If you are familiar with Creekside’s origin story, you know that we’ve been proudly serving the elders of Walker County for over 43 years. In the early 1980’s, Huntsville Memorial Hospital had more than half of its beds filled with elders with nowhere else to go. The need for a nursing home in the area was evident, which compelled passionate advocates like Thomas Randle along with other locals to find a way to care for the aging population. Methodist Retirement Communities (MRC) was approached to develop a plan to renovate the old hospital building to become a care community called TownCreek.
Twenty years later, in the early 2000’s, the needs of the elderly population in the rapidly growing community were again apparent. The area sorely needed assisted living and memory support services. Thomas Randle bequeathed his entire estate upon his passing in 2001 to MRC to bring these much-needed resources to his hometown. Other generous donors, Dr. and Mrs. Raymond and Winona Blalock, also came to the table to secure a future of quality care.
Finally in 2013, their dream was realized when Creekside (formerly known as TownCreek) opened its doors, with 32 Randle House Assisted Living apartments, 18 private suites in The Blalock Memory Support neighborhood, and 66 Skilled Nursing suites.
Now, twelve years later, the needs of the area are continuing to grow, prompting Creekside to strategically respond by repositioning the community to better serve the needs of the county. There are four key things happening at Creekside that will better serve the needs of area seniors.
The Gathering Place: FREE Monthly Caregiver Support and Elder Day Care Program
“We noticed a trend when it comes to caregivers. By the time these families arrive at MRC’s doorstep they are overly stressed, and exceptionally tired. For most, self-care has taken a backseat for far too long,” explained Todd Partin, Vice President of Philanthropy and Engagement. As a response, MRC launched a new program called “The Gathering Place,” where caregivers can bring their loved one for meaningful engagement with a group of well-trained volunteers from area churches while they can either stay and participate themselves or take a much-needed break. The effort has included a host of Huntsville area churches: First Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, and First Presbyterian Church, along with a large group of volunteers from around Walker County.
Add Economy-Size Assisted Living Residences: Renovation Soon Underway
The demand for additional Assisted Living residences comes with the surge of growth in Huntsville as well as surrounding towns. Certainly, the area needs more residential care options, but there is a large demographic of seniors in the region who find the standard costs of Assisted Living to be beyond their budget. That’s why Creekside will soon begin construction on a portion of the building that formerly provided skilled nursing care, to offer economy-size assisted living apartments at a lower than typical rate. The change will reduce the volume of Skilled Nursing Beds and transform the space to add 10 additional assisted living apartments instead, starting at $2,795 per month.
Improved Experience for Post-acute Rehabilitative Care
The second phase of these renovations will include a reimagined and dedicated space for post-acute rehab patients. An entire hallway of guest suites, specifically dedicated for those who are receiving post-acute care and rehabilitative therapy services. The space aims to provide a tranquil environment to enhance the healing process and will feature a dedicated dining room and seating area for guests and their families to enjoy.
Specialized Certification in Heart Failure from the American Heart Association®
The leading cause of re-hospitalization in Walker County is primarily related to heart failure or other cardiac related issues. That’s why Creekside has partnered with the American Heart Association®, the world’s leading voluntary organization focused on heart and brain health, to obtain a specialized certification in heart failure. The certification provides an evidence-based framework for evaluating skilled nursing facilities against the American Heart Association’s rigorous science-based requirements for heart failure (HF) patients, including program management, patient and caregiver education and support, care coordination, clinical management and quality improvement.
Alan Brown, President and CEO said, “As always, we are honored to serve the seniors of Walker County and look forward to seeing how these much-needed renovations and programs will further our mission to honor and serve older adults as an expression of Christ’s love.”
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