SW Wisconsin News

The Upland Hills Health (UHH) Board of Trustees has acquired land for a new senior living center near its current hospital campus. The acquisition includes approximately eight acres from the Hennessey family and 35 acres from Susan Donaldson, with an option to purchase an additional 65 acres. The plan is to build two assisted living facilities, with construction potentially starting later this year.

The purchased land is strategically located near State Highway 23, south of the hospital, and connects to Brennan Road. This location will allow UHH to extend its healthcare services conveniently.

"We are delighted that we were able to find land for our senior living campus so close to the hospital," said Jim Massey, Chairman of the UHH Board of Trustees. "It is a perfect location for an extension of the healthcare services we offer at our hospital and clinics."

Massey acknowledged the cooperation of the Hennessey family and Ms. Donaldson in facilitating these purchases. "The Hennessey family has been long-time supporters of the hospital, and this was another way the sisters could continue the legacy begun by their parents," he stated. "Ms. Donaldson also negotiated with the hospital in good faith, and we are grateful to both families for working with us."

Upland Hills Health President and CEO Lisa Schnedler emphasized the project's community focus: “This project reflects our deep commitment to serving the community at every stage of life.” She highlighted UHH's goal to provide high-quality solutions for seniors needing additional care.

The new campus will feature a 63-bed assisted living center offering various levels of care but will not include a traditional nursing home. However, it aims to meet most nursing home patients' needs at reduced costs.

“This milestone is the result of years of thoughtful planning and dedication,” Massey noted. “Our board has carefully studied how best to meet the needs of our aging population — conducting market research, evaluating options, and consulting experts.”

In addition to building new facilities, UHH plans to expand memory care services by remodeling CrestRidge Assisted Living into a dedicated memory care residence while doubling available beds through ElderSpan Management's operation.

David Griffin, President and CEO of ElderSpan Management, LLC., expressed enthusiasm about continuing their partnership: “We’ve built a strong partnership with Upland Hills Health over 27 years, and expanding our collaboration with this project is a natural next step.”

Discussions about expanding senior living services have been ongoing for nearly ten years. Initial talks included Iowa County officials regarding a joint facility that would benefit from federal subsidies but eventually led UHH to develop its own plan after county withdrawal.

Construction on this ambitious project could commence within months and may take up to two years for completion.