Construction Updates
Heritage Crossings – Construction Update June 2015
Independent Living
Heritage Crossings – Construction Update April 2015
Assisted Living
The eight apartment addition to the assisted living facility in Geneva, Nebraska is progressing well. The construction for the new apartments will be completed by the middle of May. The renovation for a new bathing spa and wellness center for assisted living will be completed at the same time. Renovation involving the expanded dining room for assisted living will begin soon and be completed by the end of June.
This project also involves renovation work within the existing, skilled nursing environment. The existing nurses station will be removed as clinical work areas will be decentralized and relocated down each of the resident corridors. The former location of the main nurses station will be converted to a café/bistro concept for residents, families and guests. This renovation work will also be completed by the end of June.
Independent Living Cottages
Four cottages are currently being constructed on the vacant land just east of the main building at Heritage Crossings. These 1,600 square foot cottages include two bedrooms, two baths, a walk in closet off of the master bedroom, living room with fireplace, kitchen with senior-friendly appliances, a full laundry room and a two car garage. All steps have been eliminated in the design for greater accessibility. A residential fire sprinkler system has been designed for these cottages to enhance resident safety. The construction of the independent living cottages will be completed by mid-June. The Heritage Crossing campus has been masterplanned for an additional eight cottages in the future.
Steve Hansen, Construction Manager at the VSL Home Office, is managing the construction for both of these projects.
John Sohl, Vetter Senior Living Staff Architect is the architect for the work.
Heritage Crossings to Create a Full Continuum of Care and Housing
By late Fall 2015, the campus of Heritage Crossings will be providing a continuum of care from independent living to assisted living to skilled nursing. With renovations and additions already started the campus will be specifically designed to enable seniors with progressively challenging health to remain in a single residential location or give healthy seniors the peace of mind that all their future care & housing needs are covered.
Stephanie Witt states, “We are proud to be a campus that has been recognized in Nebraska and nationally for providing quality care to our residents. We are honored and excited to continue upholding our reputation by adding on and renovating our building to create a continuum of care senior living community.”
September 2014 ushered in construction crews and the building of seven new assisted living apartments, similar to current one bedroom with kitchenette. Attention to the details, such as new décor, will make the additional apartments and existing apartments look as if all were built at same time. Within the current assisted living environment, the kitchen/dining area space will be doubled with the adding of more seating space and a serving buffet/steam table set up. Beverage bar counter space will also be added for in between mealtime snacking and entertainment, with the final updating of flooring and count tops to add “icing” to the kitchen cake make over. That’s not all in assisted living, a new wellness room will emerge from a current porch area, which will be enclosed and create a 4-season room with windows all around. Winter, spring, summer or fall this room will be radiating loads of sunlight and become an exercise haven. The current exercise room will be developed into a bathing “spa.” This “spa experience” will feature a whirlpool tub with built in TV, pedicure station, manicure table, and private bathroom. You will be able to relax, and rejuvenate as our team members will make your stress fade away into a distant memory. We will pamper you, renewing your mind, body, and soul.
The Cottages at Heritage Crossings will take shape through the Fall of 2015 with the initial build to be a total of 2 duplex-like cottages that will be residence to a total of 4 individuals with/without spouse. The master plan is for 6 duplex-like cottages or 12 individuals with/without spouse.
The Cottages at Heritage Crossings are designed for active adults age 55 and over. Our Cottages give you the freedom from the work and worries of home ownership. The building upkeep, lawn care, snow removal and ground maintenance are all included so one can enjoy a care free lifestyle.
Cottages are fully equipped and ready for you to furnish with your very own cherished possessions. Beautifully designed 1700 sq. ft. layouts will be offered that will include spacious 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage and your very own cozy gas fireplace. Your kitchen/laundry appliances are “senior” friendly, such as a dishwasher being raised up off the floor for easier access. All doors will be 36 inches wide, (typical width is 24-30 inches), to be able to accommodate a walker if needed. Moving about into and within our “Zero Entry” Cottage is a term affording you the ease of no steps – no steps in entering your Cottage, no steps in your Cottage, and no steps into your master bath shower.
Many more services and amenities such as light housekeeping, building and yard maintenance, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Life at the Cottages at Heritage Crossings offers you the many benefits of Independent Living WITHOUT having to pay an entrance fee.
Not to be outdone, there are exciting renovations and upgrades planned for the skilled nursing and rehabilitation side of the Heritage Crossings campus too. Our nurse station is going away! Our soon to be referred to “households” will have a nursing work area on each of them. The households (currently referred to as hall numbers) will have dedicated teams in each for more efficient use of team time. Enhancing the quality life already occurring at Heritage Crossings will ultimately include a nurse call system upgrade to silent pagers as well as wiring and preparation for the move toward electronic medical charting.
The current nursing station space will become host to a new ice cream parlor, café, and coffee shoppe, complete with sitting area, and brand new lighting. The hope is to create a WOW socialization/gathering space for residents, families and team, along with an outstanding 1st impression for Heritage Crossing guests and visitors.
Heritage Crossings is one of the 31 communities owned or managed by the Vetter Senior Living (VSL) group of Elkhorn, Nebraska. The care center’s administrator and team develop plans to continuously improve their services and campus with support from the VSL network. Operating decisions are made locally to ensure that Heritage Crossings remains responsive to the needs of its residents and community.