One of the nation’s leading memory care providers, and a staple in the great northwest, is expanding its footprint in its home state of Washington.
With 35 communities in eight states, and six new communities in development in independent living, assisted living and memory care, Koelsch Communities is known for delivering high-class service mixed with technology-driven resident safety. Now, the third-generation, family-owned and operated memory care specialist is launching a new distinctive memory care community approximately 35 miles south of Seattle.
The standalone memory care community Deer Ridge is slated to open in early 2021, with 52 apartments and 70 beds laid across a lush four-acre campus. At a project cost of $21 million, the 42,000-square foot Deer Ridge will bring 50 new jobs to the Puyallup, Washington, region — and, more importantly, create a lasting community for seniors living with dementia and other forms of memory loss.
“Koelsch Communities has led the senior living industry for over 60 years, delivering world-class customer service, home craftsmanship and unprecedented amenities,” says Koelsch Communities President and CEO Aaron Koelsch.
Located at the foot of Mount Rainier, Deer Ridge will focus on personalized care and living, fusing health care and hospitality to deliver an elite lifestyle for residents. Planned services include licensed nurses onsite 24 hours a day, while amenities will include housekeeping, transportation services and regular excursions.
As part of its delivery of memory care support, Deer Ridge will create opportunities for residents to return to days gone by through sensory exploration. That can mean ice cream and soda treats, or a visit to Emmett’s Garage and its namesake classic cars on display. The dignified dining experiences and purpose-built environment paired with specialized and personalized care can provide a sense of relief for those living with dementia and other forms of memory loss.
“Our residents live in their older memories, not their newer memories,” Aaron Koelsch says. “They remember the kitchen they grew up in. When they can step into a kitchen like that and we can bake cookies, it helps us in our work with them.”
Adds Koelsch Communities Chief Operating Officer Eva Arant, “Our customers want to know we specialize in enhancing their loved one’s quality of life. Being able to continue to operate standalone memory care is very important to me.”
Koelsch is developing the project in partnership with RJ Development, with Koelsch Construction as general contractor and Judy Koelsch of JSK Design handling interior design work on the project. Following completion, Koelsch will operate the community, which is located at 3901 5th Street in the town of Puyallup.
In its early years, Puyallup was known for its hops, berries and flowers. Today, the Washington State Fair, Daffodil Festival and Parade and the Puyallup Farmers Market pay tribute to the city’s agricultural past. Those events create a feeling of community, and good country living, right outside of the city. That feeling makes Payallup a natural fit for Koelsch Communities.
“Our job in memory care, as we see it, is to live in our residents’ world — it’s not their job to live in our world,” Koelsch says. “Everything we do at Koelsch is personal. We care about the details.”
To learn more about Koelsch Communities, and its new Deer Ridge memory care community in Puyallup, Washington, visit KoelschSeniorCommunities.com.
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