The Lodge at Ives Hill, 1201 Jewell Drive, will be able to accept residents next week.

Kerry A. Roberge, president of Ives Hill Retirement Community, said the facility’s certificate of occupancy was approved recently by state Department of Health officials, a month after Mr. Roberge aimed to open the 18-unit enriched-living facility.

“This is a significant hole that’s been plugged for our community, and for people who get left behind in the middle class,” he said Thursday. “I think it’s a great complement to what Samaritan is doing.”

On outer Washington Street at Washington Summit, Samaritan Medical Center is constructing a 288-bed assisted-living and skilled-nursing facility. Mr. Roberge said he has waited two decades to see a solid care plan for the aging population of Jefferson County come together.

The Lodge’s 13,721-square-foot building offers 10 studio units and eight one-bedroom units. Each is equipped with a small dining area, living space, a bathroom and a small kitchen area complete with countertops, a sink, a microwave and an apartment-size refrigerator.

Residents of the building will have common dining and living room areas as well.

Other amenities include a hair salon and an activities room that leads to an outdoor patio with a retractable screen.

Mr. Roberge said the center does not accept Medicaid or Medicare. Each unit will cost about $4,000 to $5,000 per month, and will be self-pay.

Brown, beige and blue hues decorate the common areas, personal units and staff work areas. Mr. Roberge said the project was designed with a home-like setting in mind.

“I think everyone worked together well, and we used a lot of local trade,” he said. “The front counter was built from a craftsman in Lowville. There was a lot of interest there from subcontractors.”

Purcell Construction Corp. is the project’s general contractor, and GYMO Architecture, Engineering & Land Surveying is the architectural and engineering firm. Both groups are based in Watertown.

Paula J. Edwards has been named the facility administrator and Dr. Chris Black is the medical director.

People who live in the facility, Mr. Roberge said, should be ambulatory, but the building will be staffed 24 hours a day. A staff of 22 people, including full-time, part-time and per diem workers, will help with the preparation of three daily meals and give assistance with mobility, bathing, dressing, grooming and administering medication.

Ms. Edwards said some exits and all resident rooms are equipped with an emergency alert system in case problems occur. Once an alarm goes off, a page is sent directly to a nurse to quicken response time.

Visitors will be allowed at the Lodge from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Residents also will have an opportunity to participate in a residents’ council, to offer input on activities and other functions.

Ms. Edwards said the facility already has three residents who will move in next week.

Financing for the $3.5 million project is through Watertown Savings Bank, the Watertown Local Development Corp., the Jefferson County Industrial Development Association and the Development Authority of the North Country. Grants of $100,000 each from the Northern New York Community Foundation and the Henry Keep Home brought the Lodge close to its $350,000 community campaign.

With smaller donations here and there, Mr. Roberge said, the Lodge is well on its way to completing that campaign, but donations still are being accepted. To donate, call 681-4038 for more information.

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