Senior Housing and Assisted Living

Thinking about retiring in Mexico?   How about developing senior housing and living product south of the border?  The opportunities exist but major challenges remain to make retiring south of the US border a slam dunk.  A group of business executives known as AMAR held a conference in San Antonio this past weekend to promote development of senior living in Mexico.  The group consisted of consumers, marketing professionals, real estate developers and various finance professionals and had sessions for both business representatives and consumers.  The conference was primarily spoken in Spanish with translation to English as the majority of attendees were from Mexico.  Some of the key take aways from the conference were:

• All owners and operators consistently stated that costs are 50-60% less in Mexico than in the US or Canada for physical development & final costs.  This was a consistent subject when listening to different developers in all parts of Mexico. 
• Healthcare solutions exist at various price ranges throughout the country including coverage for catastrophic emergencies depending on Visa status
• Most developments are for independent living (i.e.  homes and fractional residences)
• Proximity to Airports and Border are critical.
• Safety.  Despite the press, retirement in Mexico remains safe.  Presenters stated that the conflict exists between the druglords and the federales / police, not the retirees.
• Some developers are repositioning their properties as retirement locations rather than second home destinations.  Sales pitch is still resort lifestyle with CCRC type of amenities.
• Connectivity.  Researchers state those who are retired in Mexico today are in communication telephonically and via the Internet on a regular basis not much different than in the US.
• Medicare in Mexico.  This is the most critical part to explosive growth for retirement in Mexico.  While there are initiatives to bring Medicare from the US to Mexico, participants stated that this is a big wish.  Access to healthcare providers is top priority in those looking at retiring and those who already have retired in Mexico.

Final thoughts:  Retiring Mexico is a good alternative if you are looking for a temperate retirement, are mobile, in reasonably good health and have a sense for adventure.  There are groups of Americans retiring and living in Mexico in growing numbers so finding a community with Gringos is not out of the picture.  For development, until there is some kind of relationship between the US and Mexico for medical coverage (think NAFTA for healthcare…), Mexican retirement is a niche that is a viable alternative for a small group of American retirees.

Look for a few follow up articles from the conference focusing more specifically on segments of retiring in Mexico.

The The Village at NorthRidge, a luxury retirement community in the San Fernando Valley, recently celebrated its grand opening with local dignitaries from the surrounding community.   The project, developed by Senior Resource Group (SRG) and is comprised of 275 independent and assisted living residences.  The Village at NorthRidge is complemented by amenities that include: The Prairie Grille Restaurant (open 12 hours daily), a fully equipped fitness center, The Majestic Theatre, Internet café, on-site bank, The Corbin Street Market, library, art gallery, club lounge, bistro bar, swimming pool and spa, a full-service beauty salon and underground parking.

“Our residents tell us everything we need to know about who they are and how they want to live. Their input guides us in everything we do,” said Michael Grust, president and CEO of SRG. “Believing life should improve with age, The Village at NorthRidge was created to be an invigorating experience, a place to really live life well.”

The Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center, located in San Diego, California, recently celebrated its grand opening and will serve as Senior Community Centers’ flagship facility.  The Gary and Mary West Foundation’s $4 million gift was instrumental in making the center and its innovative programming possible.  The facility’s uses of natural resources and technology helped the facility earn its LEED Gold Certification for energy efficiency.  Acquisition and renovation costs for the project totaled over $8 million and Senior Community Centers is working with the local community to help raise the final $1.8 million to fund the remaining parts of the project.

“The concept of retirement and aging as we know it is constantly evolving, and today’s senior is not one to sit home alone in a rocking chair,” said Paul Downey, president and CEO of Senior Community Centers. “Age is not a barrier to learning, contributing to the community and participating in active, healthy lifestyles.”

Back in the fall, Suburban Alternatives Land Trust (SALT) and Northbay Family Homes (NFH) held a competition for Senior Housing Design in California that accepted applications from from all across the world that reflected SALT’s mission of assisting low-income individuals and families to secure good housing, become homeowners and improve their economic position by working with donors of land to maximize and leverage tax advantages and benefits generated in the course of developing a full array for land use options for each parcel, including affordable homes, jobs, recreation, agriculture and open space.  Finalists have been selected but all the finalists and the honorable mention entries have all been posted in the gallery.  Visit the Design Gallery for some interesting perspective on California Senior Housing Design. 

Silverado Senior Living celebrated the grand opening of the company’s 20^th memory care community late last month. Silverado Senior Living-Beverly Place’s central location in Los Angeles borders Cedars Sinai, Olympia and UCLA medical centers. The three-story building, which was previously known as the Shalom Hotel, was under extensive construction for more than two years and can currently accommodate 64 residents and will be expanded further for a total of 150 residents.  Beverly Place also includes a Silverado Social neighborhood for those in the early stages of memory impairment.  Silverado-Beverly Place was designed as an elegant homelike environment with the help of Irwin Pancake Associates’ architectural team, and Center Point Construction.

“Silverado is very excited to bring LIFE to those affected by Alzheimer’s and other memory-impairing illnesses here in the greater Los Angeles area,” said Loren Shook, Founder, President and CEO of the company. “Silverado is a company that is driven by our mission, vision and core values to really change the way people treat memory impairment. Our associates touch the human spirit in the work they do with residents, providing truly unique care in the assisted living industry. The construction and opening of Silverado-Beverly Place has been a company-wide effort many years in the making. We are excited to offer our signature world-class services to Los Angeles, both to the public and our medical partners.”

Quieres retirar en México?  The International Community Foundation has released a study entitled “U.S. Retirement Trends in Mexico’s Coastal Communities: Lifestyle Priorities and Demographics” that interviewed 840 U.S. retirees in coastal areas of Mexico over 50 years of age.  Some of the findings of the survey include:

• U.S. retirees in Mexican coastal communities are relatively young and well-educated. Nearly 53 percent are under 65 years of age. Almost two-thirds have at least a college degree; another 28 percent attended at least one year of college.
• U.S. retirees residing in Mexico continue to maintain strong ties to the U.S. with 50 percent still considering the United States as their primary country of residence; almost 22 percent return to the U.S. on a monthly basis.
• Almost 44 percent of Americans residing in Mexican coastal communities were able to live comfortably on less than $1,000 a month for household expenses. This is significantly different from the U.S. where in California, a senior might need $21,000-27,000/year.
• U.S. retirees already in Mexico have weathered the recent economic storm well. Forty two percent stated that the economic recession had no impact on their retirement plans and 34 percent said their quality of life has not been impacted.
• In spite of growing concerns in the United States about narco-violence in Mexico’s border cities, only 7 percent of retirees surveyed reported that public safety and security concerns have reduced the frequency or duration of their trips to Mexico.

When we see strange headlines like “Developers Plan to Erect Assisted Living Site Next to Nude Gay Resort”, it definitely warrants a click.  The NBC Los Angeles quotes The Desert Sun article that discusses the decision of the Palm Springs Architectural Advisory Committee to recommend approving the development plan that includes an assisted living facility and retail development next to a clothing-optional hotel.  Looks like the first issues the neighbors will have are the tree lines…too high or not thick enough to block some views.  Think there will be reciprocal access to the pool and fitness area?

Dahlin Group Architecture Planning is celebrating its recent recognition for senior housing design with the receipt of a SAGE (Senior Achievement and General Excellence) Award from the 50+ Housing Council of the Building Industry Association of Southern California.

Dahlin Group received a top honor for the "on the boards" category for Magnolia Courts, an active adult community in La Verne, California that is planned for a September opening. Magnolia Courts includes 101 Craftsman style condominiums in a setting of courtyards, open space and clubhouse amenities.  Designed for Hsientein La Verne Investment, LLC, the project was designed with close consultation with the City of LaVerne, CalTrans and other governmental entities for the 3.28-acre infill site.

 
"Magnolia Court reflects the growing importance of the active adult market, infill development and greener, more sustainable design and planning," said John Thatch, Dahlin Group Principal of Design. "We are delighted to see it honored in such a competitive arena as the SAGE program, which fielded a record number of entries for its 2009 program."

The Legislative Analyst’s Office, a non partisan group in California, released a report that examined costs and benefits of the cuts last year to the state’s home care service for the elderly.  The report found that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cuts, while painful, were recommended by the LAO and the LAO suggested that the state look at other alternative programs that offer similar services.  The report notes that the program is cost-effective for the sickest patients and that keeping those patients in their homes offers substantial savings.  The cuts have yet to be officially made due to pending lawsuits in the court.  The Governor is also considering either cutting the programs by almost 90% or eliminating it all together in next year’s budget.

http://www.lao.ca.gov/reports/2010/hlth/health_brief/health_brief_012210.aspx

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.”