Director of Nursing Cindy Tucker with two smiling residents at The Lantern at Morning Pointe of East Hamilton
Karla Zamora, resident assistant, escorts a new resident into The Lantern
Abby Medley, Regional VP of Operations, helping a resident move to The Lantern at Morning Pointe of East Hamilton
The moving team for The Lantern at Morning Pointe of East Hamilton
The doors of The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, East Hamilton, stood open for the first time on Tuesday to welcome dozens of new residents.
Family members, Morning Pointe associates and volunteers assisted with the initial move-ins at the all-memory care community, carrying residents’ familiar furniture and boxes of belongings to make the new building a comfortable home.
These seniors transitioned from the memory care wing at the next-door Morning Pointe of East Hamilton Assisted Living and Memory Care to the brand-new building completely dedicated to serving those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Here, they can benefit from the community’s two distinct levels of memory care. The Lamplight neighborhood is a large area for residents with early-stage Alzheimer’s and dementia who are more active, while the Lantern wing provides a more intimate and quiet space designed for more advanced stages.
“We have been anticipating this day for a long time, and it is wonderful to see it come to fruition,” said Lindsey Hughes, executive director at The Lantern. “With this campus expansion we will be able to serve more seniors living with dementia and support more families. The early-stage memory care on our Lamplight wing is a welcome addition to the continuum of care here in the Chattanooga area.”
Among these first residents was Jake Davenport, a former sheet metal salesman who has been a resident at Morning Pointe since March.
“We knew he needed the hands-on supervision of a memory care community,” said Davenport’s daughter, Kim Lepard. “Everybody here has been very knowledgeable about dementia. My dad is happy here.”
The group from Morning Pointe’s original East Hamilton building is only the first wave to officially become residents at the memory care community, located at 1775 Generations Way (9700 Block E. Brainerd Road). However, more families who are new to Morning Pointe have reserved apartments for their loved ones.
The new one-level memory care community offers 60 apartments. Several floor plan choices include studios and companion two-bedroom apartments, such as for couples. It is continuing to reserve apartments. To tour the community, learn more, or make a reservation for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, call 973-0003.
“What an exciting day, and a chance to bring more senior services to our rapidly growing Hamilton County area,” said Greg A. Vital, Morning Pointe Senior Living co-founder and president. “We are privileged to be able to serve more seniors and their families, offering expanded memory care services and more assisted living apartments on campus.”
The Lantern at Morning Pointe will bring 60 new healthcare jobs to the area and is projected to contribute more than $25 million annually in economic impact through local partnerships, payroll and the purchase of goods and services.
With the growth of the campus, the original building at 1776 Generations Way is now officially Morning Pointe of East Hamilton Assisted Living. It, too, is taking reservations for new residents. It is starting renovations of the former memory care wing, transforming it into Signature Studio apartments, cozy gathering spaces, a coffee station and a library. For inquiries, call 212-1208, or stop by the community.
As Morning Pointe Senior Living communities, both sides of the extended East Hamilton campus offer:
Licensed nurses providing oversight of health, wellness and medication management
Licensed, clinical or care staff available 24 hours a day
Personal grooming assistance, such as bathing or getting dressed
Assistance with transferring to a bed or chair
Escorting to meals and events
Accommodations for no-salt-added and reduced-concentrated-sweets diets
Pharmacy services
Transportation services for medical appointments
A beauty salon/barbershop
A 24-hour emergency response system
On-site physical, occupational and speech therapy services
Life enrichment activities such as arts and crafts, wellness offerings like exercise classes, and intergenerational activities, including partnering with local schools
Morning Pointe’s Farm to Table program with local, farm-fresh and seasonal ingredients
Memory care offerings at The Lantern include the Best Friends Approach, Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care, Meaningful Day purposeful programming, music therapy, art therapy and cuddle therapy.