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Assisted living facility OK’d in P.R.
Published 12:00am Friday, July 28, 2000PELICAN RAPIDS – A proposed 20-unit assisted living facility here received approval from the Pelican Rapids City Council Wednesday. Pelican Valley Health Center is planning to build a two-story unit with 10 studio units and 10 one-bedroom apartments which would be attached to the nursing home. The units would range in size from under 450 square feet to about 600 square feet. The entire unit would share some facilities with the nursing home, such as a kitchen, but would include a dining room with a small serving kitchen. Other planned amenities include a laundry and styling salon, with a patio overlooking the Mill Pond. Staff of the nursing home will provide nursing services to those in the unit. Demographic reports of Otter Tail County and the Pelican Rapids area, which were presented to the planning commission, revealed than an aging population will have a continuing need for housing of this type. The Pelican Valley Health Center had discussed adding assisted living facilities several times over the past 15 years, but plans were dropped because of financial concerns. &uot;In 1985 and 1989, we were focusing more on the hospital and the clinic,&uot; said Pelican Valley Health Center Administrator David Shaw. &uot;At that time, we didn’t want to spend too much money to help too few people. Now, we’re able to focus on the assisted living unit.&uot; Initial schematics are done, Shaw said, and they are now trying to secure financing. &uot;We’re exploring the options available to us for financing,&uot; he said. &uot;We’re jumping through each hoop as it comes, I guess.&uot;
