Assisted living health care areas undergo renovation

Life has been more hectic than usual over the past few weeks while the health care and assisted living neighborhoods are being renovated.

“We’re really trying to modernize our health care and assisted living areas because they were looking a bit dated,” said Christian Gilbert, executive director at Salina Presbyterian Manor.

Christian said it was time for the old wallpaper and carpet to go.

“In June I will have been here for two years, and all I’ve heard about is the terrible wallpaper,” he joked.

Christian worked with an architecture firm to select an updated color scheme and new vinyl plank flooring for both areas. When the renovation is complete, the assisted living neighborhood will also have new lighting and artwork. The health care area will also have new furniture, and a new 50-inch television has already been installed in the common area.

Resident and staff protests did put a halt to one aspect of the renovation: The collection of crosses on the “green wall” in the health care area will stay.

Over the years, employees, residents and family members have donated more than 30 crosses to add to the wall. Instead of replacing them, they will be reinstalled once the wall is repainted.

“It’s been known as the green wall for as long as anyone can remember,” Christian said. “We’ll still call it the green wall even though it won’t be green anymore.”

The design firm RDG handled the renovation, which Christian estimates will cost more than $100,000 when everything is complete.

“It’s been a lot of fun for me and for the staff, too,” Christian said. “It’s definitely been a bright light in what has been a difficult couple of years.”

Christian would like to continue to make improvements to other areas as well.

“We hope to continue these improvements through the rest of the building, but nothing is set in stone yet,” he said.

‍