Rose Place is the only public assisted senior living community in Mid-County, and after Hurricane Harvey dumped eight inches of water on the facility, workers and volunteers spent six hard months restoring it to its rightful place in the community, company leaders said.

Their doors reopened in March 2018, and the facility has been holding strong for over a year.

Kelly Henry, community relations manager, said she there is a huge need for senior citizens services in the local community.

“Not just in Mid-County but everywhere,” she said. “That’s why it surprises me that there are not more assisted living facilities in this area outside of Beaumont.”

Henry said Rose Place provides seniors who live alone with help, amenities and companionship in a completely welcome and open way.

“Depression is a huge thing for senior citizens over a certain age, and their diet is not very good,” she said. “Here, we have three amazing meals a day that come with their room and board. There are things that they can’t do like the upkeep of a home, that’s where we come into play.

“We are basically here to assist the senior citizens in the way they want to continue to live. We are not a skilled nursing community. We do not have that hospital feel and we don’t have all the hospital equipment that you see in the nursing homes. We try to keep that home feel.”

Residents rent their apartment unit like a normal complex and are allowed to bring their own furniture, pets and photos to hang on the walls but share the living room, dining area and other amenities.

“They have all the freedom they want or need,” Henry said. “We cannot and we do not stop anyone from walking out that door and doing what they want to do. We have four seniors here who have vehicles. We’ve got one lady who is going on a cruise for vacation next week.

“They come and go unless we have instructions from the families who have the power of attorney to restrict them. They have absolutely nothing to do here except eat, drink and be merry.”

Henry said due to management changes and the process of returning residents to their homes, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was postponed to next week, but she is excited to finally be able to show the community that they are here to stay.

The ceremony begins at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18 with speakers and snacks before concluding with a tour of the new facility and artwork.

Henry said besides receiving new furniture, hardwood floors and paint, the facility received a large art package.

“These are live beautiful pictures of Port Arthur,” she said. “It shows the boardwalk, Sea Rim State Park, Pleasure Island Pier and artwork from 1901, when the oil boom started. Those are real pictures of what Port Arthur looked like back then.”

The 50-count apartment building is nestled at 8214 Anchor Drive in Port Arthur and offers residence to several senior citizens who are finding their newly renovated facility to be just like home.

Visit enlivant.com and type “Rose Place” into the “Search for a Community” bar for more information.