Millers to Expand East Campus ’
Millers to Expand East Campus
Posted: Wednesday, November 27, 2013 4:00 am
By Eric Seaman, eseaman@wabashplaindealer.com
In order to provide better service to their residents, a local long-term care company will expand one of their campuses.
Miller’s Merry Manor East formally broke ground Tuesday morning for what will be an addition to the campus, including a state-of-the-art rehabilitation gym, a heated therapy pool, a chef’s kitchen and other renovations.
For nearly 40 years, Miller’s, the state’s only 100 percent employee-owned long-term care company, has provided healthcare services and rehabilitation for the elderly in the Wabash community, according to a news release from the company.
“Throughout the years that we’ve been a part of the Wabash community, we’ve made many changes to our environment and services to respond to the requests we received from our existing patients at both locations, families and community-at-large,” Miller’s Health Systems President and CEO Patrick Boyle said in an email to the Plain Dealer. “This is one more step in that process.”
East Campus Executive Director Summer Becker commented on what it means for those interested in the company’s services.
“We’re excited about this project as it will enable us to further expand the full range of therapies and support services we currently offer to our neighbors with Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance,” Becker said.
Felderman Construction, Fort Wayne, will oversee the construction of the $1.7 million project. The current Manor East campus is approximately 30,000 square feet in size and the new additions will attach another 6,000 square feet, according to Becker.
The new additions aren’t just for those who work or live at Miller’s, according to Boyle.
“As employee-owners who live and work right here in Wabash, along with our partnership with Wabash County Hospital, we felt strongly that we wanted to enhance the therapy services we offer to our Medicare, Medicaid and insurance patients,” Boyle continued, “and at the same time benefit our residents and the community by offering common areas such as a community room for use by service groups, home (economic) clubs and other integral parts of our county.”
The initial phase of the project is already underway and is forecasted to be complete on May 1, 2014, after four more phases of construction.
The seven-figure cost is miniscule compared to what the company and its residents will get out of it, Becker added.
“Expanded therapies and enrichment activities and services will be more feasible,” Becker said. “As stewards of our community, we believe this is an important investment for us to make to benefit the patients we serve.
“Though the construction phases will take six months to complete, we are excited to experience the end result and believe the residents of Wabash County will benefit from these new services.”
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