Senior Housing and Assisted Living

Ziegler (ZGCO) and Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc. announced last week the successful pricing of the financing for Aberdeen Heights, a new continuing care retirement community (CCRC). The CCRC will be built in Kirkwood, Missouri on a 17.7-acre site currently occupied by buildings that were formerly the site of St. Joseph’s Hospital.  Greystone Communities is acting as the marketer and developer of the project.   As of January 2010, 205 of the 243 independent living units were reserved (over 84% pre-sold) and a total of 16 institutional investors participated in the financing for over $150 million in orders, along with over $20 million in support from Ziegler retail investors.  In addition to independent residential living, Aberdeen Heights’ continuum of care includes 30 assisted living apartments, 15 memory support suites and 38 skilled nursing private rooms, all on campus, to provide services and support for residents, if needed in the future.

Dan Hermann, Senior Managing Director & Head of Ziegler’s Senior Living Finance noted, “The investors were clearly responding positively to the strength of this sponsor and their significant financial commitment to the project, but also to additional unique structures within this deal (Ziegler’s TEMPSM and ARROS debt structures, covenant structure, etc), as well as to the depth of the Kirkwood and surrounding St. Louis County market.”

“Our future residents have clearly indicated by their initial reservation deposits that they want the fulfilling lifestyle and long-term security Aberdeen Heights will give them,” said Bill Ward, president and CEO of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America (PMMA), a not-for-profit corporation with 17 affiliated senior living communities in Missouri and Kansas. “They want a community that is as vibrant and social as they are, but can also provide appropriate services and support in the future if their health or circumstances should change.”

Snowbirds and travelling baby boomers share a common problem with other business people…how do you get portable, Internet access at a reasonable price for a small, travelling group?  Some senior travelers maybe tired of hearing “Honey, can I use the Internet yet?” Many are finding it cumbersome to call the cable company or phone company to start and stop internet service at their 2nd (or 3rd, 4th homes) while others don’t want to pay for 2 broadband PC cards as the individual usage does not warrant the expense.  The solution?  The Novatel Wireless MiFi 220, offered by both Sprint and Verizon, provides internet access for WiFi enabled devices through connections on its broadband network.  The device provides access for up to 5 users and is about the size of a pack of playing cards.  The Novatel Wireless MiFi 2200 has a range of about 30 feet and can be run off of a rechargeable battery or with an AC adapter.

The device is simple to use once its configured and has a simple power on/power off button.  While the device and pricing may not be for everyone, it provides a simple solution for seniors who travel and need to share internet access.  For a mobile husband and wife or group of travelling friends, the MiFi provides an intriguing solution.  Once you try one, you’ll see it’s a great solution for net access for a couple or small group.

Snowbirds are migrating more this year than last according to the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds this winter.  The association cites a stronger economy, moderate fuel prices, an improving stock market, and a strong Canadian dollar.  Equity LifeStyle Properties, a national chain of RV resorts is reporting a 16.5 percent increase in seasonal revenue for fourth quarter of 2009 and first quarter of this year, with noteworthy revenue gains at the following parks:

         o   Cactus Gardens RV Resort, a 430-site resort in Yuma, up 16.5 percent

         o   Foothill West RV Resort, a 188-site resort in Casa Grande, up 26 percent

         o   ViewPoint RV and Golf Resort in Mesa, up 10.5 percent.

“Most RV parks and resorts that cater to snowbirds are reporting higher occupancies this winter than they did last winter,” said Linda Profaizer, president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds in Larkspur, Colorado.

Perhaps the greatest scientific contribution that Canada has made to the entire world is that of the electric wheelchair. Developed by Dr. George Johann Klein in the 1950s, this has been considered as a wonder invention in the field.

The electric wheelchair came as a great relief to the second World War veterans. Thousands of war victims were benefited by it. The electric wheelchair of Dr. Klein underwent many modifications. Today, there are many enhanced variants of it catering to specific customer needs.

Until the coming of the electric wheelchair, the existing chairs catered only to the needs of paraplegic individuals. But Dr. Klein’s invention stands apart in that it can also be used by quadriplegics. The wheelchair had benefited thousands of Second World War veterans and will hence be remembered forever.

The electric wheelchair is controlled by electronic devices operated by computer devices such as joysticks. There are some chairs regulated by puff/sip scanners or chin controls. These devices monitor the speed and direction of the chair as well as make it perform the functional motions and activities including tilting, stretching out, seat elevation and so on and so forth.

The electric wheelchair is regulated by means of joysticks; puff/sip controls or chin controls. Besides controlling the speed, direction and such other parameters, the electric wheelchair can be made to perform the essential functional motions and movements such as tilting and stretching out which would not have been possible otherwise.

But electric wheelchairs are very expensive with the prices ranging between 1000 and 3000 dollars. Advanced models can cost up to 10,000! They may also require constant servicing. However, transporting someone on a non-powered wheelchair can be quite a task, so in cases where the person needs extra help from a motor to move along, an electric powered wheelchair is great to have.

Are you looking for a power wheelchair? If so, head over to the electric power wheelchairs web site. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service