Peoria County's $45 million nursing facility celebrated it's one year anniversary Thursday with cake and song. The West Peoria facility replaced the county's aging Bel-Wood Nursing home. Heddington Oaks Administrator Matt Nieukirk says residents at the new building are benefitting from short term rehab and special care services:
“Our length of stay went from 75 days at Bel-Wood to now were down to about 23 days. Residents are coming in, they're getting that short burst of therapy, and then we’re able to get them back home where they need to be.”
Neiukirk says the facility is slated to be at full capacity next week with 214 residents. He says the facility currently has about 205 residents. More than 200 county employees and 200 volunteers work at Heddington Oaks.