Senior Housing and Assisted Living

National HealthCare Corporation (NYSE-Amex: NHC); (NYSE-Amex: NHC.PRA) announced the recent opening of The Palmettos of Mauldin, a 45 unit assisted living community in Mauldin, South Carolina near Greenville.  The Palmettos will have 27 apartments in the assisted living wing and another 18 in the memory care wing that is adjacent to NHC Mauldin, a 180 bed skilled care facility, and expands NHC’s residential care in South Carolina to over 2,100 beds in 15 locations, along with 4 homecare offices and 7 hospice locations.

“The Palmetto’s location alongside the therapy and rehabilitation programs of NHC Mauldin will allow residents the freedom to remain in their apartments while receiving temporary care next door,” according to NHC President Steve Flatt. “This is also a strategic location because it can serve the Fountain Inn, Simpsonville and Greenville, South Carolina markets.”

A cat with a sixth sense…about those who are about to depart?  Sounds unbelievable, right?  The book "Making Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat", written by Dr. David Dosa, chronicles the interactions of Oscar and the residents of a Rhode Island nursing Home.  Oscar has accurately predicted almost 50 deaths over a five year period causing nursing home staff to pay attention to Oscar’s visits.  The stories outline some patient stories but more often than not, Oscar leaps into bed with the patient and purrs, giving companionship in the patient’s last moments before they depart.

Dr. David Dosa is the author and geriatrician that cares for patients suffering late stage dementia and began observing Oscar with the skeptical eye.  Over the course of time, Dr. Dosa observed that Oscar’s ability was always right.  The book provides some anecdotal scientific explanation as to the possibilities that give

The book is touching and engaging both for cat lovers and those in the senior care industry.  The book is well-written, compassionate and an easy read; keep an handkerchief handy as its a tear jerker.  Good gift idea for those who like to read and have loved ones or those who care for those with dementia.

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.”

Summit Hills, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Spartanburg, South Carolina, was recently recognized by the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) for its role in piloting an innovative, aquatics-based therapy program called WAVES to members suffering from memory loss.   WAVES program, developed by Summit Hills’ parent company Senior Living Communities, combines low-impact aerobics with the therapeutic benefits of warm water to reduce agitation, increase appetite and improve sleeping patterns for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. 

“Tonya Ray, our wellness coordinator and Kelly Ivey, our director of member services, have worked diligently to train staff and implement this program for our members,” Summit Hills Executive Director Amy Thomas said.  “This award aligns our name and the larger Senior Living Communities’ brand with industry leaders who are working to change the landscape of health care across the nation … it’s a huge honor.”

Carnegie Mellon University researchers in the Quality of Life Technology Center (QoLTC) recently announced a study that will embed wireless sensors in the residences of about 50 older adults who live alone to see if they can detect subtle changes in everyday activities that indicate the onset of dementia or physical infirmities. The project hopes to demonstrate that simple, unobtrusive sensors in residences can alert medical professionals when a person begins to lose physical or mental abilities.

The research team is one of five nationwide selected by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to explore how observations of daily living (ODLs) — what people eat, how they sleep, their mood, how their medications makes them feel and other factors — can be captured, interpreted and integrated into clinical care. Each team is receiving a $480,000 grant for the two-year project. Project teams will then work with patients with complex chronic conditions to capture and interpret ODLs while establishing a relationship with a physician practice to share information. Over the 12 months, clinicians will care for 30-50 patients who are actively monitoring ODLs and assess the value of including the ODLs in their real-world care processes.

In addition, the program provides legal and regulatory compliance support to grantees and contributes to the public discourse on the legal and regulatory aspects of capturing ODLs and integrating them into care processes. The program will develop resources around the cross-cutting issues regarding use and safe integrations of ODLs as well as specifically advise grantee teams on applicable law and regulations that may alter the consequences of data-sharing between patients and clinicians.

"The loss of the ability to make a sandwich, dial a phone, or take medications correctly often occurs gradually and, particularly for people who live alone, insidiously," said Anind Dey, associate professor in the Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) of Carnegie Mellon’s School of Computer Science. "If we can identify this decline at an early stage, we have a chance to halt and even reverse deterioration that might otherwise result in an unsafe living situation and ultimately require the person to be institutionalized."

National HealthCare Corporation (NYSE-Amex: NHC; NHC.PRA) announced that it has recently opened NHC Bluffton, a 120-bed skilled care and dementia center in Bluffton, South Carolina. The $22.6 million project is located in one of the fastest growing senior population areas of the country and is near the DelWebb development of Sun City, Hilton Head.

The health care facility provides both nursing and therapy services, including a rehabilitation unit, a long-term care unit and a specialized memory care unit for Alzheimer’s and dementia care. The new patient-friendly design of each 40-bed wing is comprised mostly of private rooms and the semi private rooms are designed to create a private living space for both residents.  The project architect was Johnson and Bailey of Murfreesboro, Tennessee and the general contractor was American Constructors, Inc. of Nashville, Tennessee.

“The superior quality of NHC’s services to the senior care community in the state of South Carolina is well known”, Steve Flatt, NHC’s President said. “We have been a strong provider in the Upstate and Midland region for over 30 years. This additional location allows us to better serve the Low Country area as well. We are grateful for the help and cooperation of our South Carolina regional staff and the citizens of Beaufort County in getting this new center off to a great start.”

For more details, visit http://www.nhccare.com/presspdf/20100304.pdf

Atria Senior Living Group announced renovation plans for Atria Sunnyvale, a local independent and assisted living community, that will create a Life Guidance® memory care neighborhood for residents living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Set to begin in March 2010, the multi-million dollar renovation will also include aesthetic upgrades to the community’s overall interior.  Atria’s Life Guidance communities are secure neighborhoods designed specifically for residents living with Alzheimer’s disease or other memory impairments that includes two secure courtyards with outdoor seating and walking paths.   The 27 apartment Life Guidance neighborhood upgrades will include new carpet and paint as well as new bathroom fixtures, cabinets and surfaces.  

“Our new Life Guidance neighborhood will provide older people, living with memory impairments, an opportunity to live in a home-like setting designed with dignity and safety in mind,” said Zeinab Donner, executive director of Atria Sunnyvale. “It will also help residents retain a level of independence they otherwise wouldn’t achieve anywhere else.  I think that’s what people are really struggling to retain as they age,” continued Donner.  “This expansion reflects what we are all about at Atria, and that is providing the highest quality of life possible in the most comfortable and pleasant surroundings.”

Aegis of Bellevue celebrated its grand opening with celebrity guest Naomi Judd earlier this month for the newly constructed Aegis of Bellevue.  Bellevue is the 12th Aegis community in the Puget Sound region and offers 68 assisted living apartments and 18 Life’s Neighborhood TM apartments to serve those living with memory care issues.  Aegis Living purchased the property in August 2008.  Judd was at the event signing her book, Naomi’s Guide to Aging Gratefully: Facts, Myths, and Good News for Boomers.

“I am extremely pleased to have been a part of the grand opening festivities for Aegis of Bellevue. This community is truly wonderful, from the residents that I met to the incredible staff and beautiful new building it is a place worthy of calling home,” said Judd.

“We are extremely proud of our 34th community. The building, location and staff offer the best in senior living here on the Eastside,² says Dwayne J. Clark, chairman and CEO of Aegis Living. “Between the views, proximity to the nearby waterfront and the downtown Bellevue shopping district residents could not ask for a better place. And we are very excited to offer our exclusive and new Living 4 Life program, for our Aegis of Bellevue residents. We offer more than a place to live, we offer seniors a better way of life.”

Presbyterian Homes & Services’ future senior living development in Eden Prairie, has received a grant for $848,300 from Livable Communities of the Metropolitan Council of Minnesota. The grant is for design and engineering, street realignment and storm water management improvements. The 21-acre mixed-use residential, commercial and retail development includes 372 units that will offer a full range of living options, including senior independent living, assisted living and memory care apartments and a new skilled care center. A limited number of apartments will be affordable to income-qualified older adults. Senior Housing Partners, Presbyterian Homes & Services development arm, will develop the project that will also feature shopping, dining, office and recreation uses.

The Livable Communities Advisory Committee recommends projects for funding to the Metropolitan Council, the regional planning agency serving the Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area and providing essential services to the region. For 2010, the committee approved $4 million in funding for eight projects in five communities around the region.

Smith Crossing, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Orland Park, Illinois, announced plans to build a $35 million addition that will add 200,000 square-feet and convert 16 existing memory care suites that will be converted to skilled nursing care rooms.  Currently Smith Crossing has 175 residences with 87 apartments and 10 free- standing villas for independent living, 32 assisted living apartments, 16 suites for Alzheimer’s and memory care, and 30 accommodations for skilled nursing care and was opened in 2004.  The original retirement community was a $60 million investment by the not-for-profit Smith Senior Living and consisted of 260,639 square feet of residences and common areas.

“This major expansion makes it possible for us to extend our mission by enriching the lives of many more senior adults through the highest quality of services and the finest residences in all levels of care,” says Michael A. Flynn, chief executive officer of Smith Senior Living. “Crossing’s significant waiting list for independent living apartments prompted us to take a closer look at this opportunity to extend our services.”

This second phase of development adds three new wings to the existing main building. Two new wings to the east will house 76 new independent living apartments and common areas. The new west wing will contain 14 assisted living apartments and residences for 16 more seniors in Alzheimer’s and memory support. The latter will replace 16 suites that are being converted into skilled nursing care accommodations.

The new independent living apartments will be available in one-bedroom and two-bedroom combinations, as well as a one-bedroom plus den. New common areas will include a theater, arts studio, gallery, a pub and an additional meeting room, as well as two formal gardens.

Smith Crossing will be working with AG Architects, the original architect for Smith Crossing and the redevelopment of Smith Village, and Weis Builders, Inc., the general contractor for Smith Village’s construction, to be certain that the project is completed to Smith Crossing’s exacting standards. The Lakota Group will complete the landscape architecture for all exterior spaces. Sawgrass Partners, a development advisory firm that specializes in senior living, will assist with strategic planning, market research, financial planning, marketing and sales, and development throughout the expansion phase.