From the left, Commissioners Mark Robinson, Joe Antram, Mike Yoder, George Hagan of Progressive Health Care, Ian Andersen of PH7 Architects, Kyle Schmitmeyer of RCS Construction break ground on the new project. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
New memory care wing adds 15 rooms, other amenities
Logan County is moving ahead with a more than $3.7 million project at Logan Acres Retirement Community, 2739 County Road 91, Bellefontaine, to construct an additional memory care wing of 15 rooms and a covered main entrance, along with a new roof and siding of the existing facility.
County commissioners and representatives from Progressive Health Care Systems, PH7 Architects and RCS Construction of Celina recently broke ground on the project, which is expected to be completed next year.
For the past 20 years, the county commissioners have partnered with Progressive Health Care to operate Logan Acres as an enterprise fund under the county’s annual budget. As an enterprise, the operation generates revenue to cover day-to-day expenses and capital improvements, such as this project, without tapping into local county tax revenues.
According to records from Logan County Auditor Jack Reser’s office, Logan Acres’ fund is healthy. For the past four years, the operation has entered the new year with a cash reserve of more than $5 million, which is enough to cover more than six months of operations.
Logan Acres provides care options for long-term care, short-term rehabilitation and outpatient therapy. It is a five-star rated facility as noted by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
A 2023 Logan County Community Health Assessment identified available services for senior adults as a priority, the commissioners report.
“Findings of the assessment tell us that nearly one-third (30.5 percent) of households in the county have at least one adult age 65 or older,” Commissioners Mark Robinson, Joe Antram and Mike Yoder said in a joint statement.
“In addition, 18 percent of the county population is 65 or older, compared to the state average. There are indicators that this trend will only continue.
“We know that families do not always take responsibility for their senior family members and guardianship issues continue to escalate in our county.
“Many senior adults and families face increased challenges in finding answers for adult daycare, transportation, food insecurities, affordable and appropriate housing, isolation, depression and mental health. All these issues contribute to the need for expansion of services at the Logan Acres to aid in filling these gaps in services for the residents of Logan County.”
Officials from Progressive Health Care concur. The company reports during the past few years, it became apparent the needs of our community are growing and more support for residents and families facing this very difficult disease are necessary. Many times family members are driving out of the area to visit their loved ones in other communities because the local options are full.
“Logan Acres can currently serve 12 residents with dedicated memory care services, but with this expansion our capacity will grow to 27 and we will have more availability for people who need inpatient memory care services,” Progressive Health’s Logan Acres Administrator Lorraine Fischio said. “This will also give current residents and families additional options when faced with an unexpected change in condition.
“It has always been our desire to walk alongside the people of Logan County to support their healthcare needs. We are proud of our dedicated team of healthcare professionals who deliver outstanding service and look forward to many more years of providing exceptional patient-centered care for our community members in need.”
The memory care expansion is a 9,472-square-foot facility designed by PH7. The firm also designed a Porte-Cochere addition for the main front entrance of Logan Acres, which allows community members to drive into a covered area and drop off residents and patients with better protection from the elements.
PH7 drew from successful design cues of the original Alzheimer’s and dementia care wing at Logan Acres that features an abundance of natural light and private dining within the household.
The project’s de-institutionalized environment allows for less agitation and closer interaction between caregiver and resident. It also expands a secured courtyard, enabling residents the opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities, including outdoor dining.
RCS won the general contractor bid with a $3,723,200 submission to build the memory care expansion and installation of a new roof and siding on the 53,692-square-foot Logan Acres.
Assistance for the project was provided by Logan County Auditor Jack Reser with bond counsel from Chris Franzmann of Squire, Patton, Boggs LLP, and Andy Bossart municipal advisor with B Payne Advisors. Connor Kinsey with Thompson, Dunlap & Heydinger Ltd. was the construction contract counsel on the project.
A rendering of the new memory care addition at Logan Acres. (PH7 DRAWING)