ROSSVILLE, GA. — For families facing an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis, finding specialized care often means leaving behind the community they’ve always called home. That changed June 18 as Morning Pointe Senior Living celebrated the grand opening of The Lantern at Morning Pointe at Happy Valley, completing the campus and bringing specialized memory care to Walker County.
The celebration included performances and participation from Ridgeland High School’s Panther Battalion Army JROTC, the Joyful Sounds Senior Choir, the lead pastor of First Baptist Church of Fort Oglethorpe, along with residents and community leaders who helped mark the milestone.
Since opening Morning Pointe at Happy Valley Assisted Living, the campus has become an active part of the Walker County community. Residents and associates have welcomed local students for regular visits, hosted Ridgeland High School’s annual Senior Walk, supported the Ridgeland High School football team with pregame meals and partnered with local organizations throughout the year. The addition of The Lantern builds on those relationships while ensuring families have access to specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care close to home.
“Our goal has always been to serve seniors where they live and to become a true partner in the communities they call home,” said Greg A. Vital, co-founder of Morning Pointe Senior Living. “Completing the Happy Valley campus is an investment in Walker County’s future. It means families have access to compassionate Alzheimer’s and dementia care without leaving the community they love, and it allows us to continue building relationships that enrich the lives of our residents and our neighbors.”
Walker County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman and CEO Angie Teems said the opening reflects much more than an expansion of healthcare services.
“The demand for senior services continues to grow, and with that growth comes the need for more options, more resources and more opportunities for older adults and their families,” Teems said. “Today we celebrate more than a program, more than a building. We celebrate a commitment to our seniors, our families and the future of this county.” The Lantern is expected to create up to 75 new jobs while generating an estimated $35 million annually for the local economy, providing benefits that extend well beyond the residents who will call the community home.
Crystal Carringer, project manager for the Alzheimer’s Association, said communities across the country need greater access to specialized memory care as Alzheimer’s disease continues to impact millions of families.
“Today is more than opening a building,” Carringer said. “Today represents hope. It represents dignity. It represents care.” She reminded attendees that while statistics show millions of Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, “behind every number is a person… and every statistic is a family trying to make the best decision they can.”
The ceremony also included remarks from Beth Hess, whose parents are among The Lantern’s first residents. Hess shared her family’s experience navigating Alzheimer’s disease and the comfort of finding specialized care that allows her parents to remain in the community they have long called home.
“The halls were filled with laughter. If you have visited other facilities, there’s not a lot of laughter. There’s so much laughter here. I wanted my parents to be in an environment where they closed their eyes and heard laughter.”
Although Hess’s father passed away just 18 days after moving into The Lantern, she told those gathered that her family never questioned the decision.
“The best decision we ever made as a family was to give him 18 days here at The Lantern,” she said, describing the peace, compassion and support her family experienced during his final days.
Following Hess’s remarks, Melissa Bartlett, executive director of The Lantern at Morning Pointe at Happy Valley, reflected on the meaning of the new community opening.
“What we see today is what memory care should feel like—dignified, connected and full of life,” Bartlett said. “This campus represents not just care for residents, but support for entire families who are walking through some of the hardest seasons of their lives. We are honored to serve them here in Walker County.”
The Lantern at Morning Pointe at Happy Valley is a 60-apartment memory care community serving individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It is organized into two distinct areas: Lamplight and Lantern. Each designed to meet different stages of memory loss and levels of care needs, while providing families with peace of mind.
For Walker County, the opening represents more than a new healthcare facility. It reflects a growing commitment to meeting the needs of an aging population, supporting local families, creating quality jobs and strengthening partnerships that allow residents to remain connected to the community they have always called home.
About Morning Pointe Senior Living
Founded in 1997 by healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living operates assisted living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities in four southeastern states, including GA, IN, KY & TN. For more information, visit morningpointe.com.
The philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living is the Morning Pointe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to provide clinical scholarships and caregiver support.
