Less than two years after opening, Auburn Ridge Living Center has expanded, adding new rooms and amenities to the residential care facility in Wardsville.
Co-owner Julie Berhorst said the expansion began last summer, with the project finishing by the end of the year. The expansion added six resident rooms, bringing the facility's capacity from 18 to 24, Berhorst said. It also added a new activity/exercise room and new salon, as well as a family room and a large handicapped-accesible bathroom. The family room is meant to operate as a space for visiting relatives, with some kitchen amenities, as well as seating, a large table, coffee and a TV.
"Our idea is so that families would have a place to come and have some time to themselves," she said.
The facility was founded by Berhorst; her husband, Brian; and Karrie and Brian Bruemmer.
The residential care facility for seniors opened in August 2019, and the Berhorsts said they've been pretty full ever since. (Brian Berhorst noted the majority of the residents are women, with only one male resident.) The center is meant to provide a home for seniors who aren't able to live independently but don't need full care.
Julie Berhorst said the residents get a lot of love from the community, with area school children making cards for them and the residents helping with some vegetable prep work for area growers.
"The community has really embraced us, and it's just been a great partnership," Julie Berhorst said.
With the added space, the facility now has a long hallway that is used by some residents for walks during inclement weather, Brian Berhorst said.
Staff provide medication and transportation to doctors' appointments, church services or other trips, including scheduled field trips, such as looking at Christmas lights. Facility Director Tina Andert said trips had to decrease because of the pandemic, but they're still able to take people on trips, just two at a time.
"We're very lucky to be able to do stuff like that," Andert said.
Brian Berhorst said Auburn Ridge has seen relatively few COVID-19 cases, noting the entire facility is currently free of the virus. Andert said residents already received their first dose of the vaccine and are set to receive the second dose later this week.
The facility offers several sets of adjoining rooms for couples or other family members who may want to share a space. Each room has a full bathroom with a handicapped-accessible shower and a closet, as well as a small counter area with a miniature fridge and cabinets for snacks or other belongings and a TV.
After the recent expansion, the owners are looking forward to simply maintaining the facility. Julie Berhorst said Auburn Ridge is exactly as large as they want it to be in order to provide the level of service and care their residents expect.
"We want to keep it small," she said. "We want it to be a family atmosphere."
For more information on Auburn Ridge Living Center, visit auburnridge.net.
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