In 1968, Oak Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, then known as Oak Ridge Nursing Home, began operating under new owners.
According to Deborah McKnight, administrator of Oak Ridge, two young women visiting the area heard that a local nursing home was for sale. Having always been in the service profession, they decided this would be the next stop in their desire to continue serving others.
Beryl Bonehill and Lieselotte Offergeld took the plunge and bought Oak Ridge, which had been built in 1965 by Wilson Hargett, according to News-Times archives.
Bonehill was from Blackpool, England and did her formal nurses training in the nearby town of Bolton. When she completed the course, she went on to more training as a midwife and then took post-graduate training and became a “Queens Nurse.”
Bonehill was working in Cornwall, England when she met Offergeld, who was also working as a Queens Nurse in the area.
Offergeld, a native of Ramsdorf, Germany, had gone to England to further her career, and like Bonehill, she did her midwifery and Queens training before going to Cornwall.
Sensing a kindred spirit, they decided to try nursing in the new world and landed in Ontario, Canada for several years. Following this, they provided public health nursing to the Cree Indians in Peace River, Alberta Canada. From there, they wound their way to public health nursing in Anchorage, Alaska.
While in Alaska, they met a fellow nurse who happened to live in Camden, Arkansas, which lead to their visit in Arkansas and the subsequent purchase of Oak Ridge.
When needing assistance in the more mundane jobs in financial and administrative fields, McKnight said they asked another friend from Alaska if she wanted to join them in Arkansas. Kleve Bassford, originally from Seattle, Washington, having spent several years in Administration in the district courts and public health in Anchorage, accepted the position.
On June 1, 1968, the stage was set for the next 50 years.
When they bought Oak Ridge, it was originally a 105-bed facility. In need of minor repairs and a new coat of paint, the three did the work themselves. They spent their time nursing during the day and painting the entire facility at night.
They worked diligently, and the next several months saw changes from communal bathrooms, to more private ones, refurbishing patient’s doors, making resident-friendly sitting areas and they even worked outside landscaping. Flowerbeds were added and many rose bushes were planted during this time.
By 1975, there was a need for more resident accommodations and 32 more beds were added, designated as the “D Section.” Again in 1980, 40 more beds were added.
In 1994, the original Medicare Unit was erected and in 1998, the present Medicare unit was added, making the home a 180-bed facility.
During this time, Bonehill served as director of Nursing and retired after 35 years, but still kept a close eye on things going on in her “home.”
Offergeld has been the CEO of the facility since it was purchased, and remains so to this day.
In 1979, McKnight was hired to assist with the accounting and has since steadily moved up the ladder to her present position as administrator. She began taking on more responsibilities as Bassford’s health began to decline.
“The mission statement has always been promoting the well being of its residents,” McKnight said. “Recognizing and respecting each individual’s rights, need and circumstances and striving to promote a supportive community that nurtures the body, mind and spirit. In this respect, Oak Ridge will always respond to the demands of a changing heath care system in accordance with the highest standard.”
Following these principals, Oak Ridge has been a member of the Arkansas Nursing Home Association since 1984, has been one of the first facilities to certify students in the Nurse Aide Program and has a long standing relationship with the education community, allowing nursing students to do their clinicals on site, McKnight stated.
Oak Ridge supports community activities, such as Relay for Life and health fairs at various events in the area, including the Senior Center at Champagnolle Landing.
Residents have participated in local domino tournaments, Senior Olympics, Senior Day at the county fair and district and state Senior Queens Pageant.
Kaitlyn Rigdon can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].