An estimated 1,000 people showed up for an open house last weekend at Sunrise Manor in Hodgenville, Ky. – a huge turnout, considering that’s about a third of the town’s entire population.
One visitor said attendance at the open house was nearly on par with an annual event celebrating the town’s heritage as the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln.
“I’ve seen more people here than at Lincoln Days,” she said.
Sunrise Manor became the latest Signature community on June 1, when Signature officially assumed operations of the home.
The open house celebrated the completed construction of a new 100,000-square-foot building to replace the existing home, which is located just next door. The new home is not yet open to residents, but they, along with family members and other area citizens, got a sneak peek on Sunday.
Following an invocation and the singing of the Lord’s Prayer, Administrator Mark Henderson welcomed the group and introduced Signature President and CEO Joe Steier. During a brief speech, Steier introduced the crowd to Signature’s culture and three organizational pillars, Spirituality, Learning and Intra-preneurship.
“Signature HealthCARE is really just going to be a servant leader here,” he said. “This is about the community.”
Henderson then dedicated a plaque to the home’s board of directors before guests eagerly began pouring into the new building. Stakeholders were stationed throughout to guide visitors as they wandered the halls of the facility and explored its amenities.
The two-story Sunrise Manor offers skilled and long-term nursing cure, a short-term rehab-to-home unit, adult day care and inpatient and outpatient physical therapy, along with other forms of therapy. Dining rooms are located on both floors, including private dining areas for residents and their families, and there are designated chapel/multi-purpose, activities and therapy training rooms, among other features. There will also be a gift shop.
One area resident, whose mother suffered a stroke at age 43 and spent 17 years in the existing Sunrise Manor, joked that she wanted to reserve her room before they were all taken. The care at the current home was wonderful, she said, but the rooms were a bit small.
“This is like home,” she said. “I am so proud. This is what I dreamed of when my mom was in there.”
The facility’s decor celebrates Hodgenville’s unique place in history. Lincoln-related images – courtesy of board member Carl Howell – are seen throughout the building, and hallways bear such names as Mary Todd Drive and Honest Abe Way.
“We received many compliments, and everyone was in awe of the size and beauty of the new facility,” Henderson said. “We kept a full house right up to 5 p.m. The team put so much hard work into the program. They really came through and went above and beyond.”