Retirement community Touchmark on South Hill, located at 2929 S. Waterford, is discontinuing its skilled-nursing facility services.

“The community made the decision to discontinue skilled-nursing facility services and remodel to expand in areas experiencing the greatest need – early memory care and higher acuity assisted living homes,” says Touchmark spokesperson Allison Burum in an email to the Journal. “The new spaces will offer greater support for residents experiencing early memory loss as well as for those who need more advanced care.”

Renovations will include two new “transitional neighborhoods designed to bridge the gap between assisted living and memory care." Work is expected to begin in July, with expanded the new offerings expected to open next year, Burum says.  

The spaces are designed for residents experiencing early memory loss, or residents who require higher levels of assisted living support, she says.

Of the current 340 residents at Touchmark on South Hill currently, nine are skilled-nursing facility residents, Burum says.

Relocation arrangements are being made for the nine residents.

“Community leadership is conducting personalized meetings with each resident and their family to create a customized transition plan,” Burum says. “This includes collaborating with trusted local providers to assist in exploring all available care options and to ensure a seamless relocation process."

Remaining services include independent living, assisted living, and memory care, home care, and health and fitness programs. 

Touchmark of South Hill is situated on 19 acres and opened its Spokane location in 1991. It’s owned by Touchmark LLC, a Beaverton, Oregon company established in 1980.

According to its website, Touchmark has 14 retirement communities in ten states and one in Alberta, Canada. In Washington, Touchmark operates the South Hill facility and another one in Vancouver.