A New Place to Call Home

By Linda Ireland (Larue County Herald News)

July 22, 2009 was called a “day of history-making” by local officials who braved a downpour
and muddy field at a groundbreaking for the new Sunrise Manor Nursing Home.

A large number of Sunrise employees, volunteers and board members joined representatives
of Branscum Construction for the ceremony and a reception back at the nursing home.
Branscum – from Russell Springs –  is building the $10.8 million 142-bed two-story facility on
a 13-acre lot beside the current nursing home.

Site work will begin this week.

Administrator Daphne Loyall said the new home is a project she has been considering for the
last 10 years. It is a culmination of a lot of dreams, paperwork, thinking and serendipity, she
said. “It all just came together” despite the poor economy, she said.

The new Sunrise will be “state-of-the-art” with numerous amenities for the residents. The old
Sunrise, which has been plagued with numerous plumbing problems over the last few years,
will be transformed into an assisted-living home with about 40 rooms. About 50 new jobs will
be created during the transition. “This is a huge day for this whole community,” Loyall said.

The current facility, built at a cost of $1 million in 1967, has served the community well, said
LaRue County Judge/Executive Tommy Turner.

Besides nursing care, Sunrise provides physical, occupational and speech therapy, various
activities and in-house beauty shop. The Sunrise Volunteers have provided countless hours of
one-on-one attention to residents.

Turner credited the new construction to the “vision of the board of directors, the
administration and all of the employees.”

“We’re very appreciative of the great work you’ve done through the years,” he said.

The county has also assisted with both the 1967 and new construction, acting as fiscal agent.

Attorney James Whitlow, who has been on the board of directors since 1970, said several of
his relatives have been residents at Sunrise over the years. He has observed the day-to-day
operations from an administrative and family viewpoint.

“There is no question this facility provides good quality care,” he said.

Hodgenville Mayor Terry Cruse said his mother has been a resident at Sunrise since October
and he has been impressed with the care she has received. He called the facility “an asset to
the community.”

“My hat goes off to everybody who has helped this happen,” he said.

Loyall’s predecessor Hilda Harned, who retired as administrator in 1992, joined the crowd of
well-wishers at the reception. She said the new Sunrise was “being built not a day too soon.”

“I’ll need (a bed) – 10 years at most,” she said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

The entrance to the new nursing home will be on Shepherdsville Road, next to Pizza Hut.

(Click here to see all the photos from the Groundbreaking Ceremony)

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

National Nursing Home Week 2009!

Contest Winners

~Funny Story Contest~

1st Place - Jackie Cecil
2nd Place - Melanie Potts
3rd Place - Sarah Anthony

click here to read their stories

 

~Resident Your Most Alike Contest~

1st Place - Diane Roberts
2nd Place - Sonya Turner
3rd Place - Judy Hensley & Joyce Handley (tie)

click here to read their entries