Lakeview Village expands

A lagging economy has not reduced the need for long-term health care.

Lakeview Village, Lenexa, plans to open a new building called East Side Terrace in mid-May.

The building will house skilled rehab units for short-term stay patients and will have a long-term assisted living unit with a 24-person capacity.

“It’s a win-win for us and the community,” said Jan Pearson, LCSW, director of health services at Lakeview. “We have a waiting list of about 90 (potential) residents for 23 slots.”

Pearson said she hopes to hire 60 people to fill positions in the new facility, including about 30 certified nursing assistants and/or certified medical assistants, about 15 nurses, about five nursing supervisors, and cooks, receptionists and “homemakers.”

The “homemaker” position is a term new to Lakeview Village. The person who fills this role will clean, cook and do activities with residents.

“There will be a lot of overlap in job function,” Pearson said.

Nurses in the new facility will also have an expanded role, which could include cooking or cleaning.

“In nursing they are used to doing whatever it takes for the residents,” Pearson said.

Along with the resident units, East Side Terrace will feature a wellness center and physician’s office, bistro, beauty shop, media center, swimming pool and conference rooms on the first floor.

“It’s been in the planning stage for a long time,” Pearson said.

Leaders at Lakeview Village planned for more than two years for the development of East Side Terrace.

“It’s really an exciting project,” Pearson said.

While most businesses are not expanding because of the economy, the leadership team at Lakeview Village said they have confidence their latest addition will succeed.

“Health care in general always has been (recession-resistant),” Project Manager Dena Johnston said.

Rose Haddock-Judy, RN, ADON, has worked at Lakeview since 2008. She plans to work in the East Side Terrace when it opens.

“I wanted to be part of a new start-up,” Haddock-Judy said.

She said she likes Lakeview’s patient-centered approach to care.

“It’s different than any facility that I’ve ever worked at,” Haddock-Judy said. “The residents drive the care.”

Haddock-Judy said she has recommended Lakeview as a place of employment for friends and has also encouraged loved ones to consider Lakeview for their long-term care needs.

“I just like the person-centered approach,” she said.

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