After 120 years, Episcopal Homes on cutting edge of senior living

New apartments almost filled; anticipation builds for first Greenhouse model of care in Minnesota to open next month

By JAN WILLMS

A major project is taking place on the campus of Episcopal Homes at 1850 University Ave. A seven-story building that is being constructed in three phases has already opened to residents and should be completed by January 2015.

“An important reason we looked at this is that it allows people to age in place,” said Deborah Veit, the director of community relations who has been with Episcopal Homes for the past eight years.

“We broke ground for this project in May 2013,” she said, with the land being purchased about a year earlier. But conversations began long before that about bringing a Greenhouse model of care to the campus.

The Greenhouse model, called the Gardens, opens the second week in January, the first to be offered in the state of Minnesota in a skilled nursing setting. “We’ll have home-based care, with six households, one on each floor,” Veit explained. “Our new building is a seven-story building, so there will be one house per floor, starting with the second floor. And each house, just like in your home, will have a living room, dining room, kitchen, four-season porch and reading nook. There will be 10 residents per house, and all will have their own private room and bath. They will be lovely nice-sized rooms where they can bring in their belongings and make it very homey.”

The first phase of the project opened Nov. 1. The Terrace at Iris Park features catered living apartments. “This is a model for folks who are independent seniors all the way through seniors who need home health services,” Veit explained. “We will cater to whatever the needs of the residents are, so that they can stay in their homes and not have to move to a different level of care.” These apartments have nearly all been filled.

Dave Girard, 91, is one of those individuals who have just moved into Terrace at Iris Park. A former Marine officer who worked at IBM for 20 years, he moved to Minnesota in 1972 to install an air traffic control system. He has been living in Iris Park Commons but decided to move into the new complex.

“I really like it so far,” he said recently, after eating dinner out at one of the local restaurants. “It’s small, but cozy.” Girard has several volumes in his apartment of a family history he has completed.

Another new resident at the Terrace at Iris Park is Wade Tobin, 91, who moved in after recently selling his home. He was able to choose an apartment that is in a corner and right under a rooftop garden.

“I’m still unpacking,” he said, “but I like it.”

Ken and Kay Kistler recently moved to the Terrace after selling their home of 42 years. “The snow just kept getting deeper every year,” Ken joked.

Kay said she had never realized how much work was involved in selling a house and its belongings, and she is happy to be settling in at their new location.

“We are where we should be,” Ken said. Although it is different going from a house to a three-room apartment, the Kistlers said they were impressed by their surroundings. And both are looking for an exercise group to join at Episcopal Homes.

The second phase, which opened Nov. 28, is called Midway Pointe and is affordable housing, independent living. “Those are 50 independent living apartments, and seniors pay based on their incomes,” Veit said.

She said the $45 million project has three completely separate buildings under one roof. “We’re basically building three separate entities, which is unique,” Veit stated.

She said a project of this nature has involved a lot of researching of the models that are being brought into Episcopal Homes. “It means training a lot of staff,” she noted. “The majority of staff will be in the Gardens, and an extensive amount of training goes into bringing the Greenhouse model on campus.”

She said there has been hiring of new staff, training, the actual construction and the planning and implementing of programs.

“We want to make sure we are developing new programs that will benefit our residents,” Veit explained. “We looked nationwide to research ideas and top-of-the-line models of care.”

Episcopal Homes, which first began offering senior living options 120 years ago, has been at the University Avenue site since 1916. Its campus already offers independent living, independent living affordable housing, assisted living, assisted living memory care, nursing home care and transitional care for short-term rehab.

“We will now have two independent living, affordable housing on campus and two offsite,” Veit said. “And we will have a second nursing home building.”

“When our new building is done, we will have seven separate entities on campus,” Veit said. “It is so beautiful, and it is fun to see people moving in and enjoying life. Lots of community is very important for seniors, and there are dangers to being isolated.”

She said she enjoys watching people making new friends. They can also hop on a campus bus and go to the store or a theater.

“Being on the light rail is good, too,” she added. “Many have made the decision to move here based on our excellent reputation, but also based on the light rail being right outside the door. It offers a lot of independence and freedom without having to drive a car.”

She said the current 350 residents on the campus will increase to 500 when the rest of the new building project is completed, and there will be 350 employees.

“We’re looking at a progression of things we have already done,” she said. “The catered living is a progression from our assisted living model. And we are looking to provide a level of care that is higher than assisted living if folks require it, so they can stay in their homes and not have to move to another building or level of care. We have already provided top-of-the line model of care, but this is just taking it up a notch.”

She said that people appreciate that.

“When people make a move like this, it’s a big change. Many have lived in their homes for 45 years before they decide to downsize from a large home to an apartment, and to be in a community where there are other seniors and social activities,” Veit said.

“When they make this move from home to apartment, they would like to be able to stay there for their life, with services brought to them so they can avoid a second move,” Veit continued. She said that besides looking at this project as a way of people being able to age in place, all their current residences have waiting lists. “Even our campus residents sometimes have to wait to be able to move,” she said. “By bringing in catered living and adding an additional nursing home, we’re hoping to avoid those waits for our campus residents, so they’ll be in a place where they can stay.”

She said that resident participation, no matter at what stage a person is at in his or her journey of life, is important.

“If someone has dementia or Alzheimer’s, or if they are physically not capable of doing some of the normal household things, there are still ways for them to be participating and be engaged. Those with dementia still have memories of many of the tasks they can do in their home and still enjoy that. How we help them be able to fulfill those enjoyments is very important.”

Veit is excited about the new models of living that are going to be offered at Episcopal Homes.

“Getting older has enough challenges,” she said. “Whatever we can do to make it pleasurable and engaging and fulfilling for people is good. We want to be able to make a difference in their lives, and it’s fun to see that happen for people.”