13 Aug Foundation Grant Supports Expanded Care at The Cedars
An example bedroom located in the Cedar’s Ridge 802 facility. The grant helped cover expenses related to the beds. (Photo from McPherson Chamber of Commerce)
This week, The Cedars held an open house showcasing renovations underway at Cedars Ridge Houses 805 and 807. The project is designed to add much-needed care capacity by repurposing existing space that was previously been used as a housing option for McPherson College students.
As part of the renovations, The Cedars received a $10,000 grant from the McPherson County Community Foundation to help cover the cost of new beds for the updated rooms. The height-adjustable beds will provide residents with greater comfort while also giving staff additional tools to assist with their care.
Tricia Hartshorn, director of fund advancement at The Cedars, said the Foundation grant was combined with other funding to purchase 19 new beds for the facility. Along with beds already owned by The Cedars, the new equipment will help support a total of 28 care rooms.
The expansion is part of a larger effort to increase the range of care options available at The Cedars. Residents who move into the renovated space will come from another currently occupied area of the campus. That space will then be renovated to serve as a higher-functioning memory care unit.
“The goal for The Cedars is to be a full-life facility for our residents,” said Austin Russell, senior living advisor at The Cedars. “We want to offer a full range of options from assisted living to full-time care.”
The expansion has also created new employment opportunities. The Cedars added 24 full- and part-time positions to help provide care for the additional residents.
The Cedars hopes to reopen Ridge Houses 805 and 807 in September, with the renovation project now nearing its final stages. Hartshorn said support from local organizations and donors has played an important role in bringing the spaces back into use.
“It’s been a community effort,” Hartshorn said. “Many hands make light work.”
As McPherson County’s population continues to age, the McPherson County Community Foundation remains committed to supporting healthy living at every stage of life. Investments in thoughtful, long-term care not only address current community needs but also help prepare McPherson County for the needs of future generations.