Two new healthcare centers are rising inside the campus of Monte Vista Grove Homes, the retirement community for members of the Pasadena Presbyterian Church – a Memory Care Residence designed for those living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other advanced stages of memory loss, and an update to their Wellness Center that will provide residents with recreational activities and personalized occupational therapies.
Once completed, the Memory Care Residence will be open not only for members of the Presbyterian Church but to the public as well, regardless of religious affiliation, a report on Pasadena Independent said.
Monte Vista Grove Homes broke ground on the two projects on February 7 in an indoor ceremony, with Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek, Vice Mayor Gene Masuda, residents of the retirement community and representatives of CDG Builders attending.
“There’s an emerging and tremendous demand for services that deal with Alzheimer’s and other kinds of illnesses that are a function of aging, so every resource that is added to the pool to meet that need is a huge gain for the community,” Mayor Tornek said.
Reverend Doctors and campaign co-chairs Gary Demarest and Tom Erickson blessed the ground and led closing prayers.
MVGH said the residence will have ten rooms dedicated for independent living and will offer communal activities that emphasize sense memories, such as cooking and gardening. Residents can move freely in and out of the center, and will be cared for by trained memory care professionals.
A fundraising campaign aimed to raise $4.5 million of the $6.5 million dollars needed for construction, and the goal was reached on January 17.
MVGH plans to complete work on the new centers by December.
