Rossville, GA — May 21, 2026 — After years of serving families in the North Georgia and Chattanooga region, Morning Pointe Senior Living is continuing its commitment to dementia care with the grand opening of The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, Happy Valley. The community will host a grand opening open house on Thursday, June 18 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., with an official ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m. at 2937 Happy Valley Rd in Rossville, serving families throughout Walker County and North Georgia.

Now complete and welcoming residents, the new memory care community was thoughtfully designed around a simple but important truth: memory care is not one-size-fits-all. As more families search for trusted support and specialized care for loved ones living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, The Lantern at Morning Pointe Senior Living at Happy Valley aims to provide an environment focused on safety, dignity, meaningful engagement, and individualized support for every stage of the journey.

The new Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence represents an investment not only in local seniors and their families, but also in the future of Walker County. Along with expanding specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia services for area families, the project supported approximately 100 construction jobs and will add 75 permanent healthcare and support positions. Through payroll, property taxes and the local purchase of goods and services, the Happy Valley campus is expected to generate more than $35 million in annual economic impact.

“You know, I had been her caregiver for many years, and it was just getting to a point where I couldn’t really take care of everything that she needed,” said resident family member Doug Mims. “We knew she needed more, and we wanted her to be more engaged than what I was able to provide.”

At The Lantern at Morning Pointe Senior Living at Happy Valley, that philosophy comes to life through two distinct, secure memory care neighborhoods — Lamplight and Lantern — each designed to meet residents where they are in their journey. Individuals in earlier stages of memory loss benefit from structure, independence, and engaging social opportunities, while those with more advanced needs are supported in a smaller, more intimate setting focused on comfort, calm routines, and personalized care.

“It’s also wonderful that you all have two levels of care for early and mid-stage dementia, and then for later-stage dementia,” said resident family member Joan Michles. “I think that’s really helpful.”

By offering these two levels of support under one roof, the community helps reduce confusion, ease transitions, and ensure each resident is supported in the right environment at the right time.

For many families, the move to memory care also brings opportunities for renewed connection and socialization for their loved ones.

“We really were pleased at the types of engagements that we saw that she could be into, and she is adjusting well to those,” Mims added. “She’s engaging, she’s being more social.”

Another resident family member, Joan Michles, shared how the community helped restore routine and companionship for her loved one.

“He was getting lonely at home,” Michles said. “He had hobbies that he couldn’t do anymore, and this provides people and a new community structure to his days.”

She also emphasized the comfort that comes with having trained support available around the clock.

“Plus he has nursing care, he has people to watch him in case he may have a physical problem,” she said.

This thoughtful approach extends beyond the physical space and into how care is delivered each day. Associates are trained in the Best Friends™ Approach, which focuses on building meaningful relationships and truly knowing each resident as an individual. By understanding a person’s life story, recognizing what it feels like to live with dementia, and knowing how to respond when communication becomes difficult, associates are able to create moments of connection that help residents feel safe, valued, and understood.

In addition, the community practices the Teepa Snow Positive Approach™ to dementia care, creating a supportive and calming environment through purposeful, engaging daily routines. Activities are designed to be familiar, achievable, and meaningful, helping residents stay involved and experience success throughout the day.

“We just really stay active, we find what they enjoy, and we do those things,” said Krissy Llewellyn, Lantern Program Director. “The things that they’ve done at home is what we try to do here, because this is their home.”

The community is already bringing this approach to life through Morning Pointe Senior Living’s Meaningful Day™ program, focusing on personalized programming rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. By investing time in understanding each resident’s past roles, routines, and interests, associates create individualized experiences that support purpose, connection, and engagement.

One of the most meaningful parts of memory care, Llewellyn said, is helping families return to simply being family again.

“One of the things that gives me the biggest passion is just knowing how tired and how exhausting it is to be caregiving,” Llewellyn said. “So we want the families to still continue to be a caregiver, to come alongside them, but actually be a family member rather than just the person that has to do all the things. We hope to take some of that off of the family and come alongside them and partner with them.”

Families also say the specialized training and preparedness of the team make a noticeable difference.

“The entire staff understands that the residents who are here need that added level of support and the precision of what to do in a split second,” said resident family member Beth Hess.

With licensed nursing oversight and care staff supporting residents, families can have confidence knowing their loved ones are cared for in an environment designed for both clinical support and meaningful living.

Families are welcome to tour the community at any time and are also invited to be part of this special grand opening celebration in June, experiencing firsthand the thoughtful design, care, and connection that define The Lantern at Morning Pointe Senior Living at Happy Valley.

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 five southeastern states, including AL, 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.