other improvements include separate spaces for dining and activities, as well as a separate space for the center's beauty salon.
The living room in the current facility is near the front entrance of the facility and near the nurse's station. This area is noisy and not very private. Atkisson said the living room in the new facility is more private.
When the new facility is completed, officials plan to demolish the existing facility. This will leave space for future expansion of the new facility if needed, Atkisson said.
The current facility is licensed for 32 beds for nursing care. The new facility will be licensed for 30 beds.
Atkisson said demand is strong in the area for nursing care. The center maintains a waitlist. The center has eight people on its waitlist currently. Several more are on the list for the new facility.
Some of the people on the waitlist have been waiting more than a year.
Some families have been forced to find care for loved ones outside of the county. Others care for their loved ones at home or find caretakers for in-home care, Atkisson said.
"There is a very high demand because we are a very aging population," she said.
Atkisson said the current residents of the facility are anxiously watching the new facility go up next door. The plumber on the original building lives in the center and has been interested in the work.
The center has also engaged the residents in picking out things such as paint colors and carpet samples.
"My male residents tend to watch the construction project and make sure that everything is going to plan there," Atkisson said. "My female residents are all about 'Which one is my room. Where's my room? When can I go look at it?' "