Kim has big plans for Watsonville Residential Care, former home of hospital

Watsonville residential care is in the 1938 historical landmark building that once housed Watsonville Hospital. (Photos by Tarmo Hannula).

WATSONVILLE — Walking up the pathway to Watsonville Residential Care at 311 Montecito Avenue, you can still see the imprint of the old Watsonville Community Hospital sign etched into the façade, even though it has been several decades since new babies have been born or the broken bones of exuberant kids set at this art-deco period building.

Maintaining the vintage-look and feel is important to Elise Kim, administrator of the assisted living facility, for “transitioning adults” age 60 and older, while adhering to the principles of care implemented by her mother Helen Kim, a registered nurse who purchased the facility in the 1970s.

“My mother believed that long-term care was the future in the 1960s,” said Kim, who spent her younger years doing homework or spending time with senior residents at a skilled nursing facility her mother operated in San Jose.

For the complete article see the 08-09-2012 issue.

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