A portico outside the 30-unit assisted-living wing of Life Care Center of Rhea County's facility in Dayton, Tenn., overlooks Dayton Mountain.
Photo by Kimberly McMillianDAYTON, Tenn. - Life Care Centers of America will show off its new nursing home and assisted living center at 10055 Rhea County Highway in Dayton, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday during a community open house.
Executive Director Kate Swafford said that the new 16.5-acre facility will offer more amenities than the 3-year-old facility it replaces in the former Rhea Medical Center building. The new complex includes five courtyards, three of which are enclosed, for activities, Swafford said.
Patients will start transitioning to the new location on Wednesday. Swafford said that the new center employs 10 workers, but "we'll have to fill positions as the census grows" for occupancy.
The new facility's 30-unit assisted living wing, The Veranda, currently has at least 20 people who've expressed an interest to in living in one of the units, said Vicki Hood, divisional director of sales and marketing. But admissions don't start until mid-March.
The separate wing will include a 4,000-square-foot gym, a laundry room and spa. The center offers a picturesque view of Dayton Mountain for its occupants, she said.
"It's new to this area and this team," said Hood.
On Sunday, the new facilities will be featured during an open house with guided tours, refreshments, door prizes, entertainment throughout the facility, and sketch artwork giveaways by Cleveland artist Bob Grayson.
Beecher Hunter, president of Life Care Centers, said the new Rhea County home "is a little unusual to have an assisted-living inside the nursing home." Five of the 225 Life Care Centers of America offer assisted living near one of its nursing homes. But Rhea County and Sparta, Tenn., are the only two in Tennessee.
Dayton Mayor Bob Vincent praised Life Care for the treatment his mother had received prior to her passing three years ago. "We know what a joy it'd been," he said.