UNITY — Over the past two months, dozens of residents at the Sullivan County nursing home have moved from the home’s older wing, known as the Stearns building, to a new addition.

Among them is 83-year-old Doug Welch, who moved in April.

“It was right after my birthday, so it was a good birthday present,” Welch said last week while sitting in the “Great Room” at the entrance of the new addition.

The room offers comfortable seating, abundant natural lighting and plenty of space to socialize, Welch noted. Even so, he doesn’t spend much time there because he likes his new room even better.

“I have an excellent, excellent space there on the top floor where I can look out over the treetops,” Welch said. “I just love it up there.”

The four-floor, 80,000-square-foot addition is centerpiece of the $75 million nursing home renovation that began in the spring of 2023. The addition replaced the Sanders building, which was demolished because it did not meet current state regulations for nursing homes.

Twenty-five residents have been moved into the fourth floor of the addition and another 25 will move into the second floor this summer. Another 25 residents from the MacConnell building, the memory loss unit that is also being renovated, occupy the third floor of the addition. Once renovations at MacConnell are complete, likely the end of August, those residents will move back and another 25 will move to the third floor.

Some residents will remain in the older section when renovations there are complete. Renovation of the nursing home’s old section is being done in two phases.

“We are slowly sliding residents over to the new place as it moves to completion and the next move should be in early July,” said Matt Lagos, administrator of Sullivan County Health Care, during a tour of the Unity facility.

The county is licensed for 156 beds. The maximum capacity is 132, with a current census of 124.

Lagos said officials took 24 beds offline in anticipation of the construction. When the project is complete, the home will again have capacity for 156.

The entire project is expected to be finished in 15 months, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Lagos said.

The overhaul has been in the works for several years. The county delegation of state representatives first approved bonding for the project in August 2022, but when the guaranteed maximum price came in 20% above estimates of $63 million, it had to meet again in November of that year to approve additional funds.

In total, the county delegation approved $35 million in bonding, done in two phases. The project’s remaining funding is primarily from a $2 million federal grant, $7 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, $25 million from the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery, and $5 million from the county’s capital reserve fund.

The addition is connected to the Stearns building, which also will be renovated. The new rooms will have the same dimensions and amenities as those in the addition. Instead of two beds, separated by a few feet with a curtain, the layout, described by Welch, will give each resident their own window, television, bureau, nightstand, recliner and a shower.

Residents previously had to go down the hall to take a shower.

Welch spoke in glowing terms of his new room’s layout, where there is a partial wall, then a curtain, separating him from his roommate that provides privacy but allows for communication.

“The wall divides us but does not block us off,” he said. “We can talk to each other so I love the setup. It is peaceful and quiet.”

The addition features LED lighting, wider hallways and new dining areas for residents and staff.

Trudy Thibodeau, 84, who lived in Charlestown before moving into the nursing home about a year ago, is eagerly anticipating her move into a new room in a couple of months. Thibodeau said she has heard about the new rooms and the privacy they afford, including a shower.

“That means a lot to me,” she said.

In the meantime, she often comes to the new Great Room during the day.

“This is so open and so nice,” said Thibodeau, who had come from down the hall where residents were enjoying an ice cream social. “It is fantastic. You meet new people when you come down here to sit and visit. There is always somebody to talk to.”

The Great Room has elements of post and beam construction and ceilings that reach to the upper floors.

“To see residents use it as much as they have is gratifying,” said County Manager Derek Ferland. “It is really spectacular.”

Another feature of the addition is the rehabilitation area for residents. Lagos said there is a kitchen and a bathroom, which residents can use to demonstrate if they are able to use the bathroom, get in and out of the bathtub and prepare a meal, among other activities. Such activities of daily living allow staff to determine if residents can live independently.

Stepping from the new addition into the Stearns building, the difference is immediately noticeable. In Stearns, the halls are narrower, the air feels stuffy and the lighting is dimmer.

Watching television in his room in the old section, Don Greenwood, sporting his “300 ring” from bowling a perfect game at Maple Lanes in Claremont about 20 years ago, said he is not sure when he will move. Still, he has nothing but good things to say about the addition when asked what he likes about it.

“All of it,” said Greenwood, 67, who has lived at the nursing home just a few weeks.

The environment of the addition offers residents a combination of privacy and opportunities to socialize, Welch said.

“You are by yourself, but you are really not because it is much more social,” he said.

Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.