Whitefish senior complex expansion under way

The Springs at Whitefish, a senior retirement community with assisted-living and memory-care facilities, has embarked on a major expansion project to enlarge the memory-care wing and upgrade other facilities.

Eight units will be added to The Springs’ memory-care wing, bringing the total number of units in that wing to 22.

The memory-care commons area also will be expanded to include an enhanced dining room, activities kitchen, community living room and hair salon for residents, along with a modified courtyard.

The assisted-living dining and activities rooms are being renovated as well. The installation of an in-house television channel will allow residents to access events, announcements, dining menus and emergency alerts on their own TVs via a state-of-the-art communication and response system.

The city of Whitefish last July granted approval of a planned-unit development for the expansion to add 4,937 square feet for the eight memory-care units plus 1,920 square feet to the main dining room.

General contractor for the expansion is Maurer Construction of Missoula. The construction will be completed this spring.

The Springs at Whitefish, located at 1001 River Lakes Parkway, is owned and operated by The Springs Living, based in McMinnville, Ore.

The company also operates The Springs in Missoula and four retirement-care facilities in Oregon.

The Whitefish senior-living complex was built in 2001 as Riverside Senior Living and at that time was a joint venture of North Valley Hospital, High Country Development Corp. and Riverside at Whitefish.