Later this spring, the County of Peoria will welcome residents to our new elder care facility Heddington Oaks, which is located on 13 acres in a quiet, residential neighborhood on Heading Avenue in West Peoria. Groundbreaking for the new home was September 6, 2011, with a final walk-through of the building completed on March 18, 2013. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is expected to inspect the facility and issue an operating license within the coming weeks.
Peoria County appreciates West Peoria and all county residents for your patience and support prior to and during the construction phase of this worthy project that will allow us to continue providing unsurpassed nursing care to seniors in our community. In addition to LEED Silver certification, the County Board sought to differentiate Heddington Oaks from other local nursing facilities by including an 80 bed Alzheimer’s unit, offering outpatient therapy services, and adding the capability to provide renal dialysis onsite to nursing home residents suffering from kidney disease.
The state-of-the-art facility, which exceeds new IDPH life-safety requirements, will provide semi-private and private rooms; neighborhood settings with dining, activities, and chapel services on each residential wing; and 24-hour skilled nursing care for its 214 residents. A medical director will visit the home twice each week, with a nurse practitioner on-site four days a week. This routine medical care is complemented by regular visits from an ophthalmologist and podiatrist. Licensed professional therapists will provide inpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapies, with stroke therapy by Jennifer Fulton, Director of Strategic Communications
and joint replacement rehabilitation offered to those in need. And a licensed dietitian is on staff to ensure all dietary needs are met.
Heddington Oaks’ comprehensive services will help meet all residents’ emotional, spiritual, and physical needs, as well as continue Peoria County’s tradition of caring for seniors with respect and compassion. The County is very proud of the taxpayer support that affords us the opportunity to take care of our senior citizens in a safe new home. And we hope county residents take pride in knowing that exceptional staff with caring hearts will be at Heddington Oaks when the doors open to welcome your elderly loved ones, neighbors, and friends.
Please read the next issue of Community Word for an invitation to visit the new home in May.