El Reno Parish Breaks Ground On Assisted Living Center
 
Father Francis Nguyen prays for the success of Saint Katharine Drexel Retirement
Center. He is shown below with a sign promoting the project. Photos/Viviane Dyer

EL RENO —Sacred Heart Catholic Church celebrated the ground breaking of its new assisted living center on June 4.  The new residence, Saint Katharine Drexel Retirement Center, is located one block south of the parish.  The 35,000 square foot assisted living center will offer a chapel for daily Mass and 49 private apartments. Every apartment has a private bathroom and a kitchenette with a microwave, sink, and refrigerator. Apartments also feature spacious closets, ceiling fans, emergency call system, cable television, heating and air-conditioning controls, and walk-in showers.  Saint Katharine is scheduled to open in April of 2007.  The not-for-profit center is a ministry of Sacred Heart Parish of El Reno and is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.  The Archdiocese also operates Villa Isenbart, Trinity Gardens, Saint Ann Nursing Home, and Saint Ann Retirement Center in Oklahoma City.

Assisted living is a popular choice for people who want to maintain their independence while getting a helping hand with chores and personal care.  The monthly rent will include a private apartment, utilities, housekeeping, laundry, medication administration, three daily meals, personal care, and many other services.  Scheduled social activities will include outings, entertainment, Bible study, games, and socials.  

        Mary Brinkley serves on the Building Committee for St. Katharine Drexel.  She is also the executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.  Brinkley said the development of Saint Katharine’s would fill a need in and around central Oklahoma.

 “Saint Katharine’s is a place that residents will be proud to call home,” Brinkley said.  “It will be a cozy and distinctive residence with plenty of social and common areas.”  

        The Benham Group is the architect and contractor for the project. Achievis Senior Living Associates is handling the start-up operations management and marketing.  Joyce Clark of Achievis defined assisted living as “a combination of retirement housing and personal care services to people who may need assistance with medications, walking, bathing, dressing or toileting, but who do not require the 24-hour skilled care provided in a nursing home.  

The needs of assisted living residents are primarily supportive rather than medical.  Father Francis Nguyen, pastor at Sacred Heart said assisted living services are tailored to meet the needs of individual residents. “One goal of this outreach ministry is to improve the quality of life for our residents,” he said.

Residents will have five floor plans to choose from and monthly rates start at $1,799. St. Katharine Drexel will not charge an entrance or endowment fee, only a $500 deposit.  Leases can be canceled with a 30-day notice.  

“We have already had interest in reserving apartments from people throughout Oklahoma and also from other states,” said Brinkley. Apartment reservations are being accepted on a first-come basis.  For more information, call Joyce Clark at 812-9089 or 262-2920.