Lexington, KY - In an effort to protect the declining Monarch butterfly population, Morning Pointe of Lexington-East built an official Monarch Butterfly Waystation at the senior living community. The project came about after a simple meeting with the local garden club. “I took the idea back to the residents after learning about how the Monarch butterfly population is dying off due to pesticides, chemicals and more development,” said Sarah Rowe, life enrichment director of the senior living community. “Right away they wanted to help make a difference and be a part of a conservation effort.”

The collaborative project was spearheaded by The Soil Mates Garden Club in Lexington and their leader Nan Starkweather. Morning Pointe learned all about what kind of plants were needed in their enclosed courtyard to create a special habitat for Monarch Butterflies. They bought Black-eyed Susans, Milkweeds and Purple Cone flowers. The members of Soil Mates then got to work planting them. “It was incredible from the start to finish,” said Rowe. A planting work day took place back in June and in late summer, a Monarch Butterfly Waystation dedication ceremony was held. The State President of the Garden Club for Kentucky presented Morning Pointe with an official certificate recognizing their efforts for the creation and maintenance of Monarch Butterfly Waystation #8781. “The residents are so very pleased,” said Brenda Daff, executive director of Morning Pointe of Lexington-East. “Even more seniors are out enjoying the courtyard, there is already more nature, and more birds due to the planting of the waystation. We are just so very excited to be a part of something like this.”

Monarch butterflies fly almost 2,500 miles as they migrate from Mexico to the Northern United States and into Southern Canada. Their migration will begin in October. Already the residents at Morning Pointe of Lexington-East are excited and looking forward to seeing how their butterfly habitat will help grow the Monarch butterfly population at their senior living community and for the greater-Lexington area.

Independent Healthcare Properties, LLC, a Chattanooga, TN - based senior healthcare services company, develops, owns and manages 24 Morning Pointe® Senior Care and The Lantern/Alzheimer’s/Memory Care Center of Excellence communities in five southeastern states. The senior living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities feature craftsman style buildings with spacious apartments. The landscaped campus offers high quality amenities including fine dining areas, life enrichment programs and professional health and wellness services. Innovative and therapeutic programs such as Simple C Companion services, Cuddle Therapy and the Meaningful Day program have been developed by the Morning Pointe team and incorporated into daily activities to ensure the highest quality of care for residents. IHP was founded in 1996 by Tennessee healthcare entrepreneurs, Greg A. Vital and Franklin Farrow. For more information, please visit www.morningpointe.com

Contact:
Amy Clarke
Corporate Communications Director
Independent Healthcare Properties, LLC
(423) 208-9684/(423)504-3537