Freeland Chamber of Commerce

Maple Ridge set to open this summer

Construction of the 54,000 square-foot Maple Ridge
Assisted Living Community facility is nearly complete.

first part of July,” said Robin VanHyning, regional director of operations for Mountain West Retirement Corporation of Salem, Ore. Maple Ridge is one of 26 Mountain West assisted living communities in the Northwest. And although it seems large for the Freeland area, the site is relatively small, VanHyning said, compared to others built by Mountain West.

The “cottage-style” assisted living units will include six 412-square-foot studio apartments and 69 one-bedroom units ranging in size from 484 to 592 square feet.

Heather DeJong is the administrator at Maple Ridge

“The residents will be able to have as little or as much care as they want,” VanHyning said. “They can be totally independent or be in a wheelchair
and have help up to the nursing home level, choosing individually designed personal care and paying just for what is needed.”

VanHyning called the meal service “dining by design.”
“It’s almost like a restaurant,” she said. “Diners have a menu with a consistent option and an alternate. At breakfast, for example, eggs will be made to order, with choices of pancakes or French toast as well.”

An opening staff of 20 will include a resident LPN and a half-time RN, along with caregivers, medical aides, a food service and activities director.

“The activities will be driven by the residents,” VanHyning said. “Whether it’s shopping or quilting or poker nights –– it will be creative,
and open to suggestions and ideas.”

The site is being landscaped with native vegetation, outdoor areas and walking paths designed by Lauchlin R. Bethune and Associates of Seattle. Ample parking is planned, and there will be a facility-owned and staff-operated van for transportation to doctor’s appointments, shopping trips and scheduled off site activities.

Already on site and ready to answer questions is Maple Ridge Administrator Heather DeJong, who has been involved in senior care and social services for the past 17 years.

“We’ve been hiring staff and accepting reservations,” DeJong said. “A lot of people are interested. I think it will fill up really quickly.”

VanHyning noted that there is no long-term commitment at Maple Ridge, just a month-to-month lease. Reservation deposits are tracked by day and time with the earliest getting the first choices of rooms.And deposits will be refunded as long as 60 days after being accepted.

For more details and information call DeJong at 360-733-1930 or visit www.mtwestret.com.