Orchard Ridge celebrates a century

COEUR d’ALENE — A century ago, Babe Ruth hit his 138th home run, Lana Turner was born in Wallace, the most popular baby names were John and Mary, the population in Coeur d'Alene was about 7,000 and a stamp cost 2 cents.

It was also when Coeur d'Alene Homes, now known as Orchard Ridge Senior Living, was established at 624 W. Harrison Ave.

“We still have apple trees from the farm that was here,” Amy Boni, director of development and marketing, said Monday.

Orchard Ridge comprises the Grove independent living and the Garden assisted living and memory care, situated on a picturesque, grassy 12-acre campus. It's a Christian-based nonprofit governed by 20 local churches.

"What separates us as well is our faith,” Boni said. “Our faith is very important and it’s been there since 1921."

Thousands of souls have passed through Orchard Ridge's doors through the years, and even more lives have been impacted by the loving, nurturing care its staff and volunteers provide.

"Being here this long, and the stories, you can’t go to a group session without anybody knowing who we are because everyone’s had a relative here," executive director Ann Johnson said. "You have to have that connection."

The stories of love and loyalty are endless. One resident began her journey with Orchard Ridge in 1952 when she worked as a nurse's aide.

“She worked in the old brick building,” Boni said.

The resident eventually resided in the independent living building, then she moved into assisted living and is now in memory care.

“She’s 100,” Boni said. “It just shows the loyalty that we have, the trust that people have in us."

“I love that it's a full circle of care,” Johnson added. "We provided employment, then affordable housing and then charitable care."

Orchard Ridge is also unique in how it offers Charitable Christian Care, also known as the Resident Relief Fund, to help support residents who have exhausted their life savings and can't afford care anymore. About 35% of residents heavily rely on this program, which totals about $500,000 every year.

"There’s definitely a need in this community,” Boni said. “We turn away hundreds every year, families wanting to find a home for their loved one who doesn’t have a lot of money or is financially burdened."

Another aspect of Orchard Ridge that sets it apart is its ability to care for those in need, despite their age.

"We’re not corporate," Boni said. "We can take in people of various ages if we want.”

One young patient was admitted at age 40 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

He had three children and a wife.

“She couldn’t take care of him anymore and we took him in until he passed,” Boni said. “You would have never known, when he walked in he was so physically strong.”

“We set up a stationary bicycle in memory care so he could work out every day, until he couldn’t,” Johnson said. “That was one of the hardest things to watch."

Orchard Ridge is able to do what it does because of a generous, supportive community.

John Swallow, who serves on its board of directors and remembers singing at Coeur d'Alene Homes when he was a Winton Elementary student, really got to know Orchard Ridge when he helped float an original 1903 "White House" from the campus across Lake Coeur d'Alene to his Casco Bay property.

"That was the last original house that sat on this campus," Boni said. “Before it was a retirement home, it housed the president of the Swedish College” and it housed the executive director when it became a retirement community.

"They put a lot of trust in me to make sure their site was put back like it should be,” Swallow said. "Between us and Johnson Construction and Peck and Peck, everyone made sure we did the right thing as we left the site.

"The fact that they didn't tear it down, they let it hang out there until the timing and the people were right, I really appreciated that," he said. "I got to know them. Once you learn the history of it, it's been an ongoing mission for 100 years. That's the kind of thing, if I can help, I'll help. They're good folks. I like what they do."

The "White House" will serve as the site for a 100th anniversary celebration Aug. 8. Local historian Robert Singletary will speak about the history; Susan Nipp will share the story of her grandmother, who was the first nurse at Coeur d'Alene Homes and worked there for 30 years; a butterfly release will take place; and more. The event will serve as a fundraiser with the goal of generating $75,000

Tickets are limited. Guests will be boated across the lake and back. Call Boni at 208-664-8119 or email aboni@theorchardcda.org for details.

Another community celebration will take place in September at Orchard Ridge.

"We're just happy to celebrate 100 years," Johnson said. "Not many businesses can say that."