Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills and Somerset County Board of
Chosen Freeholders Break Ground for Senior Complex

BASKING RIDGE, NJ – The Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills (VNA) and Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders today broke ground for a new VNA headquarters and County Senior Wellness Center at 200 Mt. Airy Road in Basking Ridge.

“This is an historic moment for the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills,” said Evelyn K. Savage, CEO. “The Board and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the many corporate, foundation, individual, public sector and staff donors who support our efforts to ensure a bright future for this organization. The development of this site, in partnership with the Somerset County Freeholders, will truly Build a Better Tomorrow for all county residents.”

“This partnership with the VNA is another fine example of what can be accomplished when government and nonprofits combine forces to improve the lives of their constituents,” stated Freeholder Denise Coyle. “With the increase in our older population, both in the Somerset Hills and countywide, the time is right to build a new center that can accommodate diverse activities to meet the varied needs of today’s seniors.”

The VNA will construct two buildings on the former GPU property in Bernards Township. The first, a two-story, 23,090-square-foot facility, will serve as the new headquarters for the VNA, housing Home Health Services, a Training Lab, Telehealth monitoring, Hospice and the Somerset Hills Adult Day Center, which presently operates out of the Somerset Hills Baptist Church.

The County will purchase the second building, a one-story, 9,940-square-foot facility, from the VNA. This building will be named the Senior Wellness Center, and will house, in part, the Bernardsville Senior Center, which has operated out of the Chapel of the Sacred Heart on Bernards Avenue in Bernardsville for nearly 25 years. The new building may also allow space for other county services, to provide a more convenient location for residents of the northern part of the county who are at a distance from the county seat of Somerville.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The mission of the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills and its subsidiaries is to provide individuals and families with comprehensive, high quality, cost-effective home and community health care services, regardless of ability to pay, using partnerships where appropriate. It is a charitable, tax-exempt home health agency and hospice certified by Medicare, accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP), and licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. 

The Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills celebrated 100 years of service in 2004 and began the Centennial Campaign to raise $7.75 million to construct new headquarters in Basking Ridge.  This effort will enable the VNA to meet the community health needs of the people of Somerset and Morris Counties for the next century.  For more information on the Centennial Campaign contact (908) 766-0180, ext. 140.

PRESS CONTACT: Marie Sperber (908) 766-0180 X 150

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