Official groundbreaking for therapy building is set for 4 p.m. on site
Through a combined effort between the Sutton Community Home board of directors, administration, and staff, as well as the Sutton Community Home Foundation, an official start to a renovation project will kickoff with an official groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, Dec. 16, beginning at 4 p.m. in front of the east wing of the nursing home.
The first phase, after working with the architecture firm, “arCuretecture” of Lincoln, will bring to life a new physical therapy building, which will roughly add nearly 1,000 square feet of space to the east side of the east wing of the home, currently used as office space for the administration and staff at SCH.
Final touches are currently being put together by Jeff Ahl’s Lincoln firm, while working with general contractor Hampton Construction, also of Lincoln.
A final price tag for the addition hasn’t been shared, pending the final work between “arCuretecture” and Hampton Construction.
It is estimated that final bids will be shared with SCH and the SCH Foundation around Dec. 12.
ROOM MOCK-UPS
In addition to the physical therapy building, mocked-up rooms will also be a part of the new construction, including mocked-up views of a standard room, and a deluxe room that will be part of phases two, three, and four, following the completion of the physical therapy building.
The therapy addition will feature a much larger area for therapy sessions and group exercise classes, providing more room for residents to move and engage in their therapy plans. It will also include:
• A New Step, a staircase, parallel bars, a mirrored wall, and a mat table all designed to enhance physical therapy and rehabilitation outcomes.
• A kitchenette for occupational therapy, allowing residents to safely practice “return-to-home” activities such as meal prep and household tasks.
• An additional bathroom for occupational therapy to help residents safely practice activities of daily living including toileting and resident self-care.
The improved layout and amenities will enhance therapy efficiency and resident experience.
Once all permitting and approvals are finalized, construction is expected to take approximately 5–6 months, depending on weather conditions.
Once fundraising efforts continue successfully, and the home and foundation are able to secure enough funds to complete Phases 2, 3, and 4 in full, work will move directly into Phase 2. These three phases will need to be completed together, as stopping mid-way would leave the facility operating on two separate systems, both old and new, which is not financially feasible.
WHY STARTWITH THE THERAPY ADDITION?
The therapy addition can be completed as a stand-alone phase of the overall renovation project, to allow the beginning of the construction now instead of waiting until all phases are fully funded.
The new therapy building also needs to be completed before Phase-4 begins, since that phase will remove the current therapy space in the home.
This new therapy area will help position SCH as a stronger option for Medicare A and short-term rehabilitation stays, which provides higher reimbursement rates and directly supports the home’s financial growth.
COURTESY ILLUSTRATION | CLAY COUNTY NEWS
