Member News

Welcome New LeadingAge Florida Members – LeadingAge Florida is excited to announce a new feature of recognizing new members. The following new communities joined during the month of October. If you see them at a Regional Meeting or Education Meeting, please welcome them to the LeadingAge Florida family.

• Blessed Sacrament Manor, Mr. John Agosto, Housing Manager, Tampa
• Patrician Arms II, Ms. Claudia Sabino, Housing Manager, Tampa
• San Clemente Villas, Ms. Tracey Brown, Housing Manager, Plant City
• San Lorenzo Terrace II, Ms. Sally Rincon, Housing Manager, Tampa
• Summer Brook Health Care Center, Ms. Lori Fordham, Administrator, Jacksonville
• The Terraces at Bonita Springs, Mr. Ross Dickmann, Executive Director, Bonita Springs

Lutheran Life Communities Opens New Chapter With Naples Groundbreaking – Lutheran Life Communities is opened a new chapter in its history and the history of the Naples area on October 15, as it broke ground on The Arlington of Naples. The new continuing care retirement community will be the first built in Collier County in more than 30 years, and the first ever faith-based community of its kind to be built in Naples. The $190-million project, due to be completed in the summer of 2015, will create 190 new jobs when open and benefit other businesses and individuals in the area during construction.

Arlington of Naples will offer 132 apartments and 31 villas with amenities such as an indoor aquatic center, outdoor pool, enclosed spa and fitness center, multicultural learning center, and multiple gourmet dining options. The community will include a full continuum of care, including independent living villa homes and apartments, as well as assisted living apartments, private skilled nursing and memory support accommodations. The Arlington is located on 39 acres within the award-winning Lely Resort.

The Arlington of Naples was the vision of several Naples area pastors who saw a need for a local faith-based community and asked Lutheran Life Communities to fill it. The realization of that dream will be a luxury continuing care community that will elevate Naples retirement living to a new level.

“As we break ground on this new community in Florida, our goal remains the same as it always has been,” said Lutheran Life Communities President and CEO Roger W. Paulsberg. “We will faithfully serve and exceed the expectations of each individual who chooses The Arlington of Naples to be their new home.”

For most of its 121-year history, Lutheran Life Communities gained its sterling reputation for faithful continuing care from one location in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Since its first acquisition in 2000, the 501(c)(3) organization has increased the reach of its ministry exponentially, growing to five communities. The Arlington of Naples will be the sixth Lutheran Life Community and its first outside of Illinois and Indiana.

Lutheran Life Communities met and exceeded its pre-sales goal for The Arlington of Naples in June. Currently, approximately 20 percent of the community’s residences are still available, divided between apartments and villas. Individuals who reserve their spot at The Arlington of Naples before the end of the year will have the opportunity to customize their homes by selecting finishes and fixtures.  

Individuals pictured above are:  Left to right: John D. Walz, Lutheran Life Communities Board of Directors; Andrew P. Tecson, Legal Counsel for Lutheran Life Communities; Roger W. Paulsberg, CEO & President of Lutheran Life Communities; Rev. David G. Abrahamson, Chairman of the Lutheran Life Communities' Board of Directors; Marie Carlson, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategic Development of Lutheran Life Communities; Vicki Tracy, Director of the Arlington of Naples; Paula Parks, Lutheran Life Communities Board of Directors; Carl W. Moellenkamp, Senior Vice President & CFO of Lutheran Life Communities; Michael K. Renetzky, Vice Chairman of the Lutheran Life Communities' Board of Directors; James A. Holbrook, Senior Vice President of Operations of Lutheran Life Communities; William J. Cormack, Lutheran Life Communities Board of Directors.

The Terraces At Bonita Springs To Host Grand Opening Celebration – The Terraces at Bonita Springs, a new $70 million senior living community, is hosting a grand opening ceremony on Wednesday, November 6, for invited guests. The ceremony includes a ribbon-cutting event with community and city leaders. Ben Nelson, mayor of Bonita Springs, and Christine Ross, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Economic Development Council, are scheduled to speak.

“It’s exciting to see how older adults in southwest Florida have really jumped at the opportunity to live the kind of lifestyle we offer,” say Ross Dickmann, executive director of The Terraces. “We’re thrilled to have all our programs, activities and features at the community up and running.”

The move-in process for residents started in July. Currently, 92 of the 144 one- to three-bedroom independent living apartments are filled. Many other residents have depositors, and reservations are coming in quickly for the remaining apartments. In all about 300 older adults will move to the community.

“Seniors today want options for a more personal lifestyle over communal,” Dickmann says. “They seek more meaningful social and cultural engagement and they’re more active and involved. They keep an activity schedule that might exhaust even a college kid.”

The Terraces features a first-rate fitness center, pool and spa, auditorium and performance center, business center, arts studio, tennis and bocce courts, several dining venues, and daily wellness, educational and recreational activities.

“The timing of our opening couldn’t have been better,” says Pat Goheen, move-in coordinator at The Terraces. “Market conditions are favorable and we’re seeing most residents are able to sell their current houses within 75 days of listing.”

The Terraces continues to expand its staff. Once full, the community will employ more than 150 full-time employees and provide approximately $7 million annually in salaries, wages and benefits.

“The Terraces is a first-class organization and a wonderful addition to our city,” says Mayor Ben Nelson. “It’s a great source for jobs, will provide excellent services to people and boost the local economy.”

Renaissance at The Terraces, the on-site health center offering a full continuum of health services, is also now open. It includes 107 residences and care levels including assisted living, skilled nursing, memory support and rehabilitation services. Residents at The Terraces have priority access to the health services, but the health center is also open for direct admittance, with no entrance fee.

“It’s been a labor of love for the entire team that has worked to bring this community to life,” says Troy Hart, president of The Terraces and its nonprofit sponsor SantaFe Senior Living. “We’re so happy the greater community has embraced us and appreciate the incredible support we’ve received from city and county officials. We are energized by our mission to ‘enrich the life of each senior we serve’ and look forward to making a difference in southwest Florida.”

In Bonita Springs, people in the 55-64 and 65-74 age groups are the two largest population segments, making up 31 percent of the total population. Nationwide, about 10,000 Baby Boomers will turn 65 every day from now until 2031.

The Terraces at Bonita Springs is a not-for-profit senior living community serving older adults in the Naples, Ft. Myers and Bonita Springs area. The Terraces features maintenance-free independent living apartment homes, as well as lifetime access to on-site health care, including 49 assisted living, 40 skilled nursing and 18 dedicated memory support residences. The Terraces is sponsored by SantaFe Senior Living, a SantaFe HealthCare company.