Senior Living Iniative evaluate site selection matrix

CHELAN - One thing for certain is that healthcare facilities in the Lake Chelan Valley will get revamped over the coming years. 

Columbia Valley Community Health is building a new center at Apple Blossom, the Lake Chelan Community Hospital and Clinic (LCCHC) is going for a replacement hospital levy in April and the Senior Living Initiative (SLI) is looking at creating a campus of care for seniors in the Valley.  

At their meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 15, the SLI gave an update for what they have been doing to achieve the campus of care. 

“Following the Summit last September, Heritage Heights’ board hired an architect who specializes in senior living projects, John Shoesmith. The Architectural Pre-Design Report has just been approved by the Heritage Heights Board,” Chair of the Campus Task Force Amanda Ballou said in her meeting report. “In it describes the requirements for the potential sites for the campus. The architect’s report responded to priorities recommended in SLI’s final report:  Long term residential options that are affordable for a wide range of income levels offering many services in one location near town, school, hospital and a walkable environment.”

Independent living, assisted living and memory care all served as the basis of programs for estimating space needs for the campus. The programs and space were estimated to require 12.5 acres now and 2.5 acres to be added later so a site selection matrix was developed to assist in objectively evaluating sites once they are identified. 

The next step is to select the sites. 

In doing so, Amanda “will use the requirements defined in the report to bring a list of ten ‘suspect’ sites to Heritage Heights’ board at their March meeting. A short list of potential sites will then be presented for discussion in the April SLI meeting.”  

It is anticipated that there will be many conversations comparing the properties and making tradeoffs among the benefits of each. After a site is selected, a campus Master Plan will be created. 

The next SLI meeting is on April 19 at 5 p.m, in the Chelan PUD Meeting Room. 

Zach Johnson can be found at lcmeditor@gmail.com or (509) 682-2213.