FAIRMONT — Passing by the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont, one will see a large new building nearing completion. The $24 million project will be the new home of the Center, with construction having begun over the summer of 2020. Executive director Deb Barnes and Foundation Director Mae DeWar-Aust share how the idea for the building came to be what it is today.

Originally planned as a simple remodel, Barnes shares that idea changed over time.

“Our board looked at our present building which was built 50 years ago,” she said. “The style was what people wanted at the time.

“But our nursing home is institutional and hygienic. It’s not homey, not welcoming, and doesn’t offer the amenities that people want and are used to now.”

Barnes stated that the goal quickly became providing a place that is comfortable, home-like, and that has all the amenities that seniors want and deserve. While remodeling was still considered, with a hired architectural firm putting together an entire plan, it was ultimately realized that the age of the current building would end up sucking up a large portion of any funds meant to improve quality-of-life improvements.

“When you remodel anything that’s at an institutional level, the new regulations automatically go into place. So if you’re operating, you can operate on regulations as they were when the place was built, but the minute you do any kind of change you have to go with all of the new building regulations.

“We were going to spend so much money just updating and doing things behind the scenes such as piping and electrical work and wall structure, that all of our money was going to go to that, and not the amenities and atmosphere that we wanted.”

Barnes stated that the board then made the choice to look at the cost of a new building. The price difference between updating the current structure and a new building stood at a relatively small price of $2 million.

“Once the board knew that, then they decided we were going to build a new building,” said Barnes.

When asked what will become of the older structure, Barnes shared that a couple of options are being considered.

“It’s certainly still a solid building,” she continued. “It’s just not what we want to offer our seniors that need rehab and have many other things going on in their life. We want them to have that comfortable home-like setting.”

Barnes again noted that the current building is still viable, and a usage committee has been established in the community to look at different options.

“On that committee we have two of our past board presidents, Brad Musser and Tom Hawkins, community activator Alex-Young Williams, Linsey Preuss, and I sit on that also. We are looking at what is missing in the community and what could that space be used for.

“Many people in the community have talked a lot about a place for people that have mental health issues and just need a place to be, and some resources. So we had a speaker talk to us about how we could do that, however with our campus with childcare and vulnerable adults we would have to look carefully at how we would design that.

“So that’s one area that the community has told us is a huge gap in Fairmont. What that would look like, i don’t know.”

Barnes shared that another idea is to look at affordable house for seniors.

“Alex has a speaker lined up for us at our next meeting to talk about those possibilities for housing. So there are a lot of different ways we can go, we just want to do the thing that is best for the community and fill a gap that isn’t filled right now.”

When it comes to the new building, Barnes and DeWar-Aust said that current residents are very excited for the structure.

“Mae takes videos periodically and posts them on the website, and our chaplain also took a video. We have a resident television station and so we post things on there so they can keep up. Then they watch out the windows if they can.”

Barnes noted that much of the construction is on-schedule, if not ahead of schedule. She shared that the construction team of Kraus-Anderson stated they were amazed at how smoothly construction has gone.

“We’ve been blessed with great weather,” said DeWar-Aust. “We’ve been just amazed.”

As for the new amenities, the pair say residents will be able to really enjoy a completely different atmosphere.

“The lounges are beautiful and the hallways are not long,” said Barnes. “There are going to be four different ‘neighborhoods’ with their own dining areas, and food will be prepared elsewhere but then served from their own kitchens.”

“There will be little libraries and nooks for playing games and doing puzzles,” said DeWar-Aust. I think the key, like Deb said, will be that we won’t have the long hallways like we have right now. There will be all these little nooks and crannies that open it up.

“There will be carpeted floors and it will be quieter and warmer. It will feel like you’re at home.

Barnes shared that there will also be an area cafe, spa areas, a store, private rooms and larger doors. Also included in the construction is a new day care center for Building Blocks, allowing the day care service to fulfill their license of 120 children.