ASHLAND – The future of senior living has arrived in Ashland, Brethren Care Village CEO Troy Snyder said Monday as he prepared to cut the ribbon to officially open Brethren Cares new Wellness Community Center.
“We want our residents to live and have abundant life… This is what senior living is about,” Snyder said. “This is what seniors should expect out of senior living.”
As community members explored the new center during an open house Monday, it was clear the facility was designed to give seniors an abundant living experience.
Along with 12 one- and two-bedroom independent living apartments, the 40,000 square foot center features a bistro and pub, a chapel, a banquet room, a pool, a fitness room, a yoga studio, a massage room, a physical and occupational therapy room, a courtyard and an outdoor patio.
The new center sits near Ashland Golf Club on that land that previously housed Evergreen Tavern. Ashland Mayor Matt Miller explained the vision for the center is to provide care and services for seniors in a country club-like setting.
“Troy (Snyder) and I were riding back from Columbus one day, and he was telling me his vision and how he perceives our lives should be as we grow older in a community… Everyone should be able to experience their later years in a country club-like setting, and in many ways that’s exactly what you have created in this whole complex,” Miller said.
“There’s nothing wrong with being a country club-type setting. It means people pay attention to the details. It’s well-manicured, and people should expect the very best. The best in care, the best in food, the best in atmosphere,” Miller said.
County commissioner Jim Justice praised Brethren Care for investing in new construction in the Ashland community and noted the Ohio 60 corridor into Ashland is more attractive because of Brethren Care’s presence.
Dennis Miller is a city council member and a past board member of Brethren Care. He’s also a banker at Sutton Bank, which provided financing for the center.
Miller applauded Brethren Care for making a more than $7.5 million investment in Ashland and thanked Snyder for his vision and passion.
“Troy eats, sleeps and breathes this place, and his staff is great too. He’s also very active in the community,” Dennis Miller said. “We’re very fortunate to have him at the head. He’s an excellent steward of this organization. Kudos to you, Troy, for bringing this to fruition.”
The wellness center is open by membership to not only to residents of the independent apartments but also to other Brethren Care Village residents and seniors living elsewhere in the community. Community spaces like the banquet room will be available for rent by outside groups for private events, reunions, business meetings and parties.
Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Barbie Lange called Monday and exciting day not only for Brethren Care but also for the community’s senior population and for all of Ashland.
“Our mission at the chamber is to spur economic activity, and this is economic activity,” she said. “It’s not just for seniors, but it’s for all of us.”
Located at 2130 Center Street, the wellness center is open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Bistro hours are 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and pub hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit brethrencarevillage.org or call 419-289-1585.
