(CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA) — At the April 8 Citrus Heights City Council meeting, residents and community leaders used the public comment period to shine a spotlight on pressing healthcare needs and the importance of local support groups, underscoring the city’s ongoing commitment to community well-being.
One of the evening’s most passionate appeals came from Zeena Khan, Director of Health Care Services, who urged the council to support the opening of the Shadowbrook healthcare facility, located at 5915 Dewey Drive, just outside the Citrus Heights city limits. Despite the building’s completion and maintained grounds, the facility has remained closed for years due to ongoing delays in state licensing and occupancy approvals.
Khan described the urgent need for transitional care in the region, sharing her firsthand experience as a nurse and administrator.
“At my core I am a nurse and I want to share what I have seen more times I can count. The patient is ready to leave the hospital and made it through the hardest part and instead of moving forward they wait days. Not because they aren't ready, because there isn't a place for them to go,” Khan explained. She emphasized that Shadow Brook was designed to fill this gap, serving families and hospitals throughout the area.
“Shadow Brook would bring 140 jobs to the community, support our local hospitals and become an important health care research for the community. And this evening I am asking for a letter from the council to help us open the doors. This isn't just about a building, [it’s about] creating a place where our community can heal. Your support can turn a building into a place for healing for the community,” Khan said, calling on city leaders to advocate for a timely review and licensing from state health authorities.
OpGov.news reports council members responded with interest, discussing the possibility of sending a formal letter of support to state agencies to help expedite the facility’s opening.
The meeting also featured an uplifting announcement from longtime resident Elena Thompson, who revealed the relaunch of the Citrus Heights Low Vision Support Group. Thompson, who has lived in the city since 2015, recounted the challenges faced by seniors and those with visual impairments, especially during the pandemic when the original group was forced to disband.
“I’m very, very, very happy to announce that we will be having our first meeting of the Citrus Heights Low Vision Support Group. And, it will be held this coming Tuesday at 2 o’clock. At the Sylvan Oaks Library,” Thompson said, inviting residents to join and help spread the word. She expressed gratitude to the library for providing a welcoming space and encouraged anyone interested in volunteering to assist with setup and outreach.
“Our visually impaired population is hard to reach because you can put up all the fliers in the world and they’re not going to see them. And you can put it in the Messenger, and they are not going to read it. So, we really depend on all of you to help disseminate the information about this group,” Thompson explained, highlighting the need for community involvement.
OpGov.news reports both comments reflected the diverse needs of Citrus Heights residents and the vital role of local organizations in fostering health, inclusion, and support. As the city continues to grow, council members reiterated their commitment to listening to public concerns and working collaboratively to address them.
Story image is of Zeena Khan, speaking at the Citrus Heights City Council meeting, regarding Shadowbrook. Credit: Metro Cable 14 YouTube video.
Submit Citrus Heights tips and story ideas to Sarah Denos at sarahkdenos@gmail.com.
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