Eventide at Hi-Acres celebrates 50 years

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John M. Steiner / The Sun Doug Panchot, administrator for Eventide at Hi-Acres, stands next to a banner Tuesday noting Hi-Acres’ 50-year celebration.

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Eventide at Hi-Acres in Jamestown has grown since opening in 1962 and this long-term care nursing center is set to celebrate that evolution Thursday at its 50th Anniversary Community Picnic.

The facility — which provides numerous health, rehabilitation and religious services to its patients — has grown from a 60-bed center at its opening to 142 beds today.

As the facility once named Hi-Acres Manor marks its 50th anniversary and prepares to celebrate the history associated with Hi-Acres founder — the Rev. G.L. Riffe Sr. — it’s also a time for Hi-Acres to look to its bright future, according to Administrator Doug Panchot.

“Our vision of continuing to improve quality care is something we look forward to sharing with the Jamestown community,” said Panchot, who has been the administrator for the past year.

The first phase of that vision includes a $2 million renovation beginning this fall that is expected to be completed by the middle of next summer.

“If there’s one thing in particular we hear from our patients, it’s that the quality of the care is great but there’s a need for more private rooms,” Panchot said.

The project, which Panchot called nearly a “full interior remodel,” will provide just that, boosting the facility’s number of private rooms from 16 to 86.

“This is one of the big transitions we’ve seen in health care the last five years, and we’re all about trying to take care of the community and their needs, so if private rooms are what they need, then that’s what we’re looking to provide,” he said.

The facility, which employs about 250 to 260 people, has undergone seven previous structural changes since its inception 50 years ago.

Hi-Acres added to its offerings in 1997 with a special care unit for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients with 16 private rooms. This fall’s project — while not an expansion — will include the following updates: hardware finishes within each room, flooring, lighting and the facility’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

Renderings of the projected renovations will be on display at Thursday’s picnic for not only patients, but the public to view. In addition, Panchot said there will be pictures showcasing the facility’s growth during the last 50 years.

“We’ve got a lot of older pictures and such we’ve dug up that we’ll be putting into a slideshow and you’ll be able to see just how far things have come here,” he said.

The picnic will take place Thursday in the front parking lot of Eventide at Hi-Acres — located at 1300 Second Place NE in Jamestown. Guests are encouraged to park in the back parking lot typically used by employees, as they will be parking off-site and transported over to the facility.

There is no admission charge for the event, which runs from 4 to 7 p.m.

Food and entertainment from the Spirit Creek Band and members of the Jamestown High School choir will be provided.

Panchot said children are welcome also, as there will be several games available for them.

For more information about Eventide at Hi-Acres or its 50th Anniversary Community Picnic, visit http://hi-acres.com or call 701-252-5881.

Sun reporter Brian Willhide can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by email at bwillhide@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, event