VALLEY — Valley Park Manor hosted an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday evening. It gave local citizens a chance to take tours of the impressive facility, meet the residents and their families and experience the home-like environment provided in a beautiful setting just off the Chattahoochee River.

Owned by Apex Management Company of Boston, Mass., Valley Park Manor is an assisted living, memory care and respite care center located in Medical Park North. It was opened in October 2016.

“Our goal is to provide the best quality care at an affordable price,” said Amber Griggs, the administrator.

Though it has been open for a little more than 15 months, Valley Park Manor already has 24 residents. Some residents own cars and can come and go on a regular basis. Those in the Memory Care unit are in a safe, secure environment and have the helpful support of the staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Residents said they love to go on outings with the staff.

“Once a month or so we take them to restaurants such as the Longhorn Steak House in LaGrange; O’Charley’s, across from Tiger Town in Opelika; San Marcos in Valley and the Chicken Stop in Huguley,” says Activities Director Beverly Smith. “We also take them to Walmart if they want to do some shopping.”

Residents will soon be getting a scenic view of the Chattahoochee River. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, West Point Project, has recently approved the clearing of an overgrown area between Valley Park Manor and the river.

Some of the residents are from the Greater Valley Area, but many of them are from surrounding communities such as LaGrange, Newnan, and Opelika.

“We exercise with them in the morning,” Smith said. “We have a Sit and Be Fit routine. They love crafts, puzzles, dominoes and bingo.”

It lifts their spirits when family members and people from the local community come for visits.

Two local residents, James O’Steen and Leon Wessenger are frequent visitors. They socialize with them and share the Gospel. Two local minsters, David Bradshaw of the First Christian Church in Lanett and Gerald Carnes of the Shawmut Methodist Church, visit Valley Park Manor on a regular basis.

Residents said they love it when local Girl Scouts come to visit them.

“They do crafts with them and sing for them,” Smith said. “The Glory Girls from a local church also come to sing for them.”

Valley Park Manor has a family night once a quarter. This is a well attended event. Residents and members of their families enjoy having a meal together and listening to live entertainment.

Residents of Valley Park Manor live in one or two-bedroom suites. They have assistance with all activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and grooming. Licensed nurses are available for them on a 24/7 basis to administer medication and to offer medication management. There’s a licensed dietician on staff and three meals are served every day.

For more information about Valley Park Manor, contact Amber Griggs, the administrator, at agriggs@valleyparkmanor.com.