Page 30 - Flathead Beacon // 1.22.13

30 | JANUARY 29, 2014 BUSINESS MONTHLY FLATHEADBEACON.COM

A Community Rises in Bigfork

Rising Mountains
Assisted Living opens Feb. 1

By JUSTIN FRANZ of the Beacon

BIGFORK – The hallways and apartments of Rising
Mountains Assisted Living might look like just that,
hallways and apartments. But to founder and owner
Charlene Dale, it’s anything but.
“It’s like a little town here. The hallways are the

streets, the apartments are the houses, the dining room
is the restaurant and there’s a place to go to church and
shop,” she said. “That’s why we call it a community.”
On Feb. 1, Rising Mountains Assisted Living will
open its $4 million, 25,000-square-foot facility just
north of Bigfork. The building has 30 apartments, a
large dining hall and a spa. And rooms are already
starting to ill up. Registered nurse and healthcare di-

rector Ginger Nairn said many people have called to
inquire about availability and ive people have already
committed.
“This gives everyone a chance to ease into it, so it’s
good we’re starting small,” she said. “But it will also be
nice to get to know the residents on a personal level.”
A dozen people are employed at the facility, includ-

ing six certiied nurse assistants, three kitchen em-
ployees and an activities director. Nairn said the facil-
ity has the option to expand in the future, but that will
depend on the owners’ plans.
Charlene and Bill Dale began working on the proj-
ect in 2011 and soon after purchased a ive-acre lot be- After the Dales purchase the property, they worked
hind the Pope John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork. with the Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee, Flat-
The Dales are familiar with the assisted living business head County and the Catholic Dioceses to rezone the

– they started Prestige Assisted Living in Kalispell and land from agricultural to residential. Construction
Riverside Senior Living, now known as The Springs in began over the winter of 2012 and 2013. The construc-
Whiteish. The couple recognized the need for assisted tion was inanced with loans and $1 million in privately
living in the south end of the valley since similar facili- raised capital.
ties in the Flathead Valley are in Kalispell or north of Last week, workers were rushing around the prop-
there. Overall, there is a growing number of senior citi- erty, putting the inishing touches on it before the Feb.
zens in the area. According to the Montana Census and 1 opening. Outside, workers were installing the last
Economic Information Center, the state is one of the windows and furniture was brought in for the rooms.

oldest in the nation and is expected to see its 65-and- Each apartment has an open kitchen and living room
older population increase by 104.8 percent between area and a separate bedroom and bathroom.
2000 and 2030. Flathead County is expected to see its Lending a helping hand was consultant and friend
senior population increase by 200 percent. Charlene of the Dales, Mike Felt. He helped the owners with the
said now seniors will not have to leave the area they love construction of the building and said seeing its comple-
or their families to go to another assisted living home.
tion was rewarding.
TOP: Executive chef Rich Kern, right, and sous-chef Cami Jo
While Nairn said the staf would be able to provide “The Dales are special people,” he said. “They’ve assemble the steam table in the kitchen at Rising Mountain Assisted
Living at Bigfork on Jan. 22.
basic medical care, helping seniors maintain an inde- worked in this business for a long time and this was
pendent lifestyle is the primary goal.
their dream. Here it is.”
BOTTOM: The dining room at the Rising Mountain Assisted Living at
“This is not based on a medical model, it’s a social For additional information about Rising Moun- Bigfork.
model,” Charlene said. “That’s why our slogan is ‘add- tains Assisted Living, call (406) 837-2698.
ing years to life and life to years.’”
[email protected]
GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON

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