By Sara Strong
The first assisted living facility in Luverne will start construction in the spring. Groundbreaking ceremonies were Friday, Nov. 22.
The facility doesn’t have a specific name yet, but it’s affiliated with The Oaks and the Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Center, and will be located just north of The Oaks.
Of the $350,000 local fund-raising goal, there’s about $50,000 remaining. The project overall comes with a cost of $3.2 million, paid for mostly through existing funds and loans.
Community interest has been shown in more than donations. There’s already a list of at least 38 people signed up to live in the 24-unit facility.
Community Relations Director for Mary Jane Brown, Nancy Kaczrowski, said, "The community is very supportive through volunteering or prayers and the fund-raising."
Like most assisted living facilities, Luverne’s will offer 24-hour staffing with a nurse on call; three meals a day and snacks; help with bathing, dressing and grooming; optional medication administration; and scheduled transportation, planned social and recreational opportunities.
"It’s a nice project and has gotten great community support," said Tony Linn, Good Samaritan administrator.
Linn came into the assisted living project after it had begun, replacing Linda Studer. He’s lived in Luverne since September, when he transferred here from Albuquerque, N.M., where he was administrator of a Good Samaritan 117-bed nursing home.
Kaczrowski said that besides standard donations, people can help in the fund-raising during the Christmas season by purchasing a tree ornament.
The ornaments will be printed with names commemorating loved ones of whoever purchases ornaments. The ornaments will be placed on a tree in the Mary Jane Brown lounge and people who buy them will receive a gold 2002 Good Samaritan ornament.