Lake City, Minn. – A major renovation project to help improve the quality of life of nursing home residents at Lake City Medical Center – Mayo Health System (LCMC) kicked off with a public open house on October 1.

Community members in attendance had an opportunity to learn about the Life Matters Here project, tour the nursing home and view architectural renderings. This is the first major renovation planned at the nursing home since it was built 31 years ago.

“We will be redesigning the current layout to make it feel more like home,” explains Scott Kallstrom, nursing home administrator.

According to Kallstrom, a more home-like environment will better accommodate the needs of today’s nursing home residents. A growing majority of residents use nursing homes as a short-term rehabilitation stop between the hospital and home or some other form of assisted living, and they do not want to feel like they are living in an institution.

Life Matters Here renovation plans, divided into five phases in order to cause the least amount of disruption to residents and to allow ample time for fundraising, include creating private and semi-private spaces, and destinations for residents, families and friends.

The first phase focuses on the main entrance, activity spaces and adding a central café and lounge. Enhancing the dining experience is part of the second phase. Phases three and four focus on the common areas in the corridors connected to residents’ rooms, and the last phase focuses on the main hallway.

Mary Gravenish, LCMC’s development director, says the goal right now is to raise approximately $875,000 by spring of next year to begin construction on the first phase.

When completed, the main entrance lobby will turn into a fireside lounge. The current beauty shop will be relocated and a café built in its place to provide residents with an alternate dining location. This phase would also create a large outdoor patio and update the activities area.

“Community support is essential to the Life Matters Here project,” says Gravenish. “Gifts from individuals, community organizations and businesses will ensure the continuation of care for loved ones close to home.”

“In addition to meeting residents’ needs, this project will help ensure the nursing home thrives in the Lake City community in the future,” says Cheri Kramer, LCMC’s chief administrative officer.

Kramer explains that nursing homes mainly operate on government reimbursement, and for the past few years, the amount of reimbursement nursing homes received was partially tied to quality measures.

Those measures include medical care ratings, which LCMC’s nursing home excels in, and quality of life ratings, which evaluate how happy and engaged residents are in the facility. In the future, the State of Minnesota will continue to look at ways to tie reimbursement rates to quality. Life Matters Here will help enhance quality of life, thus securing the nursing home’s place in the community.

 “Our staff has been working hard throughout the past couple of years to improve quality of life by making changes to our day-to-day operations,” Kallstrom says. “But we are limited by the physical environment of our nursing home.”

Kallstrom says support for the project from residents, staff and community has been very positive thus far, and he’s hopeful for additional support.

 “Our community members truly have an incredible opportunity to share a legacy with their children and grandchildren by making a commitment to Life Matters Here,” Gravenish says.

To learn more about Life Matters Here, visit LCMC’s Department of Development Web page www.lcmcdevelopment.org or call Mary Gravenish at 651-345-6707.