“The old, the new and what is to come” was the theme of the open house showcasing the renovated wing of the Manawa Community Nursing Center on Saturday, March 24.
“We need to have the community involved with life,” said Phillip Castleberg, owner of Manawa Community Nursing Center, when he spoke at the open house. “The sad part of so many nursing homes is that when people come they lose connection with the community and they lose connection with their family. We want to make this a community facility.”
Also present at the open house were state rep. Kevin Peterson, Camille Solberg, regional director for U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and Jackie Trudell, senior representative for U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble.
“It’s a really exciting day today,” said Joy Miller, director at Manawa Community Nursing Center.
Miller said the newly renovated wing is just phase one of a three phase project. The renovated wing includes a visiting room with a fireplace, an area where manicures and pedicures can be done and four rehabilitation rooms, in addition to the renovated rooms for residents.
“I hope that it is a warm and inviting environment so families want to come and visit,” Miller said. “We are also trying to create a culture so that young people come in and volunteer their time. [A place where] grandchildren aren’t afraid to come and visit grandma and grandpa because everything looks so institutionalized. We are working really hard to get away from that.”
Current residents will be moved into the renovated wing. The opposite wing will then be renovated.
“Once that gets completed and our residents get settled in we’ll be starting the center part of our building which probably will include, down the road, a restaurant and we’ll probably have a movie theater area,” Miller said. “I plan on have a chapel here in the building. I’d like people from the community to come in and be a part of this, to come and visit our restaurant and eat with our residents.
“We want to provide a service to the community, and [create an] inviting environment for everybody to enjoy. We’d like to see more community activity here. I look forward to working with the community. I look forward to working with the city officials – everybody to make this a great place.”
Miller said it will take about 18 months to complete the renovations. The renovations will not include adding on to the building.
When asked if the next wing to be renovated will be the same as the recently renovated wing, Miller responded, “It will be similar. I’ve got surprises on what’s yet to come. I’d like the community to come and visit to see what’s going on.”