Swope Health Begins Construction of PACE KC Adult Wellness Center
Swope Health’s largest capital investment in two decades marks commitment to growth and expanding services for older adults
Swope Health today held a ceremonial groundbreaking, inaugurating construction of the new PACE KC Adult Wellness Center, a state-of-the-art health and wellness facility at 4141 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 64130.
PACE KC’s Adult Wellness Center, located adjacent to the Swope Health Central campus, will serve as the central hub for PACE services – Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. PACE is a national program offering a full range of health and wellness services for people age 55 and older to help them age gracefully in their home communities.
“This is a historic moment for Swope Health and a first for the region,” said Jeron Ravin, J.D., President and CEO of Swope Health. “We are expanding our mission to provide services designed for the needs of older adults with this, our largest capital investment since the development of the Swope Health Central campus in 1995. This development signals our commitment to growing our presence to serve the community in new ways.”
The PACE KC Adult Wellness Center will be the first, and only, PACE program in Jackson County.
The $14 million facility is scheduled to open in 2023 with clinical spaces to provide primary care, medical services, and other therapies, as well as a day center, rehabilitation gym, computer lab, library, arts and crafts room, bathing suite, low-stimulation memory care area, outdoor recreation space and meeting rooms.
“Access to quality health care is a vital component in any strong community, and the new PACE KC Adult Wellness Center is going to be a tremendous community asset,” said Stephen Westbrooks, executive director of the southern region of IFF, the independent not-for-profit managing the construction project. “Not only will it ensure that seniors are able to receive holistic care that supports all aspects of health and wellbeing, but the center is also going to contribute to the overall development of the neighborhood.”
IFF, which supports non-profits and community-based organizations with development initiatives, works closely with McCownGordon Construction, a Kansas City-based construction firm and the general contractor for the project. McCownGordon has completed more than 1,100 projects in its 20-plus years in business, including a wide range of healthcare projects – hospitals, medical office buildings, imaging centers, pharmacies and more.
The PACE KC development is funded in part via a capital campaign, led by Wesley Fields, partner in charge of the Kansas City office of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP. The development recently received a $1.4 million challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation.
The Mabee Foundation, headquartered in Midland, Texas, has assisted non-profit organizations with funding of new construction, building renovations, and the purchase of major medical equipment since 1948. The challenge grant means Swope Health must raise an additional $1,066,649 by Jan. 11, 2023, to receive the Mabee Foundation funds.
“Today we’re one step closer to offering the PACE model of an entire continuum of care to older adults,” said Heath Rath, Executive Director of PACE KC. “PACE KC will offer a proactive, hands-on approach to addressing whole-person care – physical, emotional and psychological needs. This model helps older adults live their best life, safely and with dignity, at home.”
For more information about PACE KC, contact Rath at hrath@pacekc.org. To make a gift or pledge in support of the capital campaign, contact Angela Smart, Executive Director of the Swope Health Foundation, at asmart@swopehealth.org.
A crowd of elected officials, civic leaders and community stakeholder joined at the event. Center, Wesley Fields, chairman of the PACE KC capital campaign and partner in charge of the Kansas City office of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP, addresses the crowd. Right, an array of PACE KC and Swope Health cookies for the celebration.
