The 150-year-old Rouse Estate is upgrading services at its personal care home.
The Suites at Rouse, described by Rouse CEO Jasen Diley as "apartments with TLC," is undergoing additions.
Construction will add six new apartments, including two of a type never before available at the Suites. From its current state of 60 one-bedroom apartments, the new, larger Suites will grow to feature 64 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments.
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Adding suites at Suites
A crew works on the construction site at the Suites at Rouse personal care home. The work will add six apartments to the facility and expand the dining room.
The new apartments include washers and dryers, kitchenettes, and "large, spacious bathrooms," according to Administrator Kris Whitaker. Existing apartments share laundry rooms. One of the new apartments will be Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.
The $1 million job began in early October and is expected to be complete by the end of the year. E.E. Austin is the general contractor.
"The Suites at Rouse personal care home has provided the region with excellence in senior living for many years," Whitaker said. "The addition of six new and modern apartments will allow us to continue our mission of being innovators in the personal care home industry. We are excited to add two-bedroom units as a way of attracting those individuals who require a more spacious living area."
The construction also includes an expansion of the Suites dining room. "The goal of this expansion is to create a dining area large enough to offer one seating for each meal, and to accommodate the Suites' large parties and events," Whitaker said. "Currently, each meal is offered in two seatings, as there is not enough room in the dining area for all of the residents at once."
That expansion is expected to open in 2013.
Not all of the changes alter the structure of the building.
"In addition to the construction and physical expansion, the Suites at Rouse will soon offer an additional service for residents," Whitaker said. "Starting Tuesday, Nov. 6, the Suites' beauty shop will provide spa services from 8 a.m. until noon each Tuesday."
"Spa services will include eyebrow and facial waxing, manicures and pedicures. Family members and friends will be able to purchase beauty shop gift certificates for residents," she said. "If the spa proves to be very popular, then we will expand our hours."