CHATEAU EARNS NATIONAL ACCREDITATION; FACILITY ONE OF ONLY 121 NATIONALLY, AND ONLY SECOND IN STATE

Chateau Girardeau, a continuing care retirement community in Cape Girardeau, has received one of the highest honors awarded to facilities of its type national accreditation by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission of Washington D.C.

"This accreditation is only the second issued in the state of Missouri," said Kenneth Bender, president of the Cape Retirement Community Inc., which founded and operates Chateau Girardeau. "Our facility becomes one of only 121 continuing care retirement communities nationwide to receive the accreditation."

Bender announced the accreditation during a special conference held at Chateau Girardeau Friday morning.

"Chateau Girardeau, which opened in July of 1979, is a not-for-profit, non-denominational, continuing care retirement facility which guarantees its residents a lifetime of services, including long-term health care when needed.

"This is a proud moment for Chateau," Bender told a large group of the facility's directors and residents. "The accreditation means that Chateau Girardeau has met specific standards of excellence in resident life, finance and health care, and administration."

The accreditation is not a matter of routine.

"The Chateau underwent a rigorous eight-month, self-study involving its staff, residents and directors," added Bender. "Members of the national accreditation commission visited our facility and talked to a number of residents, directors and others."

The accreditation is awarded for a five-year period. In order to maintain the accreditation the facility must file annual reports to the commission.

Barbara Calvin, administrator of the facility; Joe Carter, president of the Chateau Girardeau Residents' Council, and Judy Wilferth, past chairman of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce were speakers during the accreditation announcement.

"This accreditation is a credit to everyone involved with Chateau," said Calvin. "It was not achieved based only on the current operation, but on the continuing dedication to make Chateau Girardeau the best community possible for its residents. Credit is due to all members of the board directors, past and present, to all the residents who have lived here, and to every staff member who has served at Chateau since its inception. We have joined an exclusive group of excellent retirement communities."

"We feel the accreditation process was fulfilling," said Carter, who is a resident at the facility. "It required teamwork between residents, staff and board members. We all worked together on many different committees which were required to gather data for the commission."

"Cape Girardeau needs to be more aware of Chateau's presence in our city," said Wilferth. "Residents here come from a wide area to make their home here. It, therefore, serves not just Cape, but the entire region. Chateau is to be congratulated for achieving this mark of excellence, which brings acclaim not only to the facility but to the entire service area."

Chateau is currently serving 175 residents, from 64 locations throughout the Midwest, and other parts of the country.

The facility applied for the accreditation about a year ago.

"Chateau Girardeau was already fulfilling more than 90 percent of the requirements for the accreditation," said Rick Bowzer, public relations director.

In awarding the accreditation to the Chateau, commission chairman James Emerson wrote, "We congratulate Chateau Girardeau on this prestigious achievement. The accreditation process is the most effective means of assessing a facility's services. Any community which chooses to take part in the process, and succeeds in gaining accreditation, deserves our utmost respect."

The only other accredited continuing care retirement community in Missouri is John Knox Village at Lee's Summit.

Chateau, which includes retirement apartments, assisted living facilities and a health center, recently announced another phase of expansion.

Site preparations and street work are already under way for Chateau Estates, which will consist of 34 cottages, to be built east of the current facility. Calvin said the project represents a large expansion, and a "natural progression for our state-of-the-art continuing care retirement community."

Construction will start soon on a model cottage at the site, with other cottages to be constructed as they are reserved by future Chateau Girardeau residents. "This could be within six months, or several years," notes Calvin. "Construction will depend on demand."

The Chateau Girardeau concept was introduced in 1971 when a committee was established by First Presbyterian Church in Cape Girardeau to study the feasibility of a retirement community. Following a three-year study, the project was placed on "go." Not wanting the facility to be "Presbyterian," the non-denominational Cape Retirement Community, Inc., was formed.

Chateau opened its doors to the first residents on July 2, 1979. The first expansion program was the Chateau Assisted Living Center, which opened in 1988.