Covenant News

Grand Rapids Is Home to Newest Retirement Community

GRAND RAPIDS, MI (January 27, 2001) - Covenant Village of the Great lakes recently became Covenant Retirement Communities' (CRC) newest community, fulfilling a long-rage goal to establish a retirement community in each conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

The community welcomed its first resident in mid-December 2000, with 11 others moving in soon after. All were guests of honor at the dedication. The dedication litany was led by Rev. David Ness, pastor of congregational care at First Evangelical Covenant Church. Others leading the dedication service included Great Lakes Conference Supt. David Dahlberg; David A. Dwight, CRC president; Rebecca N. Townsend, CRC vice president of strategic development; and John Alkema, chairman of the retirement community's Management Advisory Committee.

"The unflagging dedication of Covenanters in the Great Lakes Conference was pivotal in bringing a Covenant retirement community to the conference," Townsend said. "Weathering years of effort and a few frustrations, the local Covenant community has been diligent in working with Covenant Retirement Communities to make Covenant Village of the Great Lakes a reality."

Members of the local community, particularly neighbors who were impressed with both the attractive site and building, joined in the celebration. The accompanying photo shows the main entrance to the building complex.

The 82-unit assisted living center features studio, one and one-bedroom deluxe apartments, which residents furnish in their own style. Staffed around the clock, the assisted living center provides residents assistance with activities of daily living such as medication management, bathing, grooming, dressing and light housekeeping.

Three meals are served daily in the center's dining rooms. All utilities and local telephone service are included, as are housekeeping, laundry and linen services. A wellness program complements a full calendar of social, recreational, educational and cultural programs and activities.

Nineteen apartments on the center's lower level are clustered to provide a care neighborhood for those with memory impairments. The memory support program is designed for those with Alzheimer's or related memory disorders. In addition to services associated with assisted living, it features an activity based program that enhances quality of life and enables residents to maximize their abilities in a comfortable social setting. All staff members are specially trained in dementia care and behavioral techniques that are most effective for those with memory impairment.

Featuring a handsome brick exterior punctuated by clapboard sections, the 80,000-square-foot $7 million residence is stair-stepped to take advantage of the site topography and maximize access to the outdoors, while minimizing the building's visual impact on its residential neighborhood. Residential wings radiate from the three-story central core. Each wing features a sun room with a patio or deck, providing comfortable gathering areas for residents.

The project is the first phase of development. Future plans call for construction of an independent living complex containing 166 apartments. Although firm development dates have not been established, the community is accepting apartment reservations.

Covenant Village of the Great Lakes is located at 2520 Lake Michigan Driven N.W., Grand Rapids, Michigan. For additional information on assisted or independent living, call the marketing department at 616-735-4541 or 888-655-0165.

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