Though Lake Prince opened its assisted living facility on Nov. 1, nursing director Dawn Pope and her staff had been working at the King’s Fork Road retirement community for months beforehand.

&uot;I’ve been here since July,&uot; Pope said in her office in the health center. &uot;My work includes hiring and supervising nurses, working in patient care, developing plans for the center, everything.&uot;

For 10 years Pope did the same work at the Southampton Memorial Hospital in Franklin where she resides. Lake Prince offered her the same work on a smaller scale.

&uot;A center like Lake Prince has only 40 beds, so it’s ideal for me to have contact with the residents,&uot; she said. &uot;Most of the time in a larger hospital, you’re so drowned by paperwork, meeting regulations, making sure everyone’s doing what they need to do, and you don’t have time to sit down and talk to the patients. I can feed them, speak to them, make sure that they’re all doing fine. Last week, I actually put a stethoscope around my neck for the first time in six years.&uot;

A registered nurse, Pope earned a bachelor’s degree from Richmond’s Medical College of Virginia. A few years from now, another female Pope might attend that school.

&uot;My daughter Laurel wants to be a pediatrician,&uot; Pope said of her 10-year-old. &uot;She’s got a big heart, and she loves small children and taking care of people.&uot;

The center, which will open in phases for the remainder of the year, will offer apartments, physical and occupational therapy, respite care, a wellness clinic, and memory care services, which cater to those with Alzheimer’s disease or other memory impairments. So far, 95 percent of the apartments and cottages are reserved, and a waiting list is growing. Currently, residents are being accepted into assisted living, memory care, and nursing care.

Mattie Womble was the center’s first resident.

&uot;I lived in Suffolk for over 50 years, and I wanted to come back and be close to my children and grandchildren,&uot; said Womble. &uot;I remember when my husband, my children and I used to fish at Lake Prince.&uot;

Hunger hasn’t been a problem at Lake Prince.

&uot;The food here isn’t like nursing home food,&uot; she said with a laugh. &uot;We had prime rib for lunch today, and there’s always things like pies and cakes for dessert.&uot;

It’s not easy adjusting to a new facility, but Womble has had a great deal of help.

&uot;I’ve had exceptionally good attention. I’ve been active for so many years that I tire easily, but all I have to do is ring a bell, and they come in and help me.&uot;