Miller's Merry Manor expansion nears completion

After years of planning, Miller’s Merry Manor is sprucing up and expanding its facility.

“It is a series of improvements to build onto our rehab campus and our services,” says Amber Busald, administrator of Miller’s Merry Manor. “We are adding a therapy center, with state of the art rehab equipment, a large community room, we are expanding the dining room and there are additional internal updates that have already started taking place.”

More than 2,800-square-feet of new space will be added to the existing structure designed to house up to 75 residents, she says.

Residents and staff alike are excited about the project, which is slated for completion in January 2019, Busald says.

Busald says the day-to-day operations at the facility have functioned smoothly as construction has progressed. Recently, the walls of hallways have been resurfaced and painted and new handrails and carpeting have been installed. However, of all the new additions, the community room seems to be the most anticipated.

“The community room is going to allow us to serve our patients in new ways,” she says. “It will also allow the community to come in and use that space for any club or organizational meetings.”

Not only will the spacious community room allow residents more room to socialize, but it will also offer space for educational programs, which will be a new offering, Busald says.

Educational programs will give residents, their families, and community members opportunities to learn more about health conditions, such as diabetes and congestive heart failure, as well as topics about healthy lifestyle and adapting to restrictive diets.

As the construction of the new additions and renovations to the existing structure offer a new façade, Busald hopes the services and programs offered will help to dispel common misconceptions.

Many people still think the facility only offers long-term care, Busald says. However, Miller’s Merry Manor offers much more, including physical, occupational and speech therapies. Residents of Hope may also utilize rehab services on an outpatient basis at the facility without having to drive out of town, Busald says.

“We offer Medicare certified rehab, as well as long-term care, and outpatient care,” Busald says. “We also offer what is called respite care and adult daycare services.”

Hope Town Manager J.T. Doane recalls some of the residents’ excitement at the groundbreaking ceremony in July.

“There were several residents that were out to be a part of it,” he says. “To me, that was the exciting part as some of them were wearing hats as if they were getting ready to jump in and do the construction themselves.”

Following the ceremony, Doane says he was able to tour the facility and see the project goals.

“It is certainly going to enhance the lives of the residents who are there and make accommodations to all the staff to provide services to the additional residents who may come in,” he says.

Doane says seeing growth and expansion in the Hope community is always a benefit.

“You want to see businesses growing, expanding and renovations being made across many areas,” Doane says . “You want to see things being done that are for the betterment of the community.”