Heritage Heights breaks ground on $3.4M renovation to expand care services

CHELAN - Heritage Heights of Lake Chelan, a non-profit residential facility providing assisted living and respite services for the past 28 years in the Lake Chelan Valley, held their ‘groundbreaking’ ceremony for their $3.4 million renovation project on May 15. The project will renovate and upgrade the full facility (interior and exterior), to include kitchen remodel, upgrade flooring, painting, and furnishings, and increase bed capacity from 30 to 38 while offering a full continuum of care to include assisted living, memory care, and end-of-life care.

The renovation, primarily funded through federal, state, county, and city grants and private donations, allows Heritage Heights to add a memory care unit and end-of-life suites. The Memory Care Unit will provide comfortable and professional services for individuals with advanced-stage dementia, while the End-of-Life Suites are being funded by the Tipler Charitable Trust through the sale of their home in Wenatchee.

Heritage Heights also hired a Director of Wellness, Maria Jan, RN. She joins the Heritage Heights team with deep clinical experience, including clinic management, home health, and hospice nursing for Chelan and Douglas County. 

The ‘groundbreaking’ ceremony featured distinguished public service officials who were critical to the success of the fundraising efforts, including Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay, Mayor Erin McCardle of the City of Chelan, Ruby Gaston from Congresswoman Kim Schrier's office, and retired WA State Senator Linda Evans Parlette. Rep. Mike Steele was unable to attend. Other speakers at the event were Heritage Heights Board Chair Melissa Robins, Patti Westby of Westby Associates, Timi Starkweather, former Heritage Height Board Chair, Norm and Janice Strums, caregivers of the Tipler’s, and Maria Jan, RN, Director of Wellness for Heritage Heights. 

The renovation is expected to be completed within nine months, further enhancing Heritage Heights of Lake Chelan's services.