Care Initiatives will build a 90-bed skilled nursing home facility on almost 10 acres of land in northeast Waterloo near Allen College. Care Initiatives purchased the land from Allen Health System. The new facility will replace the Care Initiatives Parkview Nursing and Rehab Center located at 310 Upland Drive in Waterloo. It is anticipated that all of the current residents of Parkview will move to the new facility. Construction is expected to begin this fall.

According to Miles King, Care Initiatives president and CEO, the new facility is part of an ongoing commitment by Care Initiatives to rebuild and refurbish its nursing facilities to offer an exceptional living environment with rehabilitation centers, services and amenities that Iowans desire and expect.

“We’re pleased that our new location will be close to doctors and healthcare services for many of our residents,” said King. “The new facility will be within walking distance of Allen College, where caregivers who may one day serve our residents are being educated.”

Allen College chancellor Dr. Jerry Durham said that the new facility’s location will provide opportunities for collaboration. “Because we teach nurses and other health professionals, we’re eager to work closely with Care Initiatives. Our undergraduate and graduate programs include primary care nurse practitioner programs that focus on the care of older people,” said Durham.

Since geriatrics is not a specialty many physicians choose, nurse practitioners are expected to provide more care to that age group. Durham noted that while persons 65 years of age and older made up only 13 percent of the U.S. population in 2010, they will comprise 20 percent of the population by 2030, or almost 70 million people. Partnerships like those he hopes to develop between Allen College and the new long-term care facility will be important for the training of these caregivers, Durham said.

Allen president and CEO Tom Tibbitts said the boards of directors of both Allen Hospital and Allen College welcome another new neighbor. “Allen sold land to Hy-Vee and Walgreens for their buildings, and we think selling land to Care Initiatives will help everyone. A new skilled-nursing home means growth for our community. Locating it near the hospital and college is ideal for care givers, residents and their families.”

King said Care Initiatives is pleased to be a part of the revitalization of the Highway 63 corridor. “We’re excited to work with Allen Hospital, Allen College and the entire Cedar Valley healthcare community to enhance the level of service we can bring to the area.”

Care Initiatives is a nonprofit organization that owns and operates 44 skilled nursing facilities, eight assisted living facilities, four independent living communities and six hospice centers, all located in Iowa. It is headquartered in West Des Moines. More information can be found at www.careinitiatives.org .

 Allen Hospital is a not-for-profit, 204-bed acute-care community hospital located in Waterloo. It serves a 12-county area of the Cedar Valley.  Allen also provides ambulatory surgery, imaging, laboratory services and urgent care at United Medical Park in Waterloo and Prairie Medical Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Affiliates of Allen include Allen College in Waterloo, a private college preparing nurses and radiographers; Community Memorial Hospital, Sumner, Iowa; and Grundy County Memorial Hospital, Grundy Center, Iowa. Allen is a senior affiliate hospital of Iowa Health System.