A new chapter in senior care in Northern Kentucky will begin next week as Elsmere Mayor Marty Lenhof and more than 150 other distinguished guests will celebrate the official opening of Emerald Trace on Turkeyfoot.
The $14 million senior living community, a sister campus to nearby Rosedale Green in Covington, broke ground in late 2015 and welcomed its first residents this week. The community’s two buildings, which support 74 memory care, short-term rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing residences, are designed in the Household Model, a more resident-centered layout that promotes greater socialization through a variety of common spaces.
“This celebration is years in the making, and I know everyone associated with the project is excited our doors are officially open,” said Londa Knollman, whose role as executive director at Rosedale Green will expand to include the new community. “Our goal is to replicate the success we’ve had in Covington – to earn the respect of local seniors and their families, and demonstrate the level of care they’ll receive at Emerald Trace is second to none.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of people turning 65 can expect to use some form of long-term care during their lives. Additionally, the number of people affected by Alzheimer’s is rising. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates 69,000 Kentuckians and 210,000 Ohioans were battling the disease in 2016. Those numbers are expected to climb to 86,000 and 250,000 by 2025, a 25% and 19% increase respectively. Nationwide, 5.2 million Americans 65 and older are affected by Alzheimer’s, a number expected to increase nearly 40% to 7.1 million by 2025.
“We know there’s a need for quality, reliable health services and dementia support for seniors in northern Kentucky and southwest Ohio, a need that unfortunately is unlikely to disappear in the near future,” said Knollman. “Emerald Trace allows us more flexibility to serve these older adults and provide them the care and quality of life they deserve.”
Joining Mayor Lenhof at the ceremony will be the Rosedale Green board of directors, representatives from Action Pact, staff and executive leadership from both communities, and current residents and their families.
“Emerald Trace is a great addition to the City of Elsmere business community, and I’m looking forward to working with them,” said Mayor Lenhof. “Skilled nursing and rehabilitation services are needed in our area, so they’re arriving at the right time. The fact that they’re associated with a quality healthcare entity like Rosedale Green is also a plus for the city.”
The ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19. Following the ribbon cutting, a cocktail reception will feature the Dick Sorice Jazz Trio and appetizers by Center Table, a catering and culinary training organization that supports women recovering from addiction at the Brighton Recovery Center.
