Worcester Business Journal

www.wbjournal.com September 28, 2015 • Worcester Business Journal 9 S enior housing choices today are more varied than ever, ranging from so-called "Over-55" develop- ments, which are age-specific but which do not offer staff support services, to "Active Adult" communities, which offer support services such as maintenance, meals and community activities as part of their residential package. Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) offer transition from independent to assisted living – and short- and long- term nursing and rehab services – to accommodate the needs of their aging population residents. While the senior housing market in Massachusetts appears robust, it's important to note that for those con- sumers making plans for their long- term health needs, not all offer the same level of services. Active Adult and Over- 55 housing communities have monthly maintenance fees similar to those of non-age-specific developments, but those usually don't cover health services. Several Over-55 or Active Adult developments are either on line or in the planning stages in Central Massachusetts. One is WestRidge in Hudson, a 135- home attached and single family devel- opment on 31 acres with 73 acres of open space. It's an on-site community for active adults, including a clubhouse, fitness center and village green. It's oper- ated by Thorndike Development. Another development is the Highlands at Westborough, managed by Hawthorn Retirement Group LLC, based in Washington state, which has properties all over the U.S. The Highlands emphasizes indepen- dent living, providing a community experience for its residents. Its rental apartment units are studio and one- or two bedrooms. The community ameni- ties include scheduled bus transporta- tion to doctors' appointments and for shopping trips and errands. It also offers pre-planned transportation to cultural events, day trips and museums. While the development is not an assisted-living facility and does not have nurses on-site, it does have supportive services and amenities. Its management team lives at the property and is avail- able around the clock, and each room in each unit features pull cords for resi- dents to call for help if needed. The Highlands contracts with home health agencies to provide personal care assis- tance to residents who request it. One of the most recent senior-hous- ing initiatives is a proposed develop- ment in Framingham. In early August, the Daily News reported that developer Brendon Homes' Brendon Giblin had signed an agreement to buy the former Marist Retreat Center, which has been shuttered since 2011, from the Marist Fathers of Boston. Development plans are expected this fall. Brendon Homes, which specializes in custom-built homes, reportedly wants to demolish the existing structures and build 60 units of high-end Over-55 housing and to partner with another entity to build assisted living and memory care services at the site, which sits on 37.5 acres close to the Massachusetts Turnpike. Seniors by the numbers We took a look at the numbers on aging. Baby boomers, the first wave of which is now in their mid-60s, will be a much larger market cohort than their predecessors (21 seniors to 100 workers in 2010, rising to 36 per 100 by 2030, according to U.S. Census data), and they will live longer. A 2010 report by the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging- Related Statistics noted that those aged 65 as of that date could expect to live 19.5 additional years, compared to only four additional years in 1960. But the study reports that the 65-and-overs' housing "burden," including cost and maintenance, rose from 30 percent to 37 percent from 1985 to 2007. But how many in the burgeoning senior age group will have it or choose to use it? Many stalwarts want to "age in place," meaning in their family homes (which is not an expense-free proposi- tion), but many took a major hit in their standard of living and retirement pros- 860.871.1111 Toll Free: 800.741.6367 nemsi.com License #'s: E1-104939 • S1-302974 • P1-203519 • F1-10498 • SM1-192 • MC-1134 M E C H A N I C A L • E L E C T R I C A L • P L U M B I N G • S H E E T M E TA L • B U I L D I N G A U T O M AT I O N • F A C I L I T I E S S E R V I C E S DESIGN/BUILD SOLUTIONS… ONE SOURCE Only one company can build, power, protect, and maintain the critical systems in virtually every type of facility. We are trusted to manage projects from concept to completion. We are experts in: Design/Build Pre-Construction Services LEED Capabilities >> Continued on Page 16 Senior housing choices on the rise in Mass. BY CHRISTINA P. O'NEILL Special to the Worcester Business Journal The Highlands at Westborough offers a community-within-a-community environment. Residents can be as private or as social as they wish, according to its marketing materials. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y

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