A jewel of the $10 million renovation of the Ottawa County Riverview Healthcare Campus in Oak Harbor, the Hartford on the River Assisted Living facility, is now open to new residents.

Ottawa County Riverview has announced that new admissions are being received for the newly opened Hartford on the River Assisted Living. Ottawa County Riverview Healthcare Campus has been county owned and operated for 149 years, and the facility recently opened up their new Assisted Living service in March of 2020.

The Witt’s Retreat Four Seasons Room overlooking the Portage River is a popular year-round gathering place for assisted living residents.

The Hartford was a part of the facility’s $10 million renovation to the entire campus, and had opened in March for new residents. With COVID-19 precautions and preparation for a possible surge in healthcare, the Assisted Living facility had to be put on hold just a few short weeks after opening.

Officials are now able to safely and securely open 20 spacious living units in Hartford on the River. There are studio, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom options available. Each unit includes a bedroom area and a living room area.

The units also include a kitchenette area with cabinetry, sink, small refrigerator and room for a small microwave. A private bathroom with a toilet, vanity and a handicap accessible shower are also included in each living unit.

Hartford offers three meals a day in its dining room. A spa room with an easily accessible jet tub is available for those residents who prefer a bath over the in-room shower option.

While laundry service is included in the monthly fee, there is a laundry room for use by residents who prefer to do their own laundry, have a special item with special wash instructions, or need something laundered quickly.

The Assisted Living facility also offers multiple different areas for visiting and socializing. There are two living rooms, a pair of outdoor porches and the Witt’s Retreat Four Season’s Room overlooking the Portage River.

A friendly, inviting feature of Ottawa County Riverview is its Lake Erie Activity Room.

Activities are held daily in the large Lake Erie Activities’ Room. The facility also has a salon with a beautician and barber for an additional fee.

The Hartford’s monthly fees are a bit different from those of many other assisted living fee structures. The Hartford has one monthly fee, with no additional nursing or care level fees. The monthly fee includes 24-hour nursing services for assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), a 24-hour nurse call system in each living unit, medication administration by a licensed nurse, daily activities, three meals a day, housekeeping and laundry services, and all utilities including long distance telephone services, internet and cable.

In order to continue to protect the Riverview Campus’ residents and staff from the COVID-19 virus, after a new admission has been accepted for admission, he or she will be required to have a COVID-19 test completed and remain quarantined in their current home until the COVID-19 results have returned negative.

The resident then will continue to quarantine until they are able to move into the Hartford. The resident will be quarantined to the living unit for the first 14 days on the campus. All services will be offered to the resident’s living unit with staff in appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

At this time the Hartford is following visitation protocols given by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) and the Ottawa County Department of Health. These precautions include outdoor visitation, scheduled by appointment with a 6-foot distance and surgical mask worn by the resident and visitors.

These visitations cannot begin until the resident has completed their 14-day quarantine. Face-to-face visitation technology is also available to the resident through the campus.

For more information please call RN Case Manager, Cara Densic, at Ottawa County Riverview 419-898-2851 Ext. 4041. Hartford on the River is paid through resident private funds and some long term care insurances. The Assisted Living portion of the campus does not accept Medicare or Medicaid.