ecognizing the need for a middle income retirement option for this area, a volunteer Board of Directors invested its time and passion into founding a non-profit continuing care retirement community that would serve the needs of seniors in the Rapid City area.
Thanks to their vision and determination, construction started on Westhills Village in 1983. In August 1984, the first Apartments were completed, and in December of that year Westhills Village Health Care Facility opened with accommodations for 44 residents.
In 1992, Westhills Village Home Health Agency, offering in-home skilled nursing and therapy services, was founded. In 1995, Westhills South Assisted Living opened with 15 suites; 16 more opened in 1997.
Occupational, speech, and physical therapy became available on-site in 1996 when Westhills Village Therapy Services opened. Clarkson Mountain View Health Care Facility, a skilled nursing facility with accommodations for 52 residents located in West Rapid City, was purchased in 2000.
In 2005, an expansion and redesign began on Westhills Village Health Care Facility. With the completion of this project, Westhills Village Health Care became one of the premier health care facilities in the State of South Dakota.
Because the board saw the need for additional options in retirement living, construction began on the first 24 Villas at Westhills in May 2003, and on another nine in Fall 2006, bringing the number of Villas to the present total of 33.
In the fall of 2008 Westhills Village Clarkson Health Care began a construction project to continue a legacy of innovation founded by the Clarkson Family. Over the next 18 -24 months Clarkson Health Care was completely reconstructed from the ground up, showcasing larger and more spacious resident suites within a neighborhood concept. Additionally, a state-of-the-art therapy gym was created to assist rehabilitating residents in maximizing their full potential to return home. The capital project was an investment of 7 million dollars.
In July of 2010, Westhills Village embarked on its largest construction project to date with a major overhaul of its upper and lower Commons Areas. This monumental project improved not only the look and feel of the facility, but also added a swimming pool, expanded fitness center, game room, and theater. The Dining Room, Pantry, Woodshop, and office areas were also re-worked; a new front entrance with covered canopy completed the list of improvements. The project was completed in May 2013 and Westhills Village once again proved its commitment to lifestyle quality and staying current with the needs of retirees both today and into the future.
In August of 2012, Westhills Village added 11 new apartments to the main campus, incorporating the latest in senior design and layout. The newly constructed apartments were completed in July of 2013 and fully occupied immediately upon completion.
In January of 2014, renovation of the two original wings in the Health Care facility will begin. Each suite will undergo a total remodeling and replacement of the current heating and cooling system. The upgrade will result in individual heat and air conditioning control in each suite along with new paint, carpet, bathroom fixtures, and finishes.
The growth at Westhills Village is credited largely to its visionary Board of Directors. Today's Board of Directors is composed of successful business people and civic leaders who give of their time, energy, and expertise to continue the mission set forth by the original board: to provide a better quality of life for people wishing to retire in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
The only continuing care retirement community in the area, Westhills Village has surpassed the original vision and offers not just a beautiful retirement community with an exciting lifestyle, but peace of mind for its many Residents and their families. Westhills Village will celebrate its 30th Anniversary in August of 2014.
