Advertisement

Administrator Jim Austin said construction is about 50 percent complete on the new outpatient services building at the hospital, while the hospital's new dialysis center is fully open and serving more than 20 patients, three times a week.

Meanwhile, another construction project is on the horizon.

"In June, we hope to break ground on a much needed 34-room assisted living building," Austin said. "Seniors in Kalkaska will no longer have to go out of the area for a licensed ÔHome for the Aged' facility."

Plans call for the two-story structure adjacent to the hospital to feature a "streetscape" on the first floor that in addition to apartments will include a cafŽ, library, spa, dining room and activities room. The second floor will offer additional apartments with an eight-foot-wide hallway in a high quality hotel design.

The project is part of the hospital's strategic plan to create a "Continuum of Care Community" that will include senior low-income housing, adult day care, a dementia unit, general long-term care, and senior wellness programs.

KMHC recently purchased an open lot south of where the assisted living project will be built. The lot will be used for an "environmental beautification area" that will include a shallow grassy lawn that is needed for storm water runoff. The hospital is requesting rezoning of the lot to the medical district zone. Without the change, about $100,000 more would need to be added to the project to put large metal basins under the parking lot.

Additional phases of the assisted living project are planned for the future.

"We're excited about the project and believe it will be a great benefit to area seniors and their families," Austin said.