A Cleveland, Tenn.,-based developer and manager of senior care facilities acquired its 10th facility on Friday with plans to upgrade and expand the 32-bed center.
Legacy Senior Living on Friday took over the Hickory Hill Specialty Care center in Prattville, Ala., a suburb of Montgomery, and renamed the facility the Harbor at Hickory Hill.
"The Harbor is a result of years of planning and development with notable experts in the field of memory loss," said Barry Ray, who along with Bryan Cook founded Legacy Senior Living in Cleveland in 2006. "The Harbor's overall theme, design, colors, furniture, and common areas, all reflect a 1950s theme, to remind residents of happier times."
Cook said the new owners are developing plans to add 16 more units to the memory-care facility and to add more staff along with new paint, carpet and decorations. The facility was built in 1999 and has previously had a couple of owners over the past 17 years.
Legacy has purchased 10 centers over the past decade and expanded four of those to help upgrade services and delivery of its assisted living and memory care. Cook said Legacy facilities average 96 percent occupancy "because our residents like our services and want to stay."
Legacy is also planning to build new facilities in Vero Beach, Fla., and in Cleveland, Tenn. Cook said he expects the company to grow to include at least 20 facilities in another decade as the number of seniors needing such services continues to grow.
"We have grown in a controlled and discipline manner and kept our personal touch and involvement in these facilities," he said. "We are committed to serve the greatest generation with honor, respect, faith and integrity and are excited to do so as we join the Hickory Hill community."
Ray and Cook were formerly with Life Care Centers of America and have grown their own Legacy Senior Living over the past 10 years to include more than 300 employees in six states, including the 30 employees they absorbed at the Hickory Hill center on Friday.
"We love serving the seniors of Montgomery and look forward to becoming a part of the Legacy family," said Christy Cooke, executive director of The Harbor at Hickory Hill.
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 423-7576340.