1 of 6
The clock and light posts on Main Street come from the Hilton Head, S.C. area. Photos courtesy of the Grand
2 of 6
The clock and light posts on Main Street come from the Hilton Head, S.C. area. Photos courtesy of the Grand
3 of 6
Next to the Grand's chapel sits a 100-year-old traditional red phone booth straight from Scotland. This phone booth, which was in use for 75 years and weighs roughly 2,500 lbs., sat outside the original Digger & Finch Grille & Pub. Photos courtesy of the Grand
4 of 6
Next to the Grand's chapel sits a 100-year-old traditional red phone booth straight from Scotland. This phone booth, which was in use for 75 years and weighs roughly 2,500 lbs., sat outside the original Digger & Finch Grille & Pub. Photos courtesy of the Grand
5 of 6
The three manhole covers that visitors can find along Main Street were created to represent Vrable Pharmacy. The antique bottles are actually from the pharmacy, which was originally located in Worthington and was one of the oldest in Ohio. The pharmacy opened in 1803. The pharmacy's biggest claim to fame? "They filled prescriptions for Abraham Lincoln," says Jim Muckle, vice president of operations and legal affairs. Photos courtesy of the Grand
6 of 6
The three manhole covers that visitors can find along Main Street were created to represent Vrable Pharmacy. The antique bottles are actually from the pharmacy, which was originally located in Worthington and was one of the oldest in Ohio. The pharmacy opened in 1803. The pharmacy's biggest claim to fame? "They filled prescriptions for Abraham Lincoln," says Jim Muckle, vice president of operations and legal affairs. Photos courtesy of the Grand
Some of Dublin’s senior living communities have gone above and beyond to create attractive and unique spaces for their residents. One of the newest and perhaps most extravagant examples is the Grand, located on John Shields Parkway in Dublin’s Bridge Street District.
Al Vrable, CEO of Vrable HealthCare Co. and his wife, Senior Vice President Linda Vrable, are responsible for bringing in many of the Grand’s unique antiques and artifacts. The 133,000 square foot community opened in fall 2015 and includes an indoor town center – “Main Street” – as well as an indoor movie theater, a pharmacy, salon, various physical therapy and rehab centers, a coffee shop, an ice cream parlor and Digger & Finch Grille & Pub, which pays homage to the original pub that was demolished in 2014.
You might not be able to eat here if you're not a resident or a guest at the Grand, but the pub located on the Grand's main street pays homage to the former Dublin eatery Digger & Finch Grille & Pub. In the new space, diners can find tables, chairs, signs and other artifacts from the original pub. There's also a table, which was created at the original T.G.I. Friday's. Only 23 were made at the time, Muckle says. The pub isn't the only place you can find remnants of the popular Scottish eatery. The Grand's library features a mantelpiece from the pub, and the chapel, also along the main street, features stained glass from the pub.
kiddieGRAND International Learning Center
The Grand also strives to reach younger generations through its kiddieGRAND International Learning Center.
“It’s not a typical nursing home,” says Karen Burwell, administrator at kiddieGRAND. “We worked at the socialization aspect of it.”
As well as helping with the welfare of the residents, it also gives the children who attend the daycare a helpful glimpse of what life is like for the residents, and for older adults. At the daycare, the children and residents can engage in card and board games, puzzles, arts, crafts and other bonding activities.
“It’s the circle of life, and the kids get to be a part of that,” Burwell says.
The idea for an intergenerational daycare was born after Al Vrable and Linda Vrable paid a visit to senior living communities with a similar concept.
“It’s great to see (the residents) light up and interact with the kids,” Burwell says. “It’s really bridged the gap, and closed the gap.”
Burwell says the kiddieGRAND helps combat three of the biggest issues older populations face: boredom, loneliness and helplessness.
“It’s really hard to feel that way around kids,” Burwell says.
The kiddieGRAND enrolls children from 18 months to 11 years old, and implements curriculum that abides by the Ohio Learning and Development standards.
Children’s Benefits
Courtesy of the Grand
- Enhanced social skills
- Lower levels of aggressive behavior
- Improved academic performance
- Increased understanding and acceptance of disabilities
- Learn about the aging process
- Respect for older adults
- Compassion
- Increased self-esteem and self-worth
Residents’ Benefits
Courtesy of the Grand
- Improved overall physical and mental health
- Enhanced socialization
- Increased sense of self-worth; serving as a role model
- Decreased agitation with dementia
- Decreased or slowed entrance into long-term living
- An opportunity to spread a wealth of knowledge
Hannah Bealer is an editor. Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.
