Larger water line will be worth the wait for new senior day care center

Northern Fox Valley residents will have to wait at least another month for a senior day care center.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church leaders were planning to open their West Dundee center at the beginning of this month, but they still have some work to do in the West Main Street building. Now they are hoping to open it in October.

"We had to install a larger water line to the building," said Frank Hewitt, director of outreach ministries.

"If we led it to the front of the building we would have had to tunnel under Route 72. Then, we would have needed approval from (the Illinois Department of Transportation). So, we went around to the back of the building."

The center will be in the back of the former First Congregational Church, which is next to Bethlehem Lutheran Church. That congregation bought the century-old building after Congregational church members moved to their new place of worship, along Route 31 in West Dundee.

A larger water line is needed because the senior center will have showers, which the old church congregation never needed. Restrooms also had to be expanded

The senior citizens who belong to the Monday-through-Friday program will have a chance to take showers, go on field trips and take classes at the center.

"Many seniors have bathtubs at home and find it hard getting in and out of them," Hewitt said. "This will make it easier for them."

The center will be run by the Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights, and modeled after a similar center in Elgin run by the same agency. The West Dundee facility will be called Cherished Place. It will be open for senior citizens who live alone or with their children.

"They'll always have things to do," Hewitt said. "We're not going to sit them in a La-Z-Boy and let them sleep all day. At first we'll have space for 40 seniors. That may be expanded later.

"We already have 10 people interested and we haven't even advertised yet."

The charge for being a member of the center will depend on how much the individual can afford. Federal funds are available to pay for some of the costs to operate it, Hewitt said.

"We're excited about the center," said the Rev. John Carrier, the church's pastor.

"We've been planning for this for a long time."

For details, call the Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights at (847) 253-3710.