The community got a chance to see Signature HealthCare’s new facility up close for the first time on Thursday.
The new long-term care facility, located at 1850 Veterans Way in Elizabethtown, will replace the facility currently located on Woodland Drive.
And the locals are happy.
“I’ve been thrilled for almost a week now,” said Gregory Valentine, a resident of the facility.
Valentine got to see the facilities for the first time today, arriving in style in a limo.
“As soon as I got in the limo, I knew it was going to be a great day,” he said.
Valentine said other residents had seen pictures of the facility on social media, but he didn’t do it intentionally.
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” he said.
Signature HealthCare President and CEO Joe Steier said he believes Elizabethtown’s transformation from a city to a vibrant city is one of the big stories nationally.
“Being part of that is a big deal for us,” he said.
Steier thanked team members and stakeholders, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’ve become so much stronger and more aligned during COVID,” he said. “I just want to thank you for the loyalty and living our values every day.”
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said his vision and goals for the city have a lot to do with amenities.
“It doesn’t just mean things to do for young people, middle-aged people,” he said. “It must also sometimes mean something for an aging population.”
He said he appreciated the investment Signature had decided to make in Elizabethtown.
“We think it’s just another piece of equipment that our community will have that others can’t put on us and will continue to provide great healthcare,” Gregory said.
Major work began on the 6.4-acre site in August 2021, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held in September.
The new facility includes an increase of 60 private rooms, four nursing stations and two dining rooms, each serviced by a service kitchen to provide residents with more personalized dining options, according to a press release from Signature. Capacity will increase from 112 beds to 124 beds, and more employment opportunities will be available, adding to the current staff of approximately 150 full-time and part-time employees.
The facility also has several outdoor courtyards, an art therapy gym, and an outdoor therapy court with intentionally uneven sidewalks to help train on real-life courts.
The installation, consisting of two mirrored parts, measures 70,000 square feet.