Retirement News : Seniors : CONTINUING CARE CENTER Lakewood lands grant to expand

CONTINUING CARE CENTER Lakewood lands grant to expand

Date Added: 23-08-2005

WATERVILLE -- The Inland Foundation has announced that an expansion to Lakewood Continuing Care Center received a $400,000 matching grant from Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems.

Lakewood is a subsidiary of Inland Hospital and is located on the hospital's Kennedy Memorial Drive property. Both have been affiliated with Eastern Maine since 1997.

The $8.2 million expansion project, expected to be completed in the fall of 2006, seeks to increase the facility's 76 beds to 105 beds and build a 32-bed unit for patients with Alzheimer's Disease and dementia.

"Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems is committed to help maintain, improve and add new healthcare services in Waterville," said Norm Ledwin, president and chief executive officer of Eastern Maine. "This matching grant is one more example of how EMHS is investing in Waterville's future and helping citizens get the highest quality health care as close to home as possible."

Ledwin said other investments include a new teletrauma program at Inland which instantly links Inland's emergency department to trauma surgeons at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor.

Ledwin recently presented the $400,000 grant to Paul R. LaVerdiere, chairman of Lakewood's Board of Trustees; Charles Gaunce, chairman of the Inland Foundation Board of Trustees; Rose Blanchette, Lakewood's administrator; James Nicholson, chairman of the Inland Board of Trustees; Sally Conary, president and chief executive officer of Inland Hospital; Waterville Mayor Paul R. LePage; and Marc A. Pitman, director of Inland Foundation.

"As a matching grant, we hope this will encourage others to support the Lakewood project," Ledwin said. "Census and demographic trends for the central Maine area show an increasing need and demand for long-term and skilled care services, so the importance of Lakewood's ability to respond is critical. We are very grateful to Eastern Maine Healthcare systems for its investment in Lakewood."

Christopher Gaunce, Lakewood's campaign chairman, said the grant shows the system's commitment to the people of Central Maine.

"This matching grant is a huge boost toward our $1.1 million public fund raising goal. Like all healthcare facilities, Lakewood is facing growing uncertainty about reimbursement from the state and federal Medicaid and Medicare programs, which together provide more than 70 percent of Lakewood's revenue. These major gifts help solidify Lakewood's financial future."

Lakewood is nearing completion of the first phase of a four-phase plan to expand to 105 beds and create three distinct care areas: one, for long-term care; another, for rehabilitation/skilled care; and a new wing dedicated to patients with Alzheimer's/dementia. Patient safety will be improved in the layout, according to Sara Dyer, director of community relations for Inland Hospital.

For More Information:

http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/1875551.shtml