An aerial View of the new Waterside Medical Complex at Shell Point Retirement Community.

Shell Point Retirement Community held a double ribbon cutting ceremony for two new buildings recently: the new Rehabilitation Center at Shell Point and the Larsen Pavilion Administration Building.

Over 700 people were in attendance to participate in the dedication ceremony for the completion of these two facilities which were part of a major seven-year expansion and improvement project, referred to as the Healthcare Renaissance.

The $74 million dollar project was started in 2004, and has resulted in numerous healthcare improvements and upgrades to the healthcare system at Shell Point. $12 million of the funds were provided through resident donations and fundraisers. No debt was incurred for this project, and the services and care that will be offered are on the cutting edge of technology.

The new free-standing Rehabilitation Center is adjacent to the Larsen Pavilion on The Island at Shell Point and features 7,465 square feet of space dedicated to providing the most advanced therapy, restorative programs, and state-of-the-art equipment available for assisting residents in building strength, regaining agility, and recovering movement and the highest function possible following an injury, illness, or surgery.

New programs in the facility include equipment for assessing and improving balance to improve stability and reduce falls, which are the number one cause of injury deaths among older adults according to the Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition. With this new equipment, the individual’s progress can be recorded and monitored to track improvement.

According to Steve Minniear, vice president of healthcare services for Shell Point, the new larger facility will allow more people to utilize the therapeutic services offered in inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation; occupational and physical therapy; specialized speech therapy provided by two speech language pathologists; and specialized therapy programs such as orthopedics, stroke care, memory care, dysphasia, pain management, and low vision.

The Occupational Therapy Transition Suite will allow for better preparation in a real-world environment as patients prepare to return home, or to their normal routines. A new indoor Aqua Therapy Pool with underwater treadmills will enhance therapy opportunities while decreasing impact with water buoyancy.

The Larsen Pavilion, originally built in 1971, is licensed for 219 beds, including a nine-bed hospice unit which serves both residents of Shell Point and the outside community. Shell Point is one of very few retirement communities in the country, and the only one in Lee County, with its own on-site medical facility and full-time staff which includes five full-time physicians, two nurse practitioners, a trained nursing staff, two psychologists, and one licensed clinical social worker. The facility accepts Medicare patients who need short term rehabilitation following a surgery or illness, as well as skilled nursing services for long term care.

To learn more about Shell Point, visit www.shellpoint.org or call 1-800-780-1131.