It’s like a little bit of San Marino in Boyle Heights, and last month, Hollenbeck Palms—a continuing care retirement home in the latter city —even partially assumed a local name when a new skilled nursing center at the facility was christened the Heideman Care Center, in recognition of San Marino resident Bill Heideman.
Hollenbeck’spreviousnursingfacilitywasbuiltintheearly1950sanditwastimeforachange.
“Our patients received exceptional care in our Skilled Nursing Center, but the building really needed to be replaced,” said Heideman. “A major renovation and upgrade was imminent.”
The new building acknowledges Heideman’s service to the community. It took roughly two and a half years to complete, featuring larger rooms and bathrooms that can accommodate walkers and wheelchairs, new nurses’ lounges, and an updated beauty salon.
“Our residents are thrilled with this new addition and we’re delighted to provide it to them,” Heideman said. “We are truly grateful for the very generous and kind donors who supported this project. We could not have done this without them.”
Establishedin1890,HollenbeckPalmsishometoroughly235residents.Hollenbeckoffersindependentandassistedlivingaswellaskillednursingcare.
Bill’smaternalgrandfather,ClarenceHensel,servedasPresidentofHollenbeckfor33years,beginningin1923,atwhichpointBill’sfather,WilliamA.Heidemantookoverthepositionandservedforatotalof46years.
In1972,Billjoinedtheorganization,andwaselevatedtotheroleofpresidentin1986.AllthreemenhavestrongrootsinSanMarino.
AwareoftheincreaseinAlzheimer’sDiseaseanddementiadiagnoses,thenextphaseofHeideman’scampaignistobuilda33-bedmemoryenhancementcentertoservethatpopulationgroup.Bytheyear2025,thenumberofpeopleage65andolderwithAlzheimer’sDiseaseisestimatedtoreach7.1million.
“Wemustbereadytomeettheneedsofthisvulnerablepopulationgroup,”Heidemansaid.
To debut the new building, Hollenbeck hosted an unveiling that included the board of trustees, Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar, donors, friends and Hollenbeck residents.
Bill Heideman grew up in San Marino and graduated from SMHS in 1968. Heather and Maren, Peggy & Bill’s daughters, graduated from San Marino High School in 1996 and 1999, respectively.
