NORTH CONWAY, N.H., Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Memorial Hospital announced plans to operate a state-of-the-art Adult Day Center in Mount Washington Valley next year, with therapeutic and activity areas providing services to those in need of memory care, and respite for their caregivers. It will be located in a 14,000sf facility, to be built in Center Conway, NH. The facility has a construction budget of $4.6 mil. and will see a ground breaking in spring 2018 and an anticipated opening in summer 2019.
The Mount Washington Valley Adult Day Center will be operated by Memorial Elder Health Services, a subsidiary of Memorial, under a lease agreement with the Betty C. Ketchum Foundation. Ketchum was a long-time resident of the Merriman House at Memorial where she received compassionate nursing care until her passing.
The Center is expected to fill a great need, a point validated by a 2016 feasibility study. That study showed that in the next five years, the overall population of the communities in the hospital service area is only projected to increase by 1%. However the population of people between the ages of 65 and 74 is projected to increase by 18%, the population 75 to 84 is expected to grow by 8%, and the percentage over 85 is expected to grow by 7%. The study also showed little to no similar services available in the region. "There is a silver tsunami headed our way here in Mt. Washington Valley in terms of demographics and the need for memory care services," stated Memorial Hospital's director of geriatric services, Sue Ruka.
The Center will result in a positive economic impact to the region in many ways, from generating new jobs to providing construction revenue to enabling caregivers to return to the workforce.
Ruka also hopes that the Center will be an important first step in Mount Washington Valley becoming known as a "dementia friendly community." This is a nationwide initiative to foster communities that are equipped to support people with dementia. More information on dementia friendly communities can be found at http://www.dfamerica.org. This designation could see ripple effects in the Valley's tourism and real estate market as both visitors and those looking to relocate or retire here will know these vital services are available.
For more information about the Center, contact Memorial Hospital's Sue Ruka at 603-356-5461 ext. 2194 or online at www.memorialhospitalnh.org/adultdaycenter.
Press Inquiries Contact: Kathy Bennett, kbennett@memorialhospitalnh.org, 603-356-5461
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SOURCE Memorial Hospital
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