Developer updates group about assisted living project
A Marion assisted living facility is coming closer to a reality.
Bob Brooks of Brooks Development Company, LLC, the developer for the project, spoke Monday to the Marion Kiwanis about the project.
"Assisted living is a fairly new concept," said Brooks. The concept was started about 12 years ago.
Prior to that, the elderly had the choice of staying at home and endangering themselves or living in a nursing home before they really needed to, said Brooks.
"Out of the 10,000 nursing home residents in Kansas, one quarter of them could be candidates for assisted living," said Brooks.
However, assisted living facilities are not in direct competition with nursing homes, said Brooks, because the elderly in need of skilled nursing care will not qualify to live in an assisted living facility.
There are 96 assisted living facilities in the state. They are regulated by Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Offering a home-like environment, assisted living facilities assist with activities of daily living and provide security, privacy, and companionship for the elderly person.
Each resident will have his/her own apartment to decorate as they see fit, a private bath and shower, and a lock on the door for privacy.
The 18-unit facility will offer four 406-square-foot one-bedroom apartments and 14 512-square-foot one-bedroom, deluxe apartments.
"The City of Marion recognized the need for assisted living because so many elderly residents were forced to relocate due to the lack of this level of care," said Brooks. "These elderly people gave up fellowship and support from the community," added Brooks.
Marion County has more than 1,750 people over the age of 75, said Brooks. About one-fourth or 440 of these people need assistance with one or more activity of daily living. These 440 people are potential residents of Marion Assisted Living.
Marion Assisted Living's mission is to provide retirement services in a community environment which assures quality of life with meaning and dignity, to provide a standard of excellence in care for each individual's social, spiritual, and physical needs, and to grow in meeting the changing perceptions of care.
Brooks said he is educated as a geologist and was in the oil, gas, and mining business.
In 1992, Brooks' mother and grandmother, 72 and 98 respectively, were in need of a place to live.
The women lived out-of-state with health concerns.
"We looked around for a place for them to live," said Brooks, "but couldn't find one."
Brooks built his first assisted living facility in Derby.
"Unfortunately, both (mother and grandmother) died before the facility was opened," said Brooks.
Brooks sold his oil and gas business and has developed 12 facilities since that time.
"I could see people were benefiting from what I was doing," said Brooks.
Most recently, Brooks has completed an assisted living facility in North Newton, Kidron Assisted Living.
"Marion's facility will be very similar to the North Newton facility," said Brooks.
"The keys to success are having a caring, competent, and loving staff, and good food," said Brooks. "Nothing makes a facility more undesirable than bad food," said Brooks.
Twelve employees will be hired — a manager, LPN, medication aide, cooks, and a maintenance person.
Three levels of care will be provided with an average, approximate cost of $2,200 per month for a one-bedroom apartment.
Completion of construction is anticipated in six months.
