Senior Housing and Assisted Living

Many older people or those living with disabilities may not have a close relative or friend that can provide daily care for them when the time comes. This is sad but true. Others have those types of loved ones but they are unable to provide the care for different reasons such as lack of the proper facilities or budget. When this realization comes it can be extremely difficult for both parties. Fortunately, assisted living facilities may provide a solution to these problems. A place where people can receive care and still remain independent and social.

Being unable to conduct activities of daily life (ADLs) is a an issue that afflicts millions of people. This is usually most prominent in the elderly but may also include those with disabilities. These kinds of facilities can offer the supervision or assistance with all the ADL’s that a person may need help with. Activities such as eating, bathing, taking medication and dressing are the most prominent.

In most cases a person who resides in these establishment requires help in at least three ADLs. These are people who do not require the intensive amount of care that could be present in a nursing home and requires a more social environment to be comfortable.

By the numbers, most ALF residents are just under 87 years old and will stay in the facility for an average of 28.6 year until they are deceased. Women outnumber men in these residences by a three to one margin. Most residents are widowed while some may still have spouses and significant others still living.

One of the largest advantages is that of the social environment that these residences provide. Large common areas are available for eating with others and this helps to mitigate the loneliness many elders feel. This is a primary difference between ALFs and intensive care units where patients are kept bedridden and hooked up to monitoring devices most of or all the day.

Full meals, three times a day are prepared fresh each time by trained kitchen staff so that the residents need not worry about it themselves. The meals are served in the communal dining area where conversation and interactions can take place between the different groups of residents.

The newer ALFs provide their residents with an apartment style home that is all theirs. This allows the person to retain some dignity, independence, and privacy while not having to worry about most ADLs. Bedding is changed, trash is removed and meals are provided. There are no monitoring devices to keep people in their rooms in most cases and many can enjoy a normal life but with the help they require.

Mentally ill individuals such as those with dementia and Alzheimer’s may also take advantage of the services provided by Assisted Living New York facilities. Other types of people with mental needs may also qualify for residence in ALF’s as long as they do not pose a danger to themselves or others.

Florida assisted living and California assisted living facilities are each popular for family members who no longer can live independently. The range of prices and programs will make this an attractive option for seniors.

Lancaster Pollard recently announced the closing on an $11.7 million financing to build a 63-unit assisted living facility at Tabitha Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Lincoln, Neb. Tabitha is the first nonprofit to finance new construction under the streamlined HUD LEAN processing system of the Federal Housing Administration’s Section 232 mortgage insurance program for senior living and care providers. Only five such new construction projects have been completed via LEAN processing nationwide.

Tabitha was founded in 1886 and delivers a comprehensive system of rural and urban health care to seniors in a 29-county area of southeast Nebraska. The new facility will be financed with a taxable loan insured by the FHA Section 232 program. It will offer 63 units of memory care and assisted living along with an underground parking garage. This project is part of Tabitha’s larger master plan. As part of the structuring, Lancaster Pollard suggested that smaller projects, including the acquisition of a nearby assisted living facility, nursing home renovations and new Green House construction, be financed with tax-exempt bonds underwritten by Smith Hayes, a local broker-dealer.

“Financing the assisted living facility with FHA mortgage insurance protects Tabitha’s overall credit profile because the debt is non-recourse to the community organization,” said Quintin Harris, Lancaster Pollard vice president, who was the lead banker on the transaction. “As such, Tabitha simultaneously funded other projects working with local investors, keeping community involvement in the project. Further, we estimate that Tabitha will save over $300,000 annually using a FHA-insured funding strategy as compared to a traditional fixed-rate bond issue.” The interest rate on the debt is fixed for the life of the 40-year term.

Health Dimensions Group (HDG) recently acquired St. Paul-based Health Service Innovations (HSI) to expand HDG’s presence in the senior-living and post-acute healthcare market.  The acquisition broadens its scope of services and now manages and operates 27 health care properties. For more than a decade, HSI has provided high-level management and consulting solutions to nursing homes, assisted- and independent-living facilities.  Founder/President/CEO Tim Meyer will now serve as HDG senior vice president of business development and direct HDG’s diversified business growth strategies.

“Our new alliance makes sense for our organizations and our customers,” said HDG Chief Executive Officer Craig Abbott. “Both HDG and HSI have established a history of delivering market-leading, innovative solutions that enhance our customers’ business processes and improve their financial standing, giving them a solid, strategic advantage in today’s competitive healthcare services marketplace.”

Abingdon at Tradition, an all-inclusive, luxury retirement community in Port St. Lucie, Florida that opened its doors in December 2009, celebrated its grand opening last week.  For the first time since its ground-breaking ceremony, the retirement community located in the master-planned town of Tradition showcased all of its offerings – from freshly constructed cottages and villas to the multimillion dollar wellness center and The Retreat, which offers person-centered amenities for members who need assisted living or memory care.

More than 500 guests listened to speeches from Mayor Patricia Christensen, former Florida House Representative Gayle Harrell and Abingdon’s Executive Director Jonathan Collins. Former House Representative Dennis Baxley, Port St. Lucie mayoral candidate Frank Lillo and representatives from the Port St. Lucie Chamber of Commerce were also on hand to celebrate the opening.

Willow Towers, a not-for-profit luxury Assisted Living Residence in New Rochelle, New York, and part of the United Hebrew of New Rochelle’s campus of senior services, announced the receipt of the new Assisted Living Residence (ALR) licensure, with dual certification for Enhanced Assisted Living Residence (EALR) and Special Needs Assisted Living Residence (SNALR) by the New York State Department of Health. The new accreditations were developed to strengthen the standards of caring for older adults in a senior residence. A licensed facility in New York provides clients with clear parameters for admission and retention and allows a family to advocate through clearly defined channels through the New York State Department of Health.  Willow Towers features a two-story glass atrium and dazzling views of the Long Island Sound. Opened in 2003, the not-for-profit community located in New Rochelle offers 126 apartments, from studios to 2 bedroom suites — 20 of which are in Willow Towers’ Phoenix Memory Support Neighborhood, now a licensed SNALR.

Lisa Newcomb, Executive Director of the not-for-profit Empire State Association of Assisted Living (ESAAL), which is dedicated to strengthening New York State’s assisted living industry and promoting the best interests of providers and residents, points out that “licensing is an important form of protection for consumers, and we congratulate Willow Towers staff for all the hard work they did to get this enhanced new licensing and certification.”

“This licensure will allow our residents to age in place and continue to be a part of our vibrant community,” said Rita Mabli, President and CEO of United Hebrew of New Rochelle, the flagship organization of Willow Towers. “We are so very proud of our enhanced status.” said Jean Dunphy, Executive Director of Willow Towers, “This licensure underscores our daily efforts and moral obligation to bring the best standards and expanded care to our residents.”

Horizon Bay Retirement Living recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for Isle at Watercrest, the full service, assisted living and skilled nursing community of Watercrest at Bryan. Set to open in early 2011, Isle at Watercrest will serve the needs of families in and around the Bryan-College Station area. Isle at Watercrest will be managed by Horizon Bay, a national seniors housing operator based in Tampa, Fla. Developed by South Bay Partners with construction by Integrated Real Estate Group, this new community joins 23 other Horizon Bay communities in the state of Texas, and will serve 36 skilled nursing residents and 57 assisted living residents.  The community is located near the Hudson Creek Alzheimer’s Special Care Center and in the Park Hudson, a master-planned community of newer residences, medical offices and other important services. Over the course of construction, Isle at Watercrest will employ 300-400 local construction workers.

“We are truly excited to bring this new and distinctive assisted living and skilled nursing community to the Bryan-College Station area,” says Stephen Benjamin, President & COO of Horizon Bay Retirement Living. “We look forward to providing high quality services to the seniors and families of this great community for many years to come.”

Promenade Senior Living recently announced the acquisition of the senior residence in Tuxedo, New York, which will now be known as The Promenade at Tuxedo Place. This senior living community, located in the historic town of Tuxedo and expands Promenade Senior Living’s presence into Orange County. The Promenade at Tuxedo Place consists of 90,000 square feet with 44 units of independent living and 56 units of assisted living.  Promenade Senior Living LLC, headquartered in Pearl River, New York, is a family owned and professionally operated senior living, development, acquisition and Management Company that provides seniors with residential housing alternatives in Rockland and Orange Counties.

“We are delighted to welcome the Tuxedo Place residents and staff into the Promenade family,” said Steven Laufer, the President of Promenade Senior Living, “Tuxedo Place is a wonderful senior residence, and we are looking forward to working in the Tuxedo community, offering valuable residential options and services for seniors”.

Vigilan, provider of software for senior living, recently announced 10 new continuing education courses for assisted living community administrators for licensing requirements in 16 states.  The curriculum includes courses on managing client and residential services, human resources, leadership and governance, physical environment, and finances.  Available through Provider Management Educations Services, the courses are approved by the National Association of Boards of Examiners of Long Term Care Administrators (NAB), endorsed by ACHCA (American College of Health Care Administrators) and recommended by NCAL (National Center for Assisted Living).  Participants earn 10 continuing education credits per training course.

“Continuing education is critical in order to stay up-to-speed on the atest methods and regulations, so we have created a range of curriculum for administrators to remain responsible, innovative, and responsive,” said Doug Fullaway, president and COO of Vigilan. “We work with hundreds of assisted living communities and know what is required to provide the best, quality care.  By helping facilities streamline their operations and finances, making them more efficient and ethically responsible, facilities can put their primary focus on the people.”

For more details, visit http://www.vigilan.com

AgeSong celebrated the opening of Bayside Park, the company’s newest assisted-living senior communities in Emeryville, California last week.  The five-story 116,366 square-foot residential complex offers independent and assisted-living apartments for senior adults and is AgeSong’s fifth community for elders in the Bay Area.

Bayside Park features 125 studio and one-bedroom apartments within walking distance of Emeryville’s vibrant retail and entertainment district and with easy access to public transportation. In addition to the independent living program, AgeSong at Bayside Park offers five levels of care and specialized programs that include expressive arts, hospice care, assisted living and medication management support, forgetfulness (Alzheimer’s/Dementia) care, gero-wellness, respite care and hospice support.  It was designed by Kava Massih Architects, Berkeley, Calif., and built by James E. Roberts-Obayashi Corp., Danville, Calif.

“AgeSong’s nationally recognized approach to building design and programming is reflected throughout the building and redefines the concept of “eldership” with architecture and landscaping that affirm the residents’ dignity and wisdom,” said Massih.

“Our goal in developing this unique living environment is to transform attitudes toward aging and focus not only on the physical needs of elders, but on their emotional and spiritual needs as well,” said Nader Shabahangi, PhD, CEO of AgeSong. “By integrating elders in the community, offering them therapeutic expressive arts activities and providing care in an environment that helps residents feel safe, Bayside Park offers a unique model of care that allows elders to enjoy a vibrant life.”

Atria Senior Living Group recently announced plans to renovate two of its California independent and assisted living facilities to supply its residents a more comfortable and updated decor.  Atria Valley View is announcing plans for a multi-million dollar redevelopment project that will yield a completely redesigned living space featuring several new amenities and major aesthetic upgrades to the community’s interior and exterior.  All common areas will be redesigned with new furniture, fixtures and carpeting.  After the renovation is complete, Atria Valley View will represent one of the only Walnut Creek and Contra Costa County senior living communities positioned to seek LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The plans to renovate Atria Hacienda, a local independent and assisted living community are set to begin in February 2010. This is the final phase of an upgrade project aimed at creating an updated, more comfortable community with state-of-the-art amenities. A new Life Guidance® memory care neighborhood for residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias was added to the community in October.  A grand reopening event will be scheduled when the renovation is complete in late summer 2010.

Before	After

Courtesy of Atria Senior Living

“These changes reflect what we are all about at Atria, and that is providing the best care and service possible in the most comfortable and pleasant surroundings,” said Jennifer Turgeon, Executive Director at Atria Hacienda. “These renovations will not just change our look; our community will be enhanced with fabulous amenities our residents will really enjoy.”