She began her career in a small country school in 1949 and taught for just a few years until she married. When her children got older, Anna Mae Witt became a school teacher in New Prague, and is known widely for her dedication, patience and the love she shared with students. When Praha Village opened its doors to seniors in the community in January, 2019, Anna Mae became one of its earliest residents. Now, she graciously welcomes new residents and neighbors to the community.
Anna Mae is just one example of the kind of welcome residents and families can expect at Praha Village, which invited the public to its grand opening Thursday, June 13 at 1100 1st Street SE in New Prague.
You can read an excerpt in the New Prague Times about the opening here.
Another article excerpt about opening day at Praha Village may be found here.
A third article features life at Praha Village and may be read in its entirety here: “GALLERY: Praha Village residents feel at home since January opening”
Praha Village includes a variety of apartments: 23 for independent living, 16 for memory care and 52 for assisted living. Twenty percent of the apartments have been set aside for those whose income qualifies, and a portion of those apartments accept Elderly Waiver. Residents can enjoy a creative arts room, large community room, a maker’s studio for those who like working with their hands, hair salon/barber shop, fitness center and much more.
Praha Village was developed by Makado, with care and services provided by Cassia, an Augustana – Elim Care affiliate. The community is focused on whole-person wellness that includes a broad range of housing options, as well as multiple life-enriching programs and activities. Based on feedback received from numerous focus groups, the name Praha Village was selected because Praha is one of the original names of New Prague. Village represents a small community or group of houses, evoking a sense of belonging.
“Our goal is always to be of the communities we develop and as such we felt it was very important to listen closely and with humility to understand the people and essence of New Prague,” says Makado owner Mark Appelbaum. “We learned a lot of subtleties and nuances through the listening process, heard valuable insights, and gained an even deeper appreciation for the people of New Prague,” he adds.
Visitors will discover numerous details that enhance residents’ lifestyles, including the availability of generated outlets in each bedroom in case of power outages; washers and dryers in each independent and assisted living apartment; heated parking garage; distinctive way-find lighting in each apartment; innovative use of color and increased fire-safety standards. Praha Village also offers delicious, restaurant-style dining featuring local chef Kris Hunt, and a van dedicated solely to transporting residents for scheduled shopping and group excursions, planned by the activities director.
“I love this place,” says Anna Mae, who sees her new community with a teacher’s careful eyes. “Music, singing, colors—all are designed to bring joy. The staff is sweet and attentive and there is always something to do. It’s also great to live in a place where you don’t have to maintain a home. That gets to be too much as you get older.”
To learn more, visit www.prahavillage.com or for more information about the grand opening, call Susan at 952-855-8855.
About Makado
Makado creates living environments primarily focused on seniors and designed to have a strong sense of place within the fabric of the local community. This is accomplished through the building design process and by working closely with the local community. The goal of every Makado community is to be the place where people can live vibrant, meaningful lives with dignity and peace of mind.
About Cassia
Cassia’s mission is to foster fullness of life for older adults in the spirit of Christ’s love. In 2018, Augustana Care and Elim Care voluntarily joined together to form Cassia, reinforcing both organizations’ missions. With over 200 years of combined Christian ministry, the affiliation augments our service to people of all faiths by strengthening our focus on resident, patient and client care. The name “Cassia” (‘KAS e– uh) was inspired by an anointing oil made from the bark of the Cassia tree and is said to symbolize the heart of a servant. Cassia provides independent and assisted living communities, memory care, skilled nursing care centers, short-term rehabilitation centers, adult day programs and a variety of community-based services for older adults across five states.
