A Time For Remembrance
A week after the dedication of the new Mountrail Bethel Home nursing home section, there was another gathering on Wednesday, Mar. 11 at the Mountrail Bethel Home. This time, those gathering were there to say goodbye. This was a time for families to return, remember and give thanks. It was one last visit to the original nursing home before it is taken down, including a prayer of blessing and opportunity to visit loved ones’ rooms.
The hallways already show the beginning of the work to take down the north and south wings of the old nursing home. It was quiet in the gathering space, a place that was used by residents for many of their activities throughout the day.
Pastor Erin Tormanen offered his thanks for these spaces that held a special place in the hearts of those attending. This day was a time to remember those who had made the rooms their home and where they lost many of them. He says this is true in nursing homes, where those living there were cared for in the last chapters of their lives.
He asked that the memories continue to be a blessing. As they were taking one last walk through the spaces, he encouraged those attending to remember the faces and let the memories come back as a precious gift from God. He encouraged them to let the memories flood in and fill them with the love and life they shared.
Angels were left on the ledges in the old nursing home with those attending encouraged to take those home with them. They were given a time to wander and see these spaces in whatever manner they chose before leaving.
Crews are beginning the work in the north and south wings as they prepare for the next phases of construction that will lead to the hospital renovations. It will start with the removal of the old nursing home wings to create a new entrance and parking area.
There will be a gift shop and a new waiting room. Construction down the current south wing of the nursing home will include adding an out-patient infusion suite, pharmacy suite and an MRI suite.
Purchasing will be moving from the basement to the upper level. The downstairs area will be renovated to accommodate a new specialty clinic that will allow the facility to bring in more specialists. It will also include a minor procedure room.
The final phase of construction will be adding seven new apartments to Rosen Place. The assisted living facility always has an extensive waiting list, showing the need for the new apartments. These will all be single apartments based on the footprint space available.
The entire project cost is estimated at $47 million, with $29 million of that for the new nursing home. The Mountrail County Commissioners committed $25 million over two years for the nursing home portion of the project. Other donors and fundraising efforts have left the entire project with $5 million left to raise. The Foundation continues to accept donations from the public including the ability to donate on their website: www.mountrailcountyhealthfoundation.org/how-you-canhelp.