About 40 hospital officials and former Andrews Housing Authority Board members gathered just south of Permian Regional Medical Center Thursday afternoon to break ground on the hospital’s senior assisted living project.  Officials used golden spray-painted shovels to throw dirt on the property across Hospital Dr. that served as the former site of an old nursing home that was demolished last year to eventually make room for the senior assisted living project.  PRMC Chief Executive Officer Randy Richards said hospital officials have been considering the feasibility of a senior assisted living complex the past 10 years.  Along with the hospital and adjoining Permian Residential Care Center, Permian Place, as it will be known, is another piece of the “complete wellness and healthcare” services provided by PRMC, Richards said.  The hospital board recently approved a bid from Trinity Hughes Construction of Wichita Falls for about $1.7 million to begin construction of two duplex units, a community building, walking path,

putting green, fountain and the overall site work associated with the project.  Those area seniors who perhaps can’t live by themselves at home but want to remain independent from a nursing home will benefit from the assisted living complex, officials said.  Richards said Trinity Hughes plans to begin work on the project in the near future and hope to have two duplexes constructed this fall.  The senior complex, when completed, will include eight duplexes consisting of two apartments each, officials said.  The 1,100-square-foot apartments will feature two bedrooms and a garage and be constructed of high-grade material and finishing, including heating and air conditioning, ceramic tile floors, nine-foot ceilings, ceiling fans and French doors leading to private covered patios.  Site features will include landscaping, a walking path around the entire perimeter, a fountain and a community building consisting of a shuffle board area, lounge, kitchenette, restrooms and other amenities.  Along with the living arrangements, residents will have personal life-line callers linked to the emergency room through a voice activation sensor.  ER staff will be available if needed, or in other less urgent cases, can send home health personnel to see about the situation.  At Thursday’s ground-breaking ceremony, Richards praised the efforts of the Andrews Housing Authority Board members in securing $360,000 of remaining funds from the agency toward the senior assisted living complex project.  Richards especially had high praise for the late Jerry Lynch’s efforts with that funding.