Taken from SUPERVISOR'S CORNER
November 9, 2005

by Cathryn C. Thomas, Webster Town Supervisor

ST. ANN'S GRAND OPENING

St. Ann’s Cherry Ridge senior living community celebrated their Grand Opening last week, with a great turnout of some of the new Cherry Ridge residents, numerous St. Ann’s officials including President and CEO Betty Mullin-DiProsa, and local government representation, again including Senator Nozzolio, County Executive Brooks and County Legislator Malta.

This is a wonderful complex, with a great variety of living options for seniors. It fills a need in the community, that I mentioned in my comments at the ceremony.

People who live in Webster have a tendency to want to stay here. People grow up in Webster as kids, settle here and raise families of their own, their children grow up and settle here to raise the next generation of children. Those grandparents want to live in the Webster community they have grown to love, for all that it has to offer and to be near their children and grandchildren.

Webster is fortunate to have the new Cherry Ridge community as an added option for housing for our senior citizens.

WEBSTER HERALD
Wednesday, September 1, 2004

CHERRY RIDGE BREAKS GROUND
$46 Million Retirement Community Brings 100 New Jobs to the Area

by Ann Metz
Herald Reporter

Future residents of Cherry Ridge, a new senior living community located at 875 Ridge Road, gathered with St. Ann's Community representatives and local leaders to hold an official groundbreaking ceremony at the construction site Aug. 24.

Among the notable figures present were Senator Michael Nozzolio, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, former Monroe County Sheriff Andrew Meloni and Town of Webster Deputy Supervisor Ron Nesbitt.

New York State Governor George Pataki was invited, but could not attend.

Cherry Ridge is a $46 million development, spanning 41 acres. It will be part of the St. Ann's Community, the area's largest senior healthcare and housing provider. According to a recent press release, Cherry Ridge is designed to offer the latest in retirement living by promoting an active, independent lifestyle.

"I am so proud and excited to be a part of this project," said Chris DiPasquala, Chairperson of St. Ann's Community Board of Directors, in a speech to guests and future residents. "We saw an unmet need in the community for new senior housing. Not only does Cherry Ridge offer beautiful living, but it lets seniors thrive and be active because it is totally customized to meet the needs and wishes of its residents."

Webster Deputy Supervisor Ron Nesbitt also extended a welcome to the new senior community from the Town of Webster and Supervisor Cathryn Thomas, adding that Cherry Ridge will bring nearly 100 new jobs to the area, in addition to approximately 150 new residents.

County Executive Maggie Brooks echoed Nesbitt's words when she called Cherry Ridge a "first-class facility in a first-class community."

"Cherry Ridge is a multimillion dollar investment that will create new jobs, strengthen the economy and expand housing facilities," said Brooks.

Following the laudatory speeches from the community leadership, there was an official groundbreaking ceremony, a reception and a chance to tour the cottage model homes.

The cottage homes modeled were the "The Orchard" style, which includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, garage, living room/dining room and "The Grove w/den," which included two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a larger kitchen, porch, garage, living room/dining room, den, and a patio.

Ann Clemens, a spokesperson for Cherry Ridge, said there will be 71 independent living apartments, 55 cottage-style homes, 51 assisted living suites and 24 memory care suites.

Seventy percent of the cottages are sold and 70 to 60 percent of the apartments are sold, according to Eileen Ryan, Vice President of Marketing for Cherry Ridge. The cottage-style living facilities are expected to be open next June, while the apartments are expected to be open and ready by next July. The Assisted Living center will be open next November.

One of the selling points of the facility is the choices residents will have when they move in, options that Cherry Ridge says will make each housing plan tailor-made to the customer's needs and wants.

"There are a number of different options to go along with each housing choice," said Clemens. "It's a little bit more customized and you can pick how you want the plan to go."

For example, Clemens said residents will have flexible meal and service plans to fit individual preferences and needs. The assisted living and memory support suites will include linen service, weekly housekeeping, assessments each month for personal care needs and medication reminders and management.

The press release also stated that all residents of Cherry Ridge will have access to many programs and services on campus, including 24-hour security and emergency response personnel, maintenance for both inside and outside a resident's living area, and regular health checks and screenings.

"The population of seniors in the United States is increasing and their needs are changing," said Eileen Ryan. "Many of the people who want the cottage-style living arrangement still want the feeling of a home without the maintenance."

Some of this "maintenance" that Cherry Ridge residents won't have to worry about includes exterior maintenance, garbage and recycling pick-up, snow removal and lawn mowing. Ryan also said appliance repairs could be made on site as well.

The one or two-bedroom apartment homes will be rented, but there will not be any long-term lease agreements. Each apartment home ranges from approximately 625 to 1,500 square feet and offers fully equipped kitchens, bathrooms with walk-in showers, air conditioning, a washer/dryer, and connections for the Internet, telephone and cable.

Approximately 1,625 square feet in size, the cottage-style homes come in a variety of styles and locations. They feature attached garages, cathedral ceilings, fireplaces, fully equipped kitchens, air conditioning, full-size washer and dryers, as well as cable, telephone and Internet hook-ups. The entrance fee for the cottage homes start at $125,000 and include a range of flexible financial plans. One such plan states that 90 percent of the entrance fee will be refunded to a resident or their estate.

Ryan said Cherry Ridge has been planned for many years and a significant amount of time was spent researching different sites that would be best suited for the new senior community.

"We have been asked for years to expand our services from the Irondequoit Campus," she added.

And what do the future residents and potential future residents have to say about Cherry Ridge?

"We signed up for one of the apartments," said Charlotte Robinson from Brighton, who was attending the groundbreaking ceremony and open house with her husband, Vic. "We want to keep active in our old age and so when we saw an advertisement in the paper for Cherry Ridge, we went to look and liked what we saw. This place just has more things that are close by and more programs that are conducive to keeping active."

Bob Bentley, from Perinton, said he and his wife are getting the "Grove" cottage arrangement, without the den. They are planning to move in in a year.

"We've been looking for a while and we heard about it from a friend," he said. "The pricing is much more favorable than some of the other communities in the area, like Highlands and we really liked the set up and arrangement here."

Bentley said he is also not a stranger to Webster - he was part of the original construction team that worked on Schroeder High School in the 1960s.

Webster resident Beverly Mottler, who also toured the cottage model homes and plans on moving into an apartment at Cherry Ridge, said she has lived in Webster all her life. She said that was one of the main reasons why she chose to move to Cherry Ridge - because of its location and proximity to her family and Webster businesses.

ROCHESTER BUSINESS JOURNAL
September 3, 2004

ST. ANN'S CONSTRUCTING SENIOR-LIVING CAMPUS

By Will Astor

St. Ann's Community expects in a year to complete the first phase of a $46 million senior-living campus in Webster, one of the most ambitious developments of its type to go up in Monroe County.

The initial phase of the project is expected to accommodate some 150 residents, and St. Ann's expects to add roughly 100 employees to staff the Webster project, CEO Elizabeth Mullin-DiProsa said.

The Irondequoit-based St. Ann's runs the area's largest skilled-nursing facility, the 591-bed St. Ann's Home. Also located at the 41-acre St. Ann's Community Irondequoit campus are the Heritage assisted-living facility and Chapel Oaks, a 120-apartment retirement community set off on a 14-acre parcel.

Sited on 41 acres off Ridge Road in the town of Webster, the Cherry Ridge development initially will consist of 55 cottage homes, 71 apartment units, 51 assisted-living suites and 24 "memory" units targeted to Alzheimer's disease patients.

St. Ann's anticipates expanding the project after the first phase's completion, but no specific plans are laid for phase two or beyond, Mullin-DiProsa said.

Cherry Ridge is one of a host of housing developments targeted to seniors that have sprung up over the past several years around Monroe County. In featuring the cottage-home component, the St. Ann's Community project follows a trend kicked off locally by Strong Health's Highlands at Pittsford senior-living complex, which last year began building a 36-home project for seniors.

Cherry Ridge cottage homes are available to seniors able to front a hefty, but mostly refundable deposit, and then also able to pay substantial monthly rentals. The 55 Cherry Ridge homes range from 1,285 square feet to 1,550 square feet. Each two-bedroom, two-bath unit includes a two-car garage. Monthly rentals range from $1,600 to $2,900. To buy into a home, seniors must pay fees ranging from $80,000 to $200,000.

While the front-end fee sounds high, St. Ann's marketing director Eileen Ryan-Maruke said, it is 90 percent refundable. Industry averages for similar seniors developments nationally suggest the average resident will stay in such a home eight to nine years, she said. Most raise the entrance fee by cashing in equity on homes they have owned for years.

Cherry Ridge's independent-living apartments are straight rentals requiring no in-front fee, Ryan-Maruke said. Monthly rents range from $990 for a 690-square-foot, one-bedroom unit to $1,990 for a 1,085-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment. Assisted-living units are one- or two-bedroom. Costs range from $110 to $130 a day.

Cherry Ridge residents' monthly rentals can rise or dip according to how many services they sign up for from an a la carte menu, Mullin-DiProsa said. Residents, for example, can sign up for fitness programs. Some programs, such as swimming, are to use facilities at Webster Schroeder High School, which sits across Ridge Road from Cherry Ridge, Mullin-DiProsa said.

The 24 "memory care" units for Alzheimer's patients are to feature environments such as an office-like setting so residents can be comforted by surroundings they may recall from an earlier working life. Also planned are two homey, kitchen-like dining areas to seat 12 residents each. Memory care units will cost $150 a day, Ryan-Maruke said.

Such developments target what is expected to be a bumper crop of relatively affluent baby boomer retirees ready to shuck the cares of home ownership but too hale and active for enriched or assisted living. Developments such as Cherry Ridge can offer a handy middle ground between living completely on one's own and submitting to unneeded ministrations or oversight in enriched housing or assisted living.

The Webster project's 55 homes are to have amenities including cathedral ceilings and fireplaces, and also offer 24-hour security, a community of demographically similar neighbors and easy access to health care. Another key advantage: If residents need a higher level of care, they get what Mullin-DiProsa called priority access to a slot in an appropriate St. Ann's Community facility.

"We can't guarantee the assisted-living or skilled-nursing bed will be there," she said. "There might not be room. But they will be the first served."

Nurses will staff the Alzheimer's unit at Cherry Ridge. But other components will not have on-site medical staff. Residents either can continue with providers they used before moving to Cherry Ridge or can be directed to medical staff from St. Ann's main campus, Mullin-DiProsa said.

In a statement issued for a groundbreaking for the St. Ann's project last week, Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Seneca Falls, said the state needs such developments to accommodate seniors looking for "a different kind of retirement (that) will support their lifestyle (and) provide comprehensive care."

Some have questioned how much room there is locally for high-end housing such as Cherry Ridge and Strong's 36-home Highlands at Pittsford project. The Rochester Business Journal's 2003 senior-living facilities list tallied more than 4,000 local senior-living units spread among the 25 largest seniors projects in Monroe County. Most are apartments. Some facilities are run by non-profits such as St. Ann's or Strong. Many are for-profit ventures. Costs range from a little more than $500 a month to more than $5,000.

Nursing home owner Robert F. Hurlbut, president of Rohm Services Corp., told the Rochester Business Journal in January that he believes the local high-end seniors market is close to saturated if not already full.

But developers of projects such as Cherry Ridge and the Highlands appear to be striking a chord. The Highlands reported more than half its units sold in January and brisk sales since. With completion of Cherry Ridge still 12 months away, 70 percent of the project's first-phase units are pre-sold, Ryan-Maruke said.

Area Leaders Celebrate Innovative New Senior Community

WEBSTER, NY (August 24, 2004) - Area leaders including Senator Michael Nozzolio and Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks helped break ground on what will be Webster's newest senior living community, Cherry Ridge. Developed by St. Ann's Community, the area's largest senior health care and housing provider, the $46 million development will offer the latest in retirement living, specifically designed to promote an active, independent lifestyle while providing quality health care support.

"The senior community is a growing force, both in New York and throughout the U.S.," said Senator Michael Nozzolio. "Today's seniors are demanding a different kind of retirement. As a state, we need to ensure we are providing our seniors communities like Cherry Ridge that will support their lifestyle and passions while providing comprehensive care."

Future residents, St. Ann's Community representatives and area leaders were on hand as Chris DiPasquale, Chairperson of St. Ann's Community Board of Directors, and Betty Mullin-DiProsa, St. Ann's Community President and CEO, broke ground on the spot that will be home to more than 300 residents.

"I am so proud and excited to be a part of this project," said DiPasquale to guests and future residents. "I truly believe Cherry Ridge is going to be a community like no other. Welcome home."

Following the groundbreaking and remarks from area leaders including former Sheriff Andy Meloni and Webster Deputy Supervisor Ronald Nesbitt, guests were treated to a preview of the first Cherry Ridge cottage model home.

"Cherry Ridge will provide first-class senior living in the community of Webster," said Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks. "This is a multi-million dollar investment that will create jobs and expand housing opportunities and services for our growing senior population. Monroe County is pleased to be a partner in this outstanding community project."

Located in the heart of Webster at 876 Ridge Road, Cherry Ridge will offer a variety of spacious residency options, from rental apartments to individual entrance fee cottage homes. Residents will enjoy access to a wide array of resort-style services and amenities, as well as a full continuum of licensed health care services, including on-site assisted living, memory support and priority access to skilled nursing and rehabilitation services on the St. Ann's campus.

Cherry Ridge will offer 71 independent living apartments, 55 cottage-style homes, 51 assisted living suites and 24 memory care suites with the potential for additional housing inventory to be added in subsequent phases.

One- or two-bedroom apartment homes will be available as rental units with no long-term lease agreements and reasonable, predictable monthly payments. They will range from approximately 625 to 1,500 square feet and offer residents fully equipped kitchens, air conditioning, bathrooms with walk-in showers, as well as washer/dryer, cable, telephone and Internet hook-ups.

The charming two-bedroom cottage-style homes are approximately 1,625 square feet in size in a variety of styles and locations, and feature attached garages, cathedral ceilings, fireplaces, fully equipped kitchens, air conditioning, full-size washer and dryers, as well as cable, telephone and Internet hook-ups. Cottage home entrance fees will start at $125,000 and include a choice of financial plans for value and flexibility. One plan guarantees 90 percent of the entrance fee be refunded to a resident or their estate.

All residency options will feature flexible meal and service plans to fit individual preferences and needs.

Additionally, all Cherry Ridge residents will have access to a variety of campus-wide programs and services, including s24-hour security and an emergency personal response system, interior and exterior maintenance, regular health care checks and screenings, scheduled courtesy transportation, and a variety of cultural and recreational activities. The assisted living and memory support suites include linen service, medication reminders and management, monthly personal care need assessments, weekly housekeeping and daily assistance.

Through its spacious community center and expansive common areas, Cherry Ridge will also house a variety of amenities such as multiple dining venues, a fitness center, library, computer center, country store, interfaith chapel, multi-purpose room and beauty salon.

For more information on Cherry Ridge, visit www.cherryridgecommunity.com or call (585) 697-6700.

Seniors looking for more housing options

Is the housing market in Penfield and Webster becoming saturated, or are seniors demanding more options?

Leo and Helen Kester raised their 13 children in their raised ranch home at 1673 Woodard Road in Webster. Designed by Leo Kester, with its seven bedrooms, big windows, a spectacular view of the rolling Webster Golf Course and a backyard pool, it was all the Kesters needed.

Now, with all the children grown, Leo Kester, 77, a deacon at the Holy Trinity Church in Webster and Helen Kester, 73, who has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair to get around, are finding that they don't need all that space nor can they handle the maintenance that comes with it.

This winter was the final straw.

"This winter behind that snowplow," Leo said, shaking his head. "I'll be glad to have that all done for us next winter. I find my days are getting shorter and it's just getting to be too hard."

When their youngest daughter and her husband agreed to purchase the homestead, the Kesters knew the time had come to look for a new place to live where they wouldn't have to worry about the upkeep of a home.

After months of looking at all their options, the couple settled on Cherry Ridge, new independent living apartments being built in Webster by St.
Ann's Community.

As St. Ann 's Community prepares to break ground on a new independent living community in Webster, and Aaron Manor, a skilled nursing facility prepares to open its doors in Penfield, it begs the question: Is the senior living market in Penfield and Webster becoming saturated?

Lisa Wholley, a geriatric care manager at Eldersource, doesn't think so. "I know there are people who wish there were more options," she said. "There is such a large population of seniors who are in need of housing, particularly people looking to sell their homes and move into a living environment that entails less maintenance and more socialization."

And as life expectancy increases, Wholley expects that demand to grow.

Deborah Nicholas, senior marketing director for the Sage Group, which owns Baywinde in Webster, said trends in demand for more senior living options are not the same throughout the area.

"I think Rochester as a community is maxing out," she said of the senior housing market. "We feel that we have found one of the last niches in the Rochester market. The Webster area was definitely under served."

Baywinde Senior Living Community includes independent living at Castle Pointe and The Villas as well as assisted living at Sage Harbor .

Debra Metzger, vice president of planning and project development with St. Ann 's, said they are already seeing a strong demand for the independent living apartments at Cherry Ridge. Deposits for apartments, she said, tripled in January.

Cherry Ridge, Metzger said, differs from Baywinde in that services will be offered on an a la carte basis, meaning seniors can pick the services they wish to pay for rather than in a bundle that is the same for all residents.

Maria Burns of Atria Penfield, an assisted living adult home, said the more variety and options for seniors, the better.

"Everyone is different and everyone looks for different things within the home they chose," she said, "so to have those options is very important."

One senior living option in high demand across the board according to Wholley, is memory care, or housing for seniors experiencing memory loss or suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

There is a waiting list for the memory care communities within Baywinde, according to Nicholas. GrandeVie's memory care facility, "The Caring House," also has a waiting list according to Tina Brown, executive director at GrandeVie Senior Living Community.

In addition to "The Caring House," GrandeVie includes assisted living, and Villagewood, an independent living community, all on the same campus.

Also in Penfield is the independent living community, Legacy at Willow Ponds. Linzi Burns, executive director of Legacy at Willow Ponds, believes there is demand for more senior living options, excluding nursing homes, in Penfield and Webster.

The independent living environment at Legacy at Willow Pond differs from GrandeVie's Villagewood in that Legacy is an unlicensed housing provider, which means it contracts with home health agencies to provide nursing or aide services to residents.

There is a huge need for more subsidized housing for low-income seniors in the Penfield/Webster area and senior living communities that provides services all along the continuum of services, so seniors can transition from a lower level of care to a higher level of care all within the same community, Wholley said.

For the Kesters, Cherry Ridge was the right fit. It allows them to stay in Webster and their new apartment, situated in a woody setting, offers them plenty of the southern exposure they've grown to love at their Woodard Drive home.

There's still worries. The couple struggles with the idea of not owning their home and downsizing after more than 30 years of living in the same house.

Leo Kester fears he will be bored, but the Kesters are optimistic. "After the move is over," Helen Kester said, "I'm looking forward to relaxing."

Fast facts: Senior trends

. According to the New York State Office for the Aging, New York has more than three million residents age 60 and over - the third highest 60-plus population in the country (behind California and Florida ) - comprising 16 percent of the state's population. By 2015, that population is projected to comprise 19.4 percent of New York 's population.

. Life expectancy has recently reached an all-time high of nearly 77 years, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Life expectancy for women is 79.5 years and 74.1 years for men. By 2050, it is estimated to be at 82.9 years for women and 77.5 years for men.

. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National Nursing Home Surveys 2001, there will be approximately three million residents in nursing homes in the year 2030 - roughly double the current number.

. According to Retirement Living News, July 2003, 75 percent of senior living communities built in 2002 were built in or close to outer suburbs.

For more information, answers to questions or referrals for senior services in the Rochester area contact Eldersource at (585) 244-8400 or (585) 325-2800. The Monroe County Office of the Aging can be reached by calling (585) 274-6280.