Bethesda expanding New London, Minnesota, senior living facilities
Nov. 25—NEW LONDON
—
Bethesda
earlier this month celebrated the beginning of an expansion of its
North Pointe
senior living facility in New London.
"One of the biggest needs in our community is offering more opportunities for housing arrangements. This will give us ten more spaces for individuals to join our Bethesda family," said Troy Pederson, Bethesda vice president of senior services, in an interview with the West Central Tribune.
A groundbreaking was conducted Nov. 15 for additional housing and amenities at the New London facility, which first opened in 2021.
Bethesda is headquartered in Willmar, where a wide range of senior living facilities are located, and also operates an assisted living facility in Olivia. The nonprofit organization offers wellness and home care services as well.
The expansion that is currently underway at North Pointe includes the construction of 10 living units and amenities like a saltwater pool and a steam room. The saltwater pool was part of
the original plan for the North Pointe facility,
but was not able to be constructed with the initial location.
"The pool was intended in the original vision of North Pointe. But it was put on hold for a capital campaign to help offset some of the funds for construction. Now we are happy to say that we are moving forward with that original vision of the plan. The steam room and additional apartments came up after," Bethesda CEO Michelle Haefner said in an interview.
The saltwater pool is meant to provide both recreational and health benefits. According to Pederson, the pool will allow residents to engage in physical therapy with less resistance.
"Not only are there the benefits for maintaining health and well-being, but also rehabbing. In the instance of injury, like right now I am recovering from a broken femur. I know that at some point I can get in the water and that is going to take away all the pressure points, it will allow buoyancy at levels you couldn't do on land. We are very fortunate to have in-house therapy that we contract with that can work with the pool," Pederson said.
The pool uses saltwater instead of chemically cleaned water to maintain a higher air quality in the facility. Construction on the project will continue through 2024 and is expected to be finished around late fall of that year.
With the addition of 10 units, the North Pointe facility will have a total of around 80 units. Bethesda is the largest senior housing provider in the region, serving more than 1,500 people across their multiple locations and through at-home care.
In order to maintain these facilities, the nonprofit employs over 530 people.
"We have a great team of care providers. They do a really good job of maintaining those individual experiences. Every life is different, family dynamics are different, healthcare needs are different so treating each person with an individualized perspective is important," Haefner said.
Bethesda also has plans to grow at its Willmar location. At the
November Planning Commission meeting,
a conditional use permit was approved for a two-phase expansion on the northeast corner of Willmar Avenue and 12th Street Southeast in Willmar.
The first phase of this expansion will include a three- to four-story living complex with around 120 units. The second phase would add another 90 units.
"Wellness amenities and community amenities is really what we are hearing that people want. Instead of just renting an apartment or town-home somewhere, being a part of the Bethesda community is what we are seeing people want on our waiting list. They really do want a sense of belonging to a community inside of a larger community," Haefner said.
West Central Tribune reporter Jennifer Kotila contributed to this story.
