FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 10, 2007
Contact: Sam Planta
Director of Growth and Development
Touchstone Communities
210.828.5686
Touchstone Communities' New "Neighborhood Concept" Home to be Built in Atascosa County
A 'First' for Texas Becomes Thirteenth Member of Growing Provider
SAN ANTONIO – June 21, 2007 -- Touchstone Communities, a growing provider of rehabilitation therapies, skilled long-term care, and assisted-living facilities in Texas and Arizona, today announced the building of its thirteenth member of the family, The Heights, near Pleasanton, Texas. The home will be the first in Texas to offer design and operation around the nationally emerging “Neighborhood Concept.”
“We’re excited to join Atascosa County in providing the state’s first skilled-nursing home built to the standards of even greater care under the ‘neighborhood’ design,” said Carl Fellbaum, president of Touchstone, at today’s groundbreaking ceremonies. “The Touchstone team enjoys broad experience in managing communities designed for elderly residents and we’ll be a preferred employer in the region and a first-rate care provider.”
Featuring beautifully landscaped public spaces and walk-ways, The Heights is scheduled to open during Summer 2008. The Heights will offer 100 resident rooms, both private and semi-private. About 100 employees will be hired from the surrounding area and trained to staff self-directed teams of caregivers who will be empowered to listen to and respond to resident needs.
Nursing “neighborhoods” will be clusters of private and semi-private rooms, hosting about 30 residents in each area. Every neighborhood will have its own staff of professionals who offer 24-hour care in a home-like atmosphere where food and services will be available to residents at all times.
Much like with their own homes, residents will benefit from a focus on their neighborhood’s large kitchen/dining/family area which will serve as the central gathering spot for meals and activities. Each of the three neighborhood clusters will feature individual color schemes and decor.
The dignity and preferences of residents will be supported by a staff that makes every effort to encourage and help restore wellness as each resident’s personal choices are honored.
“The neighborhood concept is as close to home as we can make it for the residents,” said Britta Strickland, chief operating officer for Touchstone. “We’re excited to build this home-away-from-home for the people of Atascosa County. This site will serve as a flagship for more of the homes that we plan to build and operate for the elderly.”
Touchstone Communities sets standards at nationally recognized levels for resident-directed care. As owner/operator of skilled-care communities in Texas and Arizona, and managers of multiple Texas state veterans homes, Touchstone Communities plans to develop and manage other premier communities that offer a range of rehabilitation therapies, assisted-living, skilled-nursing, and Alzheimer’s care in rural and urban markets. This growth strategy, which Touchstone leadership describes as “caring for families, one generation at a time,” is designed to provide the top-quality service and long-term stability that most families, caregivers and skilled healthcare workers seek.
ABOUT TOUCHSTONE COMMUNITIES
Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Touchstone Communities provides the aging population with extensive health care services, including skilled-nursing care, assisted living, Alzheimer’s care and rehabilitative services. With more than 1,100 employees, Touchstone Communities independently owns six communities in Texas at Brenham, Del Rio, LaVernia, Rockdale, Snyder, Troup and two in Arizona, both in Prescott. Touchstone also manages Texas state veterans homes in Amarillo, Bonham, Floresville and Temple, Texas. For more information, visit www.Touchstone-Communities.com