The population of Americans age 75 and older is expected to grow by 5 million people over the next five years, increasing the number of prospective senior housing residents by 21%, according to Marcus & Millichap’s First Half 2019 National Seniors Housing Report. The same report noted that today’s baby boomers are also living longer, with the population of those age 75 and older expected to increase by more than 10 million over the next decade.
With demand for senior living continuing to increase, it’s not surprising that some local members of the industry are choosing to expand their current facilities or add new ones. The following are a few of the most recent expansions.
Old Metairie Gardens
The only assisted living communities in Old Metairie, Old Metairie Gardens 1 and 2 opened this past January as the first completely new community by Peristyle Residences. Old Metairie Gardens 1 and 2 are two traditional homes situated side by side a few blocks from Metairie Road. Instead of housing one family, however, they house multiple seniors, with open floorplans including shared common areas, and, according to Sean Arrillaga, principal at Peristyle Residences and Peristyle Healthcare, the largest bedrooms of any other offerings in this market.
“We serve seniors who need assistance with two or more activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, grooming, medication assistance, etc,” Arrillaga said. “We also offer activities everyday such as pet therapy, music therapy and live music performances from well-established local jazz ensembles.”
Peristyle Residences offers seniors the option of living in an actual residential home where they can receive care and supervision in comfortable family-style environment.
“Peristyle Residences represents a significant portion of the residential assisted living offering in Greater New Orleans,” Arrillaga said. The company currently includes nine homes, and Arrillaga said further expansion is imminent, noting, “The literature suggests the demand for resources like ours will continue to increase well into the next 15 to 20 years.”
Hainkel Home
In June 2018, CommCare Corporation took over management of John J. Hainkel Jr. Home and Rehabilitation Center on Henry Clay Avenue in Uptown New Orleans. It is currently licensed and operating as a long-term care nursing facility with a skilled-to-home unit.
“With the new management team in place, we have been working diligently to prepare for the paradigm shift that our patient-driven payment model will bring to nursing facilities in October,” said Sunny Deakle, marketing director of the home. “Our team has just celebrated one year, and we are excited for what the next year holds.”
As a skilled-nursing facility, Hainkel Home caters to the short-term and long-term needs of potential residents.
“Independence is one of the most important factors to most of the senior community,” Deakle said. “In order to meet the needs of our residents, we offer a wide variety of options, including field trips outside of the facility. We have monthly resident council meetings to give residents a chance to voice their opinions and contribute to the growth of the facility. We provide 24-hour licensed nursing care, in-house doctors, in-house therapy, transportation options and an amazing management team for the residents to use as resources.”
Colonial Oaks Living Center
Colonial Oaks Living Center — located just a few blocks off the intersection of Clearview Parkway and Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie — has been around for 48 years, but the center recently went through an extensive renovation and celebrated a grand reopening last November.
“The industry is changing to more person-centered care,” said Michele Varon, marketing and community outreach coordinator at Colonial Oaks Living Center and Belle Vie Living Center. “It is focusing more now on the resident’s wishes. For example, dietary preferences for types of foods and meals they want, what time they want to get up or go to bed and when they want meals. Seniors are trying to stay in their homes and age in place as long as they can utilizing home-care options and non-medical sitter services.”
