Noah Homes takes needed measure in new aging home facility

The nation’s second memory care facility for adults with developmental disabilities diagnosed with aging issues such as Alzheimer’s was recently completed in Spring Valley. Noah Homes is to be credited for recognizing the need and completing the project. They held a ribbon cutting and ceremony to celebrate this momentous event on Nov. 3.

The nation’s second memory care facility for adults with developmental disabilities diagnosed with aging issues such as Alzheimer’s was recently completed in Spring Valley. Noah Homes is to be credited for recognizing the need and completing the project. They held a ribbon cutting and ceremony to celebrate this momentous event on Nov. 3.

In front of an estimated crowd of 100 CEO of Noah Homes, Molly Nocon, welcomed local dignitaries such as County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, Dr. Michel Rafii director of the Adult Down Syndrome Clinic and Associate Professor of Neuro Sciences at U.C.S.D., and Mary Ball president and C.E.O. of the Alzheimer’s Association of San Diego/ Imperial County among many others.

“Almost all people with Down Syndrome will develop Alzheimer’s as they live into their 60’s – starting as early as their 40’s – and yet there are no homes specialized for their needs” said Nocon. Noah Homes addressed that need.

According to the National Down Syndrome Society one in every 691 babies are born with Down syndrome in the U.S. every year and there are approximately 400,000 people living with Down syndrome.

Nocon credited Dr. Michael Raffi with getting the ball rolling on the whole project but noted that local government, Noah Homes’ board of directors, and major donors like Peter Farrantelli and Kim Lauridsen were the force behind the project as well.

The two homes, named Casa de Amor and Casa de Lauridsen, are each 5,000 sq. ft. and will open in early 2017 and house 20 residents with 10 beds per house. All A.D.A. compliant with smart intel.

According to the National Down Syndrome Society one in every 691 babies born in the U.S. every year have Down syndrome and there are approximately 400,000 people living with Down syndrome in the U.S.

According to Noah Homes the estimated total cost is $6.7 million and is less than $1 million from being completely funded. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help raise additional funds at http://www.gofundme.com/NoahHomes.

“If they don’t die of something else they will develop Alzheimer’s,” doctors told Carol Dalseth, resident Mary Dalseth’s mother. Dalseth continued, “It means so much to us to not worry about her now.”

“You have to hand it to Noah Homes and Molly (Nocon) to promote and have the energy to complete the project” said Russ Murfey of Murfey Construction, “We see many projects that don’t have full support.” Murfey Construction paired with Noah Homes around two years ago on the project. 

A blessing was given before the ceremony with the main message of “We ask that you bless these memory care homes – a place of care, love and compassion.”