Enhanced Active Living, LLC
Enhanced Active Living Definitions
Enhanced Active Living, LLC (EAL) is affiliated with Senior Consulting, LLC (SC). SC and its principal have over 30 years of experience in Senior Living operations and development. Over the last several years, SC has focused on Active Living development and its "Enhanced Active Living" brand.
Various industry sources, including the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC.org), define Independent Living (IL) as over-55 apartments where residents receive at least one meal per day with options for other meals, with laundry and bi-weekly housekeeping included in the rent. However, IL has different meanings for consumers, let alone for many operators or owners. Most Active Adult/Active Living projects are developed by Multi-Family developers, and few projects include restaurants or Wellness Centers.
Key Components
The Enhanced Active Living Model
Enhanced Active Living communities are designed to give residents added layers of attention to their physical, mental, and emotional well-being — with services available as needed or as a bundled package.
"Enhanced" Defined
"Enhanced" is defined as "an increase or to improve the quality or value." Residents at our Enhanced Active Living communities will have added layers of attention to their needs including physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Services are available as a bundled package, or on a pay-as-you-go/as-needed basis that presents a better financial value.
Active Living & Walkability
Active Living means being more physically active. Active Baby Boomers prefer living in locations with great walkability: Master-Planned communities with trails, or neighborhoods with restaurants and amenities close to their community.
Aging in Place
Residents at Enhanced Active Living projects can age in place because of the optional availability of high-end, full-service dining facilities, other services (including housekeeping, laundry, and transportation), and an on-site Wellness Center staffed by a HHA or HBOC that will, with a physician's order, provide care similar to Assisted Living on a case-by-case-basis.
Wellness Center
The Wellness Center will provide services that allow residents to stay in the community versus relocating to an Assisted Living facility or a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF). An RFQ/RFP is required when Medicare reimbursement is offered in addition to Private Pay. This will include hospital-owned HHA's or HBOC and others as a third party to provide AL services with a doctor's order. Personal care providers will also be available for residents.
Lifelong Learning Center
A Lifelong Learning Center will be available for residents and open to the public with a full spectrum of scheduled events and classes. The Lifelong Learning Center will also include a broad range of Intergenerational Programs that will primarily match youth and children with residents, as well as with seniors in the extended community.
Technology
Technology is an important factor in the quality of life as we age. Senior residents can look forward to wide access to the Internet and other technology. Environmental and lighting controls, optional GPS tracking to monitor health and well-being, touchless controls, and other features help improve the quality of life and better protect residents from viral or bacterial concerns.
Culinary Experience
Unlike Independent Living, Enhanced Active Living projects will offer a "Culinary Experience." Two restaurants (as well as a separate pub served by the same commercial kitchen) will have an extensive restaurant-style menu (versus the 2-3 dinner choices typically available at IL facilities). Depending on the market and the operator/manager, residents will receive a monthly $700 meal credit to be used at the restaurants, as well as discounted additional meal packages available for purchase.
Salon & Spa
An upscale Salon/Spa will offer massages, facials, manicures/pedicures, hair, and waxing services.
Additional Services
In addition to the storefronts, other third-party services or management-provided services include: Concierge services (if not provided by the community manager), professional entertainment, pool and fitness center management and/or maintenance, and personal transportation.
Strategy
Customizing the Model in Compelling Locations
SC targets affluent, high-density areas in major metros and then identifies appropriate off-market sites. As a result, SC seldom works with real estate brokers. Compelling high-income, high-density major metro suburbs rarely have suitably zoned Multi-Family or Senior Housing sites. SC makes a strong case to rezone a site that creates considerable added value in these high barrier-to-entry locations.
Restaurants, Wellness Center & Salon/Spa
These uses are necessary at an IL facility (and to a lesser degree as an AL alternative). The spaces are only slightly upsized since they are also open to the public. Each is a separate storefront with individual signage.
Master Plans & High Traffic Locations
Most of SC's sites are in Master Plans that have walkability, while others are in minor subdivisions. One Enhanced Active Living project is in the East Village Master Plan with 800 residential units in Phase I–IV, while another is part of a 100-acre Master Plan anchored by a hospital with many retail/commercial and restaurant uses.
Conclusion
Built for Baby Boomers
Baby Boomers have different and more demanding expectations than their parents when selecting a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), an Independent Living facility, or an Assisted Living facility. Baby Boomers are living longer and healthier lives, and they want more services and on a predominately optional basis. Business centers with video conferencing and state-of-the-art technology are important, as is a desire to live in large apartments versus living in smaller Assisted Living units like their family members may have done.
Moreover, the overwhelming majority of the components of an Enhanced Active Living community are applicable to senior housing of all income levels.