Shell Point completes $24 million upgrade

COURTESY PHOTO The new patient dining room at the Larsen Pavilion at Shell Point Retirement Community. The skilled nursing facility just opened after a $24 million facelift. Shell Point Retirement Community recently completed a $24 million renovation to expand and upgrade the skilled nursing facility on The Island, known as the Larsen Pavilion.

Originally built in 1971, the Larsen Pavilion is licensed for 219 beds and serves both residents of Shell Point and the outside community. The facility is fully staffed with two full-time, on-site physicians, a nurse practitioner, and a trained nursing staff. The facility accepts Medicare patients who need short-term rehabilitation following a surgery or illness, as well as skilled nursing services for long-term care.

"The Larsen Pavilion is home to so many residents, and with a growing population, as well as newer styles of architecture, this upgrade was one that residents and staff were looking forward to," said Steve Minniear, vice president of health care services for Shell Point Retirement Community. "The numerous improvements from this renovation have brought a new level of outstanding quality and services for not only the residents, but the staff as well."

The remodeling project was overseen by Jorgensen Construction and designed by RDG Architects. This was a complete "slab-to-roof" renovation that upgraded virtually every component and space in the building. The dining room, kitchen, resident rooms, and nursing stations are just a few of the many areas that received attention. These upgrades will allow more efficient operational processes to occur and make the lives of staff and residents smoother.

"Members of the Larsen Pavilion staff worked diligently with our construction team to lessen the impact of the project on the day-to-day operation of the facility, but I am sure they are happy to see it finished," said Bob Southern, director of project development at Shell Point.

Shell Point Retirement Community is a not-for-profit continuing-care retirement community, providing lifecare services to more than 2,100 residents. Services include 1,204 independent residences, 219 skilled nursing beds, and 252 assisted living beds in the largest continuing care retirement community in the state of Florida and one of the largest in the nation. Shell Point is a nationally recognized leader in the retirement industry, and recently received a five-star rating from the federal government for the Larsen Pavilion. The community is located in Fort Myers just off Summerlin Road, two miles before the Sanibel causeway.