Lakeland, GA – The Hospital Authority of Valdosta & Lowndes County, GA d/b/a SGMC Lakeland Villa hosted a groundbreaking on Sunday, September 27, for a replacement nursing home. The new, 62-bed facility will be located in the field adjacent to the current facility at 120 West Thigpen Avenue in Lakeland. According to hospital archives, the Villa originally opened in 1967. The skilled nursing facility has faithfully served the community since it opened.According to SGMC Lanier Campus Administrator Dick Dwozan, the State of Georgia authorized the Villa to be replaced with a new 39,360 square-foot facility. The existing 62-beds will be transitioned to all private rooms with adjacent restrooms.“The new facility will offer our residents many amenities such as private rooms, two courtyards–one of which has a covered porch, a rehab and therapy room, a spa/shower room, all new furniture with state-of-the-art resident beds and a new kitchen that will service the Dogwood Café, hospital inpatients and Villa residents,” Dwozan explains.SGMC Lakeland Villa Administrator Geoff Hardy says, “The new facility will make it more efficient for us to meet the needs of residents. With two nursing stations, staff will be more accessible to the residents and upgraded technology will make it easier for staff to care for residents.”The new facility will adhere to the latest building and fire codes to provide the safest environment possible.Cauthan Construction of Valdosta, GA is the general contractor for the project which is estimated to take approximately 14 months to complete. The architect is McCall & Associates of Valdosta, GA. The estimated cost of the new facility is $11 million.SGMC Interim CEO Dr. Raymond Snead says the Hospital Authority of Valdosta & Lowndes County, GA supports the health and viability of the SGMC Lanier Campus. For more information, contact SGMC Community Relations at 229-259-4421.
