A new memory care community in East Hamilton is preparing to welcome its first residents as Morning Pointe Senior Living completes the second phase of its senior living campus.
The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence – East Hamilton, located at 1775 Generations Way, will provide care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The facility is adjacent to Morning Pointe of East Hamilton, which already houses a memory care wing.
Kim Lepard, whose father, Jake Davenport, currently lives in the memory care wing, said she’s looking forward to his transition into the new building.
“They’ve been accommodating, caring and efficient,’ Lepard says. “My dad is happy there. He thinks he’s at a resort.”
The Lantern will feature 60 apartments and offer two levels of memory care: Lamplight, for residents in the earlier stages of dementia, and Lantern, for those with more advanced needs. The building includes secure areas designed to promote safety and engagement for residents.
The facility will offer 24-hour personalized care, medication management and access to licensed nursing staff. Additional services will include assistance with personal grooming, daily check-ins and access to physical, occupational and speech therapies. Programming will feature arts and crafts, exercise classes and intergenerational activities involving local schools.
Executive Director Lindsey Hughes said the new community is designed to provide a sense of familiarity and comfort for families.
“This building is more than walls – it’s a promise of comfort, dignity and personalized care,” Hughes says.
The leadership team for The Lantern includes: Lindsey Hughes – executive director; Cindy Tucker – director of nursing; Hannah Thurmond – business office director; Maggie Maples – lantern program director; Missy Dane – community relations director; Andrew Tredway – food service director; and Chevy White – maintenance director.
The facility will incorporate Morning Pointe’s “farm-to-table” dining program and specialized memory care models, including the Best Friends Approach, Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care and Meaningful Day programming.
The Lantern will be Morning Pointe Senior Living’s 42nd community and is expected to create around 60 permanent health care jobs. Company officials estimate the project will contribute more than $25 million annually to the local economy through payroll, property taxes and purchasing from area businesses.
Founded in 1997, Morning Pointe Senior Living operates in five states, with additional locations in Chattanooga, Collegedale and Hixson. A grand opening date for The Lantern will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information or to schedule a tour, visit morningpointe.com or call 423 973-0003.
The company’s nonprofit arm, the Morning Pointe Foundation, offers scholarships and caregiver support. More information is available at morningpointefoundation.com.