More than rehab

Facility in Cordova plans major expansion to include assistedliving units

The Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab in Cordova plans a “possible’’ major expansion to become a continuing care retirement community, according to its request for a use variance from the Board of Adjustment. The facility at 36 Bazeberry Road now provides long-term care and short-term physical, occupational and speech therapy services for 160 nursing home residents and patients and provides short-term rehab care to 1,000 patients annually, documents in the application state.

“Due to the growing need for short-term rehab services ..., the number of individuals seeking short-term rehab services at MJHR has been increasing,’’ the application states.

The new master plan would add a rehab therapy center and gym next to existing nursing wings for the facility off Forest Hill Irene Road near Walnut Grove. It also calls for a new one-story, 16-bed wing that will allow existing semiprivate rooms to be converted into private patient rooms.

The plan includes another one-story, 16-bed nursing wing, a freestanding, two-story assisted living building with 48 units, two one-story, freestanding assisted living buildings for patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and a brain and health clinic where the existing gym is.

Plans also include three floors of independentliving apartments to be built over a parking structure.

When the plan is completed, the facility will be “a true ‘Continuing Care Retirement Community’,’’ the application states.

Executive director Bobby Meadows last week described the expansion as “possible,’’ adding, “... The

decision as to when and what phases of that plan are to be completed has yet to be determined if the application is approved.

“Being one of Memphis’ top therapy providers and providing therapy to nearly 800 seniors last year has caused us to look closely at our facilities and the needs of our present and future patients,’’ Meadows said in a prepared statement.

“The increasing demand for rehabilitation services in our community along with our desire to provide high quality care has caused the board of directors to look at the possibility of improvement and expansion of our facility. If the application is approved, further discussions will occur at that time,’’ Meadows said.

The site is now zoned for Conservation Agriculture, but Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab has been operating there since 1992.

BRANDON DILL / SPECIAL TO THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab patient Jim DiSalvo, 78, gets a high-five from therapy director Yolanda Holley-Whitmore while physical therapy assistant Debra Forbes assists him in the therapy garden at the facility’s grounds in Cordova. The facility is...