Restorium residents enjoy new elevator
<p>Restorium residents Evelyn Holmes and Margaret Klein in front of the newly constructed elevator at the Boundary County Restorium.</p>
BONNERS FERRY — A trip between the Restorium and the hospital no longer involves going up and down a hill, especially a snowy hill in winter.
The newly installed elevator and associated vestibule enable residents to access the hospital more safely, with no hills,
for out-patient tests and therapies.
“They can get to the hospital in a hurry,” said Jeri Witt, Boundary County Restorium assistant administrator. “They can come downstairs to activities. They are pretty thrilled.”
The one-floor elevator enables residents to move between the upper level and the lower level of the Restorium for meals, activities and computer access.
The vestibule on the upper floor includes a
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ELEVATOR
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sunroom which the residents enjoy sitting in said Witt.
“A good thing to happen,” said Ron Smith, former Boundary County Commissioner. “Mainly the efforts of the Restorium staff and board.”
The project included installation of the elevator, construction of a vestibule and ADA approved sidewalks, curbs and gutters going from the elevator room on the south side of the Restorium towards the hospital.
The project began late last summer and the elevator was first used on Jan. 4. Outside painting will be completed this spring.
Funding for the elevator came from the Idaho Community Development Block Grant program, Boundary County and the Friends of the Restorium.
The block grant totaled $125,238 and Boundary County pledged $89,443.
The Friends of Restorium (FOR) contributed $8,350 toward the Restorium elevator project. This came from a combination of donations designated for the elevator project from local organizations and from individuals through memberships, FOR fundraisers, and outright donations.
From donations to the County Memorial Fund for the Restorium, $8,900 was also contributed.