Several years ago, the staff and residents at Hilltop Care Center expressed a desire for a safe place outside where residents could enjoy the fresh air. After much planning and fundraising, the dream is becoming a reality. Groundbreaking has occurred for a new patio area at Hilltop Care Center in Watkins. The patio will allow residents and their families to enjoy the outdoors in a safe and comfortable setting. Excavators began removing dirt the weekend of Aug. 21, and will bring the 30 square foot area to grade before the cement is poured. A glass door with an automatic opener connecting the activities room to the patio area has already been installed. Additional steps in Phase One of the project include installing a Wanderguard system on the new door, pouring the cement for the patio and the sidewalk, and purchasing and installing the fence. The patio garden will be located behind the northeast corner of the building and will be accessible through the activity room. A white fence to prevent residents from wandering off the grounds will surround the area. The patio will serve as a place for garden furniture and umbrellas, and a sidewalk will allow residents to walk around the area and enjoy landscaped flower gardens, a gazebo and wheelchair-accessible swings, planned for completion in Phases Two and Three. As of July 2004, $5,000 has been raised through personal donations, and in-kind labor donations are valued at $10,000. The goal to complete the project is $30,000. We are grateful to the many families and businesses that made generous donations of money or volunteered their services to provide residents who call Hilltop Care Center their home a chance to experience an improved quality of life, now and in the future. If you have any questions about the project, would like to make a donation, or to take a tour of the facility, please contact Hilltop Care Center at (320) 764-2300, or by writing to Hilltop Care Center, 410 Luella St., Watkins, MN 55389.
