History of El Dorado Vista

The idea that has evolved into El Dorado Vista had its origin in the heart of one clear-eyed woman - Corana LaJoie. It was she who in 1964 first recognized the need for a place where Christian Scientists could be cared for while they worked out a problem in accordance with their religious convictions instead of being forced into medical situations. Out of her desire to fulfill this need, Miss LaJoie began taking guests into her small apartment on McDowell Road in Phoenix. By November 1965 she had expanded her work to three nursing bedrooms and a room for rest and study, in addition to a beautiful living room and an immaculate kitchen. She called this outward expression of her love and vision Upward View.

At about the same time, thirty Christian Scientists came two by two from churches all over the valley to meet and discuss the possibilities of a nursing home. They were unaware of what Miss LaJoie was doing, and so formed a group dedicated to the establishment of a place where Christian Scientists could go to work out their problems. Then in 1966, through the efforts of the Committee on Publication for the State of Arizona, Miss LaJoie and representatives of the nursing home group met to discuss their mutual interests. This resulted in the group giving Miss LaJoie all the assistance needed to carry out her work.

Photo above: nearby Camelback Mountain. Photo by Ann Finster

New Views Foundation was incorporated and efforts began to find a suitable building in which to create a layout, which would meet the standards of the Department of Care of The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Massachusetts, which inspected and recognized Christian Science nursing facilities. Eventually the answer came in a one-story, u-shaped apartment house owned by Ninette and Al Tarrington on 17th Street in Phoenix. The Foundation purchased it and converted it to a nursing home. On January 29, 1968, Upward View was ready to open its warm and loving arms to those who needed its tender ministrations.

In 1974, with increased activity and the proper staffing, Upward View was accredited as a Sanatorium by the Department of Care of The Mother Church, with outpatient facilities, visiting nurse service and room for sheltered patients as well as those needing constant nursing.

In 1975, the property to the rear of Upward View on 17th St. was purchased with the idea of "some day" enlarging or expanding. In 1978, a feasibility study was conducted and concluded that the present facility was unsuitable for skilled nursing. A proposal was approved to construct a new nursing facility on the rear of the property and remodel the old nursing area for additional sheltered care. Architectural plans were partially developed and a proposed limited partnership for fund raising was considered.

After prayerful thought, the Board formed a building committee in early 1980 to look at other possible sites for a new facility. The Board purchased 8.75 acres on Baseline Road and 36th St. Procedures for rezoning began. At the same time, The Mother Church was emphasizing Visiting Nurse and Home Aide programs, saying that facilities should be strictly for bed nursing. A projected population study showed the need for 6 Intensive Care beds, 14 Supportive Care beds and 18 beds for Sheltered Care.

In late 1980, a Development Advisory committee surveyed the Field and recommended a new facility at a cost of $2.5 million to be built on the Baseline Road property. Difficulty ensued with rezoning due to the philosophy of the Phoenix Planning Department. By 1982, the Board voted to establish a new nursing facility on the rear of the 17th St. property. However, with a possible offer from someone to purchase this property, a renewed emphasis was put on trying to rezone the Baseline Road property.

About this time a study of the readiness of the community support was completed with very positive results. Efforts were made through 1983-85 to get the Baseline Road property rezoned without success. The Board put its efforts back into planning for construction of the 17th St. property and put the Baseline property up for sale. Plans for a two-story facility began.

During this time two separate corporations were formed because of The Mother Church requirements for the separation of fund raising activities from the operation of a nursing facility. New Views Foundation continued as the major fund raising arm of the nursing facility and Upward Views Corporation was formed to conduct the operation of the nursing facility itself. The two Boards worked together for the benefit of nursing activities, As building plans were being finalized, the Upward View Board decided to put a hold on building as The Mother Church was coming out with different directions that put great emphasis on home care and The Manual provisions for Christian Science nursing.

In 1989, with a change in The Mother Church requirements, it was decided to merge the two separate boards back into one. This resulted in one corporation, one facility, and one board with the name of El Dorado Vista. Along with this came the commitment to move ahead with the much-needed building project. The building on 17th St. had been in service as a nursing facility for over 25 years. Before that it was in use as an apartment complex. It had served well, but it was inefficient, shabby, dark and worn out. It desperately needed an entire new roof, new electrical and plumbing systems and more.

After a selection process of several architects, Terry Sewell of O.B.A. was chosen in late 1990. A potential contractor, Wagner Construction was also engaged at that time to work with the board, the staff and the architect on developing the most efficient and cost effective structure. The board also decided on a one-story structure.

In 1991, plans were complete, permits obtained and building began on Phase I of a three-phase building plan. Phase I consisted of the main nursing floor, with 12 nursing rooms, an outpatient room, Superintendentí office, a large commercial kitchen capable of serving 100 meals a day, a dining room, a nursesí kitchen/locker room, a nursesí training room, a beauty parlor, a library, a small and a large conference room (the latter to serve as a Board Room), Administratorís office, accounting office, receptionist area and lobby.

Phase I was completed and in full utilization in the fall of 1992, and two wings of the old apartment building, which was in front of the new structure were demolished. One old building remained with sheltered care patients. In 1995, Phase II, which was a south wing with six rooms and a living room for lighter care patients, began construction with a new contractor, Caliber Construction. When it was completed the last of the old buildings was demolished. In December 1996, Caliber Construction completed Phase III, which consisted of two Rest and Study Rooms w/bathrooms in a separate ìcasita-styleî building and an adjacent building with a large multipurpose room with menís and womenís restrooms, a storage room and an office for the plant manager.

In 1991, the Department of Care of The Mother Church decided to phase out its involvement with training for Christian Science nurses and Christian Science nursing facilities. Through the early 1990s, many special meetings were held in different parts of the country with The Mother Church representatives and nursing facilities representatives. A group was slowly developed and named Association of Organizations for Christian Science Nursing with a membership made of the Christian Science nursing facilities in the United States, Canada and England. AOCSN works with The Commission for Accreditation of Nursing Organizations/Facilities for Christian Scientists, Inc. The Commission, headed by an Executive Director, is responsible for accrediting nursing facilities according to an agreed set of standards.

One serious issue during this time was called the ìbright-lineî issue. For the first five years of the Commission, The Mother Church was helping support its work with a trust fund. (The rest of The Commission funding is done by an annual assessment of each facility based on the previous year's bed use.) The nursing department of The Mother Church felt strongly that C.S. nursing facilities should only exist for "quick and whole healing." Facilities would serve as Christian Science ìhospitalsî where patients would be admitted for a short healing stay. There would be no ìlong termî or ìsheltered careî patients in an accredited Christian Science facility.

This ruling caused significant rearranging in many Christian Science nursing facilities. In Arizona the field had just contributed $1.5 million to reconstruct El Dorado Vista. Many of these supporters were very upset about the bright line issue. Contributions and patient use dropped noticeably. However, through the late 1990s many facilities, including El Dorado Vista, began a trend back toward providing care for patients with no limit on the healing time. It seems to meet the need of our field to help advanced Christian Scientists who are working with a Christian Science practitioner to overcome stubborn challenges of aging. At this writing, El Dorado Vista cares for both types of patients and has seen a notable increase in opportunities to serve. El Dorado Vista received a 3-year accreditation from The Commission in October 1998.

Today, El Dorado Vista serves a region consisting of Arizona, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico and West Texas.