Number of Loudoun’s senior living communities are growing to meet demand – Loudoun Times-Mirror

At the senior living community Tribute in One Loudoun, there is a common theme among residents and prospective residents — they are looking for an active and engaging environment within the surrounding community and a life filled with purpose, according to Executive Director Zoie Barcus.

Tribute’s Ashburn location is currently at 60 percent occupancy with 11 new residents scheduled to move in during the month of October. Barcus said this is the highest number of residents since they opened in 2017 and are seeing an increase of new interest since the pandemic began.

“Families are now resuming searches and looking for a safe option for loved ones,” Barcus said. “As we talk to families now versus 20 months ago the safety piece — infection control and safety measures — their interest level has changed and is more important. We have been able to demonstrate our ability to keep residents safe, vaccination rates are high – 100 percent of team members and 99 percent of residents are vaccinated.”

Barcus said incoming residents are interested in finding active enrichment that provides meaning and purpose throughout their lives.

“The future of assisted living is modern aging, and offering programs current and future residents will want. There are a lot of great options in Loudoun and we are proud to be part of this vibrant community,” she said. “We are seeing consumers viewing aging as the next chapter that they can celebrate rather than a health challenge — seeking a better life filled with joy, rather than a solution to a problem,” she said.

She said Tribute is able to offer the type of connections people seek for various levels of independent living or assisted living, as well as through community outreach programs with local nonprofit organizations and through their internal programs promoting community wellness.

“We do food drives for students that need food assistance in the county. We also host a local rotary club and partner with them on some of their civic efforts. We are focused on providing a fun and uplifting environment,” she said.

According to the 2017 Loudoun County Housing Needs Assessment Report conducted by the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis, during the forecast period of 2015-2040, the demand for housing for people age 65 years and older is projected to increase substantially. Loudoun could see 11,900 more 65+ households in 2040 than 2015, which is driven by the aging Baby Boomer population, according to the report.

Loudoun currently has 15 assisted living facilities and five nursing homes.

In general, the Area Agency on Aging is seeing a trend for building more assisted living communities in Loudoun, according to county spokesman Glen Barbour.

In September, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Unmet Housing Needs Strategic Plan, and part of the plan’s goals is to provide affordable housing for Loudoun’s aging population. The idea is to support smaller housing options and provide an opportunity for people to age in place in smaller units.

There is a growing population of single, older adults who do not need a large home, but the current housing stock is primarily three- and four-bedroom homes, according to Sarah Etro, housing coordinator for the Office of the County Administrator.

“Getting more housing types that fits our demographics becomes important,” she said.

Reflections Assisted Living

Sheetal Patel and her husband Roshan recently purchased the former Sunrise Assisted Living on West Market Street in Leesburg and renamed it Reflections Assisted Living.

As the former administrator at Great Falls Assisted Living, Patel saw it as the perfect opportunity to revamp the home with some “extra love and care.”

They took over operations in July 2020 it was able to remain open during renovations because Patel already had a state approved license.

After about eight months of slowly gutting the interior and replacing the roof, it now has a different feel, she said.

“It’s up-to-date which makes it a better place for people to work and live,” she said.

Patel’s focus is on providing quality care and excellent customer service for the 42-bed community. Currently, there are 18 residents.

“We are seeing an increase of people interested,” she said. “There are a lot of people who want to stay in Leesburg. There are a variety of rooms which is why I love this building,”

Reflections offers assisted living for anyone 62 and older who need some form of assistance and can no longer stay by themselves due to a need for medication management, home cooked meals and help with hygiene or transportation. They also plan outings around the local area.

Patel said she hopes that people currently living in Leesburg are able to stay in Leesburg as they age and by offering a caring, tight-knit community, she will cater to what people need and want.

“Loneliness and isolation can cause the rapid decline of their health,” she said. “It’s always been my dream to open an assisted living community and offer affordable care.”

The Goodwin House

The Goodwin House Senior Living in the Avonlea development, a community for adults ages 54 and older, is slated to open in Chantilly in 2025.

The company has been based in Northern Virginia since 1967 and is a faith-based not-for-profit organization, according to Lindsay Hutter, chief strategy and marketing officer.

The Chantilly location — set on 5.9 acres between Tall Cedar Parkway and Route 50 — will be its first senior living community in Loudoun County. The project is a collaboration with the Peterson Companies, which is the master developer of Avonlea.

The decision to open in Loudoun was based in part on future projections showing a need for more senior living options.

“Over the next 20 years, the number of older adults needing high quality, financially accessible senior living in our country will nearly double, and Loudoun County will see its population of older adults grow faster than any other area in Northern Virginia,” said Rob Liebreich, president and CEO. “We see these growing demographics of older adults and believe our mission calls us to find additional ways to support, honor and uplift the lives of older adults and those who care for them through the development of a not-for-profit senior living community at the Avonlea.”

The community will consist of 202 apartments providing independent living, assisted living and memory support, and will feature a variety of wellness and brain health programs.

One draw to the Loudoun location is the connection to nature and outdoor activities, Hutter said. The community will have outdoor fitness, herb gardens, fire pits, pickle ball and will aim to bring the outdoors in.

“We feel Loudoun offers a lot of opportunities for older adults to thrive,” said Hutter. “People want to wake up with purpose and be vibrant and active. That purpose involves residents in the broader community and we are delighted to bring that to Loudoun County.”