Assisted-living center takes shape

A new 39-unit assisted-living facility in Columbia Falls will be ready for occupancy in February.

Timber Creek Village spans 38,000 square feet in a single-story building on a large piece of land off U.S. 2 across from Super 1 Foods. Access to the facility’s parking lot will be from Meadow Lake Boulevard. The site has been annexed into the city.

While the building is designed to accommodate future expansion, “the goal is to remain small and personal,” said Shelley Nuelle, director of operations.

Riverstone Management Corp., which manages several assisted-living facilities in Illinois, will own and oversee the facility.

“We did a market analysis based on need, and there was still an unmet need in [the Columbia Falls] area,” Nuelle said.

The corporation is interested in building more facilities throughout the western United States, she added.

By 2030, more than 65 million Americans will be facing retirement and senior living decisions. Facilities such as Timber Creek Village offer seniors an alternative for retirement living that combines housing with individualized support services, Nuelle said.

The goal is to provide a positive experience for both residents and their family members.

“As a resident, seniors can expect apartments that are larger than most, each with their own private patio,” Nuelle said.

Each unit will have French doors leading to the patio, large living and kitchen areas, a walk-in closet in the bedroom and a large personal bath with walk-in or roll-in shower.

Amenities for the one- and two-bedroom units include a theater room that will double as a chapel, a beauty parlor and barber shop, exercise room, family room with a fireplace and a private dining room. Residents will be offered three meals a day and will have the opportunity to get involved in meal planning.

The dining area essentially will serve as a senior center for games, crafts, community events and parties.

“Each resident can participate in as little or as much as they choose,” Nuelle said.

Once completed, Timber Creek Village will employ about 20 workers, including management, housekeepers, resident assistants, certified nurse assistants and a registered nurse.

The 24-hour certified staffing will provide an environment of independence while assisting in dressing, bathing, personal hygiene, medication and transportation to local events, medical offices and shopping.

Glenn Schenavar, the general contractor and an investor in the project, told the Hungry Horse News recently that if there’s high demand for the apartments, the building is designed to accommodate two expansions — a wing with eight more units to the southwest or a wing with 14 units to the east, which will enclose the courtyard area on the north side of the building. When completely built out, the facility will have 61 units and 70,300 square feet in one single-floor building.

The old steel-sided building east of the new facility, previously used by Harry Cheff’s logging and road-building business, will be torn down, and the Timber Creek Village facility will be buffered on the east and north by earthen berms and landscaping. Spacious outside grounds and a courtyard will offer sitting areas and gardens.

Reservations for occupancy are now being accepted. For more information about Timber Creek Village, call 892-3400 or go online to www.timbercreekvillagecommunity.com.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.