Resident Glenda exercises on new Playcore equipment designed especially for seniors in the courtyard of The Lantern
The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, Chattanooga, experienced a "soft" opening recently—much to the delight of residents and their families alike. The 43,000 square foot Alzheimer’s memory care community, 7620 Shallowford Road, is completely rebuilt from the ground up following the Easter 2020 EF3 tornado.
Morning Pointe leadership has been busy readying the reconstructed senior campus to welcome its first residents in advance of the official grand opening event this Thursday at 11 a.m.
“It is wonderful to finally be back here in this beautiful, caring place,” said executive director
Alisha Landes. “The road to get here was long, but it has been worth it to see the smiles on these
residents’ faces as they make new friends and enjoy the amenities we offer here at The Lantern.
Our purposeful Alzheimer’s programming helps bring structure and meaning to those living life
with memory disorders.”
The Lantern has partnered with PlayCore, a Chattanooga-based outdoor fitness and recreational
equipment manufacturer, to bring innovative outdoor musical instruments, exercise stations and
innovative FitWay rubber surfacing to its courtyards for residents to enjoy while adding a brain-stimulating exercise element.
“PlayCore is grateful for our partnership with Morning Pointe Senior Living,” said Stephanie
Devine, vice president of marketing and brand strategy for PlayCore. “We believe in building
communities through play and recreation, and that extends to every age and ability. We are
elated to see the benefits of music and exercise expand to the Morning Pointe community.”
"The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence is the region’s choice for
memory care, offering one-level living across 43,000 square feet conveniently located in the East
Brainerd community," officials said. "The Lantern’s Meaningful Day purposeful programming offers two levels of memory care: Lamplight, which is for those living with early to moderate stages of
Alzheimer's disease. The Lantern program is geared toward those living with late to moderately
severe stages of Alzheimer's. Both levels offer the Teepa Snow Positive Approach to Care and
the Best Friends Approach methodologies. Medication management, around-the-clock nursing
staff and Farm-to-Table fresh dining program round out an impressive suite of services offered
to those who call The Lantern home."
“Seeing the hard work and dedication to coordinating the rebuild of this special community after
the tornado in 2020 is impressive,” said Greg A. Vital, president of Morning Pointe Senior
Living. “We have been looking forward to this point for many months and I could not be more
proud of our construction and clinical teams, as well as the leadership here at The Lantern, in
bringing this memory care community back to life as Morning Pointe continues to serve the
families of Chattanooga and East Brainerd.”
Resident Sarah plays music on the new xylophone in the courtyard of The Lantern