Morning Pointe Of East Hamilton Groundbreaking Ceremony Ignites Enthusiasm For Future Senior Living Community

  • Thursday, September 13, 2018
  • Emily Daniel

The excitement in the air was palpable as ground was broken at the future site of Morning Pointe of East Hamilton. Nearly 200 people attended this momentous occasion, which celebrated the start of construction on Morning Pointe Senior Living’s sixth community in Hamilton County. Greg A. Vital, president and chief executive officer of Morning Pointe Senior Living, praised the location in his introductory remarks, describing Hamilton County as “a great place to live, work, and retire.” Mr. Vital’s speech brimmed with optimism about Morning Pointe’s future and compassion for the seniors that Morning Pointe of East Hamilton will serve.

Six local dignitaries also spoke at the event: Tres Wittum, a representative of Tennessee senator Bo Watson; Sabrena Smedley, chairperson of the Hamilton County commission, District 7; Bill Hullander, Hamilton County commission trustee; Mike Dunne, Hamilton County communications manager, representing the county mayor; Sandra Brewer, vice president of member-investor services, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce; and Amy French, the senior manager of programs at the Chattanooga chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Each of these speakers expressed their enthusiasm for the project and for Morning Pointe itself. 

Ms. French hailed Morning Pointe as a leader in the battle against Alzheimer’s, consistently increasing local awareness, contributing to anti-Alzheimer’s research and, most importantly, compassionately caring for those who currently live with the disease. She reminded the audience of the old adage “it takes a village to raise a child,” adding that the rearing of that child does not stop when the child becomes an adult, but continues throughout the child’s life. By caring for area seniors, Morning Pointe communities are a part of the village. In a sense, the 1500 Morning Pointe associates across the Southeast are “raising” the people who helped to raise them as children, providing aid and comfort to a very deserving population. “Morning Pointe makes it [the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission] happen,” Ms. French said. “We could not do it without the collaboration we have with communities like Morning Pointe.”

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Clyde Edwards, a U.S. Army veteran and resident at Morning Pointe of Chattanooga – Shallowford, spoke unprompted to the crowd, calling Morning Pointe of Chattanooga – Shallowford “a great place to be.” “There’s always something going on,” Mr. Edwards said. “There are many great people working there, taking care of us. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time there.”

The $35 million, 24-acre campus will consist of three phases, beginning with a 73-unit craftsman-styled assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care community. Phase II will feature a 120-unit independent living center on 11 acres to compliment the full range of services designed to meet the needs of the 55+ population. Phase III will be a 60-unit, freestanding The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence—a secured environment dedicated to the care of residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory care needs. Morning Pointe expects completion of the first phase by fall of 2019. The development team for the project includes Nashville architect HFR Design and Chattanooga-based companies East Tennessee Specialty Builders and Alzheimer’s memory care architect Neuhoff Taylor. Chattanooga-based MAP Engineers will provide civil engineering.

The senior campus will offer high-quality amenities including walking trails, exercise paths and beautifully landscaped grounds. The communities will also feature fine dining with local, farm-fresh foods through Morning Pointe’s “Farm to Table” program, life enrichment and professional health and wellness services. Daily activities will feature innovative therapeutic programs, including the Meaningful Day program and physical and occupational therapies, to ensure the highest quality of care for residents.

Independent Healthcare Properties LLC, a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based senior healthcare services company, is the developer, owner and manager of 31 Morning Pointe Senior Living and The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Memory Care Center of Excellence communities in five southeastern states.

"Morning Pointe Senior Living is the region’s choice for assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care, with six locations currently serving the Tennessee Valley in Chattanooga, Collegedale, Hixson and Athens. IHP was founded in 1996 by Tennessee healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and Franklin Farrow," officials said.

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