Autumn Trace of Seymour is taking shape along North Ewing Street. Zach Spicer

Autumn Trace is falling into place.

Construction of the new independent and assisted living facility at 1409 N. Ewing St., Seymour, began in the spring of 2019, and officials expect it to wrap up in March.

“Thankfully, we have had great weather throughout the construction process, save a few days of heavy rain in the very beginning,” said Mike Balka, director of compliance for Greencastle-based Autumn Trace. “We truly appreciate the city of Seymour for being such great partners throughout the construction project and preconstruction preparations.”

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Once complete, there will be a public opening reception with refreshments and tours. That will be announced in The Tribune, on the Autumn Trace Senior Communities — Seymour Facebook page and with fliers, Balka said.

“We will also be sure to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the city of Seymour, hopefully in conjunction with the opening reception or soon thereafter,” he said.

The facility will provide 58 senior living suites within a 50,000-square-foot, one-level structure. Several local seniors already have reserved suites, and reservations are still being accepted, Balka said.

“Our suites are available and offered on a first-come, first-served basis to all residents in Seymour, Jackson County and the surrounding areas,” he said. “We especially love to see seniors move back into the area to live at Autumn Trace and be close to friends and family again.”

The monthly service fees for residents can vary widely, depending on their choice between three different suite styles and assistance requested by each resident from the 24-hour care team, he said.

“The best way to learn about pricing and financial resources that are available is to contact the director of operations and learn how Autumn Trace can create a personalized plan of care for you or your loved one,” Balka said.

Dawnelle Green is the director of operations and may be reached at 765-585-2524.

“One of the most common resources utilized by our residents is the Aid and Attendance pension available through the VA and long-term insurance policies,” Balka said.

Included in each resident’s monthly rent will be all utilities other than cable and home phone, restaurant-style dining three meals per day, seven days per week, weekly housekeeping and laundering of bed/bath linens and scheduled transportation, Balka said.

“Each resident will be furnished with a wireless call pendant to page our 24-hour care team for emergencies, which is also included in their rent, as well as our life enhancement activities, such as games, outings, entertainment, Bible studies and social events,” he said.

The care team also will provide residents with assistance in their daily routines of dressing, personal laundry, remembering to take medication, bathing, using the restroom and more upon request.

“When a resident moves into our community, our wellness nurse will meet with them and their families to create a personalized plan of care based on the wishes of each individual,” Balka said. “We have found the best way to provide the highest quality care possible is to tailor our service to each individual resident, rather than create our own levels of care.”

Other amenities at the Seymour facility will include a 24-hour café, a theater den, a chapel, a game room and four screened outdoor spaces.

“Our community in Seymour offers a premier setting for local seniors to enjoy worry-free living and for their families to enjoy peace of mind knowing their loved one always has assistance available at the push of a button,” Balka said.

Autumn Trace of Seymour plans to create between 20 and 25 jobs as occupancy reaches certain benchmarks.

“Almost all of these positions will be full time, but our local managers have a certain level of flexibility in their scheduling practices to ensure the hiring of the most caring individuals for each position,” Balka said. “Quality care and service starts with the right people in the right places, and this is a key focus for each new Autumn Trace community.”

The home office for Autumn Trace is in Greencastle, and other communities are in Linton, North Vernon, Attica, Plymouth and Rensselaer. A Madison location is expected to open early this summer.

Brownsburg-based Trimak Building Services LLC is constructing the Seymour facility.

“We have had a close relationship with TriMak as our general contractor for all but one of the Autumn Trace communities across the state,” Balka said. “At each location, TriMak has strived to partner with local subcontractors as often as possible.”

Balka said they also have a close relationship with Seymour-based JCB, which has assisted in familiarizing Autumn Trace with the Seymour and North Vernon communities.

“Building on this relationship, we will strive to become very involved with community events, groups and local interests in any way that we can,” he said.

“We look forward to becoming a part of Seymour and Jackson County and being involved in as many ways as possible to create a mutually beneficial relationship,” he said. “Our organization is made up of individuals who are all residents of Indiana, and through our growth, we have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to partner with and serve the seniors and their families in new locations.”

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Autumn Trace of Seymour is being built at 1434 N. Ewing St. For information or to reserve a suite, call Dawnelle Green, director of operations, at 765-585-2524.

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