GAINESVILLE – The Hall County Planning Commission gave a unanimous recommendation for approval Monday evening for seven additional residents to live at the Peaceful Hearts Personal Care Home on L.J. Martin Road in the Chestnut Mountain area.
Seven new residents may not sound like a lot when considering the rapid growth of senior and assisted living facilities across the county, but applicant and owner Dena Brown says those living at Peaceful Hearts are in a uniquely different living situation.
“It’s a seven bedroom, five bath home,” Brown explains. Peaceful Hearts started as a 4,000-square feet single family residence on a 5.39-acre site but was converted into a group home in 2014.
Living in a residential neighborhood with lots of green space is a marked difference from many of the senior and assisted living facilities operating in the area, many of which resemble an apartment complex or a hotel.
“We find that a lot of seniors currently don’t necessarily desire to be in a nursing home, but recognize that they need some level of care, so being in a residential setting it’s much more comfortable, it’s a warm environment, a friendly environment,” Brown said of why those living with her have chosen Peaceful Hearts to meet their needs.
“It just makes them feel more at home,” she added. “It’s much more intimate, one-on-one and personal.”
Brown says residents receive three home-cooked meals each day and participate in group activities, fitness programs and regular outings. The accredited residence is staffed 24-hours a day.
At present Peaceful Hearts is the home to five residents, but with final approval by the Hall County Commission on July 11th, that number will rise to twelve. With a nearly full waiting list those new beds will disappear quickly.
