By Shelley Grieshop
sgrieshop@dailystandard.com COLDWATER -- Calling it "a time for change," the company that operates Briarwood Manor Nursing Home announced Thursday a future plan to rebuild and expand the facility on 25 acres across the street.
Don Desch, vice-president of HCF based in Lima, revealed the news at a celebration of National Nursing Home Week at the Coldwater facility.
"We're going to build a brand new facility," said Desch, adding it was time to update the current 100-bed nursing home built in 1975.
Plans are in the "very preliminary stages," Desch explained, but include a more modern 100-bed nursing home, as well as assisted and independent living facilities. No date has been set for the major expansion project. Desch said the facility will be located south of the current one along West Main Street next to Mercer County Community Hospital.
Desch said the new location will likely be accessed from Main Street by taking Rose Drive or Woodview Drive, both north and south streets that currently dead end into farm land. Presently there are no plans for the current building, he added.
Desch, whose family has deep roots within the community, spoke to the crowd of staff and residents about his fondness for the local facility, referring to it as a "gem" among area nursing homes. He was one of several community leaders who saw a need and helped establish Briarwood Manor more than 30 years ago.
"It was a vision of a few of us," he said.
Administrator Tara Sibert also announced on Thursday the facility recently was dubbed "deficiency-free" for the sixth consecutive year in an annual Ohio Department of Health survey.
HCF operates 24 similar facilities; 17 of those are located in Ohio and seven are in Pennsylvania. Local HCF-owned nursing homes include Celina Manor, Piqua Manor, Van Wert Manor, Wapakoneta Manor and Roselawn Manor in Spencerville. |
