Knute Nelson Announces Crystal Brook Senior Living Expansion Plans

Increasing demand for memory care prompts 20-unit addition

Knute Nelson announced their plans to embark on an expansion of Crystal Brook Senior Living with the addition of 20 units to the community’s memory care household.

“We have recognized an increasing need for memory care services and anticipate the demand for these services to only increase with the rise of the aging population in coming years,” says Mark Anderson, President and CEO of Knute Nelson. “By increasing the number of people we can serve, our hope is that aging adults in the Park Rapids area can receive the care they need close to home and near the ones they love. We are incredibly thankful for the support we continue to receive and are honored to serve this community.”

A market study completed in October of 2022 indicated a need for additional memory care options in Park Rapids. Crystal Brook has served over 200 residents since opening in November of 2018 and is currently fully occupied. Today, Crystal Brook has 88 units in total; 69 units are independent/assisted living with an aging-in-place model and 19 units are designated for memory care.

The community is located at 1006 Crocus Hill Street and currently includes 69 units of senior and assisted living, as well as 19 units of memory care assisted living. One unit from the existing memory care household will be removed to allow for a seamless addition of the new units. Crystal Brook currently employs 72 people and estimates 16 additional positions will be needed following the expansion. The anticipated project cost is $5,237,717.

Once construction is completed, Crystal Brook will be able to serve 38 individuals who have dementia or other forms of memory loss with specialized assisted living services in their Gems household. In the Gems, staff take a holistic approach to care that maximizes residents’ independence and choice while also keeping them safe. The household features cozy living and sitting rooms and a secure patio for residents to enjoy.

The City of Park Rapids approved an expansion of Crystal Brook’s existing conditional use permit at its meeting on April 25, 2023. The conditional use permit includes two phases with the first including additional memory care units. An additional phase would allow Crystal Brook to add up to 68 additional units in a future expansion.

Knute Nelson Home Health Care has been serving the Park Rapids area with quality nursing, home health aide, and therapy services since 2012. The home health care agency’s office is now located within Crystal Brook.

Knute Nelson’s general contractor and partner for the Crystal Brook Senior Living project is Innovative Builders, Inc. of Alexandria. View Crystal Brook phase 2 site plan. 

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