By Kathy Chouteau
The Center for Elders’ Independence (CEI) will celebrate a groundbreaking on a new facility Fri., Nov. 3 from 10:30 a.m. to noon in El Sobrante along with local political leaders.
CEI serves the rapidly burgeoning population of West Contra Costa County older residents via medical and social services nearby their homes.
CEI’s West County campus, currently under construction, is set to come in at more than 19,000 sq. ft. when completed and will feature six clinical exam rooms with a lab draw area. It will be located at 3645 San Pablo Dam Rd. in El Sobrante and is expected to swing open its doors in the summer of 2024.
Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia and Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez are among those expected to speak at the event.
CEO Maria Zamora said the state’s senior population is growing rapidly and the same is true of West County.
“CEI has always stood for access to affordable, comprehensive social services and medical care for all seniors” and the location of the new center will meet the growing needs of the community,” she said.
According to CEI, Contra Costa County’s population among residents over age 80 will skyrocket by 485 percent by 2060. The more than 18,000 seniors using Medi-Cal in West County currently have minimal options and travel is often required to access multiple services.
Other features of the new center include a sizable clinical team area, behavioral health room and a private observation room, as well as social and activity centers, a dining room, library, computer lab, personal care area, serving kitchen and an outdoor patio. A spacious senior rehabilitation gym will also be part of the equation, complete with exercise equipment, a treatment room and a mock apartment for occupational therapy sessions.
CEI expects to create approximately 40 new jobs at the new location, including nurses, physicians, rehabilitation therapists, drivers, home care aides, social workers, activity specialists, and personal care assistants.
For more info re: CEI, click here or call (844) 319-1150.
