By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

LARNED — The director of Country Living of Larned said the 2,500 square-foot addition to the Home Plus/Memory Care wing has filled a need for the community.
“We are excited to bring this facility to the community. Our greatest need is a place for those residents who are memory impaired,” said Laura Smith, Country Living of Larned director. “The good news is our capacity has been approved for 12 residents. Our vision is to have each resident have their own room and own personal space. They will feel like they are in their own home.”
Smith was able to talk about the new addition at Thursday’s Larned Chamber of Commerce coffee hour. Smith said final check list features a visit from a state fire marshal’s office to check for safety measures.
“This will be a state-of-the art facility which will enable us to care for residents that have particular needs in the memory care area, dementia and Alzheimer’s,” Smith said. “We have partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association in training our nursing staff in the care and management of this ever increasing population.”
Smith said Matt Heyn, former Pawnee Valley Community Hospital administrator, recommended that Wichita’s Health Facilities Group, which planned and designed the hospital, provide their expertise.
“We are excited because the new addition to our Memory Care building will add four new residence suites,” Smith said. “Plus, we will add a new commons living room area and an all-concrete safe room/shelter to that will benefit the entire building.”
The existing building will be completely re-decorated with fresh paint, new flooring and new furnishings.
Smith said the facility has started accepting applications for new residents with plans for resident placements in late August.
Country Living of Larned is owned and operated by a group of local investors who wanted to help provide a quality facility for this area . Currently, 34 full and part-time employees in dietary, nursing, maintenance, housekeeping and administration are part of the Country Living staff.
A Larned Chamber of Commerce Coffee Hour will be scheduled to enable area residents to get a closer look.