Photograph by Paul Myers
Brian Lee works on an elevator door in a building that is part of an expanded Saratoga Retirement Community, 14500 Fruitvale Ave. The building, which opened Nov. 5, has 114 residential and assisted-living units.
Order of Odd Fellows continues its expansion
By Rebecca Ray
As former executive director of the Saratoga Area Senior Coordinating Council, Mary Goulart often met seniors who wished for a retirement community with independent living units in Saratoga. Now it looks like they'll get their wish.
Members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows are expanding the Saratoga Retirement Community, 14500 Fruitvale Ave., to provide all levels of care for seniors 62 and over, including independent-living units. Independent living units are for active seniors who don't want to maintain large homes, but who still want to live at a certain level of comfort.
The Odd Fellows is the first fraternity in the United States to establish homes for its senior members. The order, founded in 18th century England, built a home in Saratoga in 1912, where non-members can also live.
The state approved the plans and architecture for the expanded Saratoga Retirement Community, but needs to give the retirement community final approval as a "continuing care retirement community," said Dennis Russell, regional vice president of Pacific Retirement Services Inc., which manages the facility.
For almost two years, construction workers have renovated and expanded California Villa, which opened Nov. 5, a building on the Odd Fellows' property that will have 114 residential-style and assisted-living units. A skilled nursing and rehabilitation center is scheduled to open by January 2002. The center and residential and assisted-living units make up the first phase of the construction project.
The retirement community plans to have independent living units by spring 2004. These units make up the projects second phase, which will also include new landscaping, renovation of the main building and restoration of the building's exterior to its original grandeur.
Pacific Retirement Services expects 81 full-time equivalent employees--who include caregivers, housekeepers, social workers and activities directors--to serve 137 residents in residential and assisted living, Russell said. He added that Pacific Retirement Services expects 55 full-time equivalent employees--who do not include dietary, security or administrative employees--to serve 87 residents in skilled nursing, and 55 workers to serve 168 independent-living residents.
California Villa, which will feature residential and assisted-living units, will have studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments with bathrooms, closets and kitchenettes. The apartments will range from $3,200 to $4,650 a month.
The rent will include three meals a day, housekeeping, linen service, all utilities except telephone, staff on duty 24 hours a day, transportation services, a 24-hour emergency response system, regular blood pressure checks, a fitness center with a whirlpool tub and other activities. The activities will include West Valley College classes for older adults, day trips and bridge. Residents in assisted living will receive help with additional tasks, such as bathing, dressing and/or the storing, monitoring and dispensing of their medications.
The building will have elevators, activity rooms, a general store and a special care unit for residents with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
The skilled nursing and rehabilitation center will have 94 beds in 42 semi-private and 10 private suites. Hospice workers will help tenants who have terminal illnesses, and the retirement community will provide tenants with full therapy and a full pharmacy, said Goulart, marketing director of the first two phases of the project.
The independent-living units will include 38 duplex cottages, one freestanding cottage and 103 one- to three-bedroom apartments. By paying entry and monthly maintenance fees, residents will live in units with full kitchens, washers and dryers.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
