staff photo by rowena plett
A former small dining room at St. Luke Living Center was converted into a living room, where residents can meet with relatives and friends to visit or for special occasions.
St. Luke Living Center gets new life
Staff writer
Residents at St. Luke Living Center are now enjoying newly renovated rooms. Every room has been redone, including floors, walls, bathrooms, and shades on windows.
Resident Sharon Grosse, formerly of McPherson, said the renovation is “very nice.”
Office workers are especially appreciative of the changes.
Director Janet Herzet used to have an office at the back of the facility. Now, her office is in front, just to the left of the new entrance.
Her assistant, Heidi Stringer, is across the hall, also in a new office. She used to share with charge nurses.
“”This is more private,” she said. “I love it.”
With large shaded windows on two sides, the offices are bright and get a lot of sunshine.
They are part of a 1,000-square foot addition that includes a new entrance and an enlarged dining room.
Other offices have been reconfigured and renovated.
After 18 years as medical records clerk, Charlene Lawrence is happy to have her own office. She said her office used to be a cubbyhole inside another cubbyhole. Now she has her own space and a new big desk.
“I can turn my chair around and around and not hit anything,” she said with a smile. “It’s wonderful.”
Hallways also were renovated, with new flooring, new paint, and new bathrooms. New signs were placed on apartments, and a new fireplace was added near the entrance.
Plant operations director Dave Baliel is doing finishing touches. He participated in the renovation, putting up handrails along hallways and painting.
“I was the go-between for the staff and contractor,” he said. “We’re pleased to have it done.”
Workers have a different break room that includes a bathroom.
A former small dining room was changed into a living room in which friends and families can gather.
The center’s spa room was redone to include a DVD player and TV set at the front of the spa, a towel warmer, a shower, and a sink.
Herzet said St. Luke Auxiliary provided money for many new items. Total auxiliary donations were $193,323.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the auxiliary,” she said. “It pays to support the auxiliary shop.”
At its May meeting, the auxiliary board approved $20,000 of expenditures for painting the Marion County Home Health building, landscaping the Living Center, and other projects.
Two high school graduates received $1,000 scholarships. Bailey Robson plans to study nursing school at Wichita State University. Tori Shults plans to major in physical therapy at Kansas State University.
Shoppe receipts in April were $8,354. Six office chairs were donated to Marion City Museum.
The auxiliary will not meet during the summer. Its next meeting will be Sept. 5.
The living center has a capacity for 32 residents and is almost full, Herzet said.