LOOKING AT A VIBRANT LOCAL ECONOMY
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Fannin Co. Development Authority
They are not the typical sights and sounds someone might expect to find at a nursing facility. But PruittHealth Blue Ridge makes a special effort not to be a typical nursing facility.
Whether it is live music, canine guests, Bible studies, or a visit from a colorful truck bearing frozen treats, PruittHealth Blue Ridge strives to keep its residents active.
“We like to make things fun and lively,” said Admissions Director Samantha Trantham. “We encourage families that are visiting to bring their dogs, if they are well behaved. We regularly schedule special family events and activities to encourage our residents to get up and out of bed. In August, we had a family luau with Domino’s pizza and a Kona Ice truck.”
PruittHealth Blue Ridge has 101 beds, offering skilled nursing services as well as rehabilitation services. Currently, 88 beds are occupied. The family-owned company, based in Norcross, Georgia, was founded in 1969 and has more than 180 locations in Georgia, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina.
“This is not your typical nursing home,” Trantham said. “We want everyone here to feel like family. Our workforce is almost all from the local area. I have been in various nursing facilities where that wasn’t the case. We get a lot of support from our community.”
Local churches support PruittHealth Blue Ridge by offering Bible studies, hymn singing, and preaching. The local Walmart supports the residents by including their wish lists on a Christmas Angel Tree. Other businesses in the area donate food for special holiday meals. Volunteer musicians sometimes bring their bands to play for residents.
With Halloween fast approaching, Trantham has a special request.
“We are about to go into full-blown Halloween mode,” she said. “We want people to bring their trick-or-treaters here. We love to see children. We want to encourage our local schools to bring their kids over, too.”
Trantham, a lifelong resident of the area, believes the location of PruittHealth Blue Ridge is a major reason for the special nature of the facility.
“There is no place I have visited that can match what we have here,” she said.
“I have visited every state in the nation and I always look forward to returning home. We are a small community, with a lot of visitors, and we are growing. But it remains a very caring place. We see that in all the people who support our residents.”