Page 12 - Our Hands SPRING 2019

SAGINAW SENIOR LIVING

85 Years of History

In 1978, the Lansing office
of Child and Family Services
opens. This is the first time in 31
years a private agency is asked
to do foster care in this city.

Saginaw Unveiling

amaritas Senior Living of Saginaw This dovetails neatly with Saginaw’s push
has completed an exciting three- to remove blight in its downtown, and
Syear, multi-phase renovation that represents a major improvement to the
represents an investment of $7.5 million area.
and brings Samaritas Senior Living up
to date with the latest trends in Senior Samaritas hired Holland-based Elzinga &
Living. Volkers, Inc., to oversee the renovation.
It was three years in the making, having
All accommodations are now private, broken ground in 2016, eventually
and all rehab rooms are en suite — a merging original construction with new
desirable and rare feature in senior infrastructure, and offering improved
residences. Samaritas Senior Living climate control and tempered air
Saginaw offers long-term care, memory circulation.
care, and rehabilitation services, all of
which make the community attractive in The hardest part of the project was giving
an increasingly competitive senior living the 50-year-old community a 21st century
market. revamp — all while keeping it up and
running.
The renovation revamped 48,000 square
feet and added another 5,000 square feet. “It evolved from a clinical to a home-type
Additions included a new front lobby and feel,” Lesiewicz said. “It was important
conference room, a large canopy over an to ensure the dignity of residents by
MDOT-approved front drive, five new giving them a nicer, pleasant space, and
resident rooms and more. now it feels really inviting. It’s warm and
welcoming.”
Work crews transformed the former chapel
into a state-of-the-art therapy gym. This “This renovation is something we can all
roomy, high-ceilinged space includes a take pride in,” says Sam Beals, Samaritas
mock bathroom and mock kitchen, where CEO. “It embodies our commitment
patients learn how to wash and cook from to making sure our seniors have the
a wheelchair. This is the kind of important opportunity to live in a welcoming,
rehabilitative training that can get seniors comfortable environment, with access to
comfortable with new routines and back the best care available.”
home with all due speed. In addition to a ribbon-cutting by Mayor

Other aesthetic improvements include a Floyd Kloc and welcome remarks from
freshly paved, expanded parking area, new Samaritas leadership, local dignitaries and
landscaping, a renovated center courtyard, community partners spoke to the crowd.
and new fencing around the property.

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