A diagram showing the Lutheran Home’s planned expansion through the next five years.

Lutheran Home to begin $30 million expansion
By Kevin Kelley
Westlake
Published Aug. 10, 2005

The Lutheran Home, a Westlake institution on Dover Center Road since the 1930s, plans to break ground for a $30 million expansion early next month.

The projects which begin in a few weeks make up only the first phase of an ambitious three-phase expansion which will cost about $65 million over the next ten years.

Major aspects of the present expansion include:

• A skilled nursing facility offering subacute, rehabilitation and hospice care in 56 suites, most of which will be private. This facility will be called "The Paragon."

• An assisted living facility for persons in the early stages of dementia. Called "The Coburg," this structure will initially consist of 24 suites and can be expanded to 40.

• A central activity center called "Main Street" which will feature a café, new chapel, theater and Internet-connected library.

Three existing facilities —the chronic long-term care center, the Alzheimer's and dementia skilled care center, and the wellness center — will also be renovated as part of the Phase I expansion.

Dennis Bruce, executive director of the Lutheran Home, with a model detailing the facility’s planned expansion. (Photo by Kevin Kelley)

The expanded wellness center will offer short-term rehabilitation services on an outpatient basis, explained Dennis Bruce, executive director of the Lutheran Home. Such services will include occupational, speech and physical therapy, including aquatic therapy.

"We're supporting the concept of being able to maintain your own independence in your own residence as long as possible," Bruce said. "But when you need support services, you can come to the campus and get that specialized care."

Bruce described Main Street as being a destination place where residents can host grandchildren and other family members who visit.

"(Main Street) is the center of the community with its social, recreation and spiritual life," he said.

Everything in the building will be designed with a wheelchair-bound individual in mind, Bruce said.

Once built, Main Street will host some non-human residents as well. Three large finch aviaries, a 1,100-gallon, 21-foot long aquarium and a duck pond with a waterfall will be key conversation items for residents and visitors.

The wheelchair-accessible theater will have surround sound and 20 seats.

A model of the bronze, life-size sculpture which will be located outside “Main Street,” the focal point of community at the Lutheran Home. The sculpture, designed by Columbus-based artist Steve Cannato, shows an elderly couple supporting each other and receiving the gift of peace from the hand of God.

Outside the main entrance to Main Street will be a life-size bronze sculpture depicting an elderly couple supporting each other and receiving the gift of peace from the hand of God. An inscription will read "I give you peace."

About $25 million of the money needed for Phase I will have to be borrowed, Bruce said. The Lutheran Home plans to apply to the city of Westlake to be the issuing authority for bonds to fund the project, he said. If Westlake City Council approves the application, the bonds would be backed by a letter of credit from a bank.

Additional phases of expansion consist of construction of assisted living apartments for the physically frail and independent living apartments for seniors. These projects will be built as early as 2010, Bruce said.

The expansion represents the Lutheran Homes' commitment to older adults, particularly those over 80, a fast-growing section of the population, Bruce said.

"This is a major investment in the community, in the quality of life for older adults," Bruce said.

Contrary to some people's misconception, the Lutheran Home is open to people of all faiths.

"In fact, we're very ecumenical," Bruce said. "We have 40 percent from the Catholic faith, about 35 Lutheran, and other faiths make up the difference."

Run by a board of directors, the institution is governed by local Lutheran churches.