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Len Thomsen exercises on the Wii Fit as Via Elegante staffer Chris Bines keeps an eye on him. The home reflects the move away from institutional settings.

Photos by Dean Knuth / arizona daily star

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What to look for in a home

Although the state health department does require a license to operate an assisted-living home, it also advises would-be clients and their families to be careful in selecting such homes. A health department consumer guide instructs family members of assisted-living residents to make unannounced visits to the homes, carefully review admission agreements and examine the homes' public files.

"Choosing the right home or center will require you to use critical judgement and to rely on the intuitive 'gut feeling' of the prospective resident or his/her representative," the guide states.

To check the public files of an assisted-living home go to www.azcarecheck.com then click the link below Assisted Living and enter the facility's name.

Homes regulated, inspected by state

Business

Assisted living spreads to more homelike settings in Tucson

By Christie Smythe and Dale Quinn

Arizona Daily Star

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 06.22.2008

There are no cafeteria-style dining halls or hospital smells at Indevco Partners Inc.'s assisted-living homes.

Two of the three homes at the complex, called Via Elegante, at North La Cholla Boulevard and West River Road, are renovated custom homes. Another is a brand-new home built to mimic high-end real estate — with granite kitchen countertops and stylish furniture.

"With our homes we've created this beautiful piece of real estate," said Andrew Briefer, Indevco Partners president. "When you combine that with a level of respect and care … it's just like a higher level of dignity and it's a really nice experience for the families."

While Indevco's property may be high-end — rent ranges from about $4,000 to $6,500 per month, private-payers only — it represents a growing trend. With real estate deals abounding, assisted-living homes, from moderate to high-priced, are appearing in residential areas around the Tucson area.

Ordinary houses can be converted into assisted-living homes for up to 10 residents without needing zoning changes.

There are about 400 assisted-living facilities licensed in Pima County now, which is up from about 320 four years ago, said Alan Oppenheim, the deputy assistant director for the Arizona Department of Health Services' Division of Licensing Services.

In Pima County, five to eight new licenses are sought each month for assisted-living facilities, Oppenheim said. At the same time some other licenses lapse, but overall there's an increase, he said.

Most of those licenses are going to new assisted-living homes, rather than assisted-living centers, which house 11 or more residents, Oppenheim said.

"The world is changing"

Briefer and his business partners saw a growing market in assisted-living facilities catering to seniors who are looking for an alternative to large, institutional assisted-living centers or nursing homes.

As baby boomers age, they will most likely demand more-homelike settings in which to live out their final years, Briefer said. Residents also benefit from having regular staff members around who can take care of their needs and get to know them well, he said.

"The world is changing. I don't think you'll see as many nursing homes in the future," he said.

At one of Indevco's homes, resident Jane Poston, 85, said she enjoys living in a quiet, home-style setting. Poston, a former teacher and Peace Corps volunteer, enjoys painting and has decorated the assisted-living home with numerous pieces of her artwork.

"It's been a very full life," she said. "I'm quite content to be quiet now and simmer down a bit."

Jenifer Packer and her husband, Edward Valencia, opened a home, Casa De Valencia Assisted Living, in October in Rita Ranch. Packer said they bought and renovated a four-bedroom new home, investing a total of $280,000 in the project.

The home currently houses three residents and can accommodate up to five, Packer said. Monthly rent averages about $3,000 per resident, she said.

Packer said she and her husband both worked as caregivers before opening the assisted-living home.

"There's a lot of people getting into the market," Packer said.

Not as easy as it looks

Joel Gibson, who has owned Daisy Blooms Adult Care Home at 8742 E. 27th St. since 1993, said the assisted-care-home business can be much more difficult than some people anticipate. It can take years to break even, he said.

Among the challenges for owners of assisted-living homes is regulation by the state Department of Health Services.

The state has cited Gibson's business for 24 violations in about the last year, according to the department's Web site.

Daisy Blooms was cited for 13 violations when it was inspected on April 25, mostly for failures to properly document patient and employee information, the Web site says. All of the violations were corrected when an inspector returned to the home about a month later, the Web site says.

Previously, on June 6, 2007, Daisy Blooms was cited for 11 violations, three of which involved failures to properly prepare employees and patients for an evacuation in case of a fire, according to the Web site. Gibson said that issue was also addressed and corrected by the time the inspector returned to check on it.

"There were some small violations they cited me for," Gibson said. At his care home, Gibson said he tried to remove any hazards that may pose a risk to his residents to avoid any citations.

The strict regulations haven't stopped Gibson, who has been operating his home for about 15 years. The rising cost of living has had an impact though, he said.

"A lot of people do get burned out on it because it's 24 hours," he said. "The only benefit you have is that people appreciate you."

● To contact reporters: Christie Smythe, 434-4083 or csmythe@azstarnet.com; Dale Quinn, 573-4197 or dquinn@azstarnet.com.

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