By Carolyn Bahm
Express Editor
People with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia need an extra level of care, and Bartlett-area residents will have a new resource by early 2015.
Construction on the Quail Ridge Alzheimer’s Special Care Center should begin within the next couple of months when the weather warms up enough for concreted to be poured, according to the real estate agent who handled the land purchase.
The four and one-half acres of land was purchased for $1,176,000 from the Sneed Family Trust, according to commercial real estate agent Martin Edwards Jr. of Edwards Management Inc. Realtors in Memphis.
Quail Ridge will be across the street from Robinwood retirement community on Kirby Whitten Parkway in Bartlett.
The total project, including the land purchase, will total approximately $10 million, Edwards said. An estimated 54 percent of the land will be landscaping, with the rest given to the building and parking
The facility will cover about 33,000 square feet, house up to 66 residents and employee about 50 people when at full capacity, according to a press release from the owners, JEA Senior Living. Pricing has not yet been released for residents.
JEA Senior Living is a privately owned and operated management and development company based in Vancouver, Wash. Over the past 27 years, the company has managed, consulted and owned more than 50 care centers.
Robinwood’s community manager, Josh Brown, said his organization has had conversations with the Quail Ridge owners. He expects the new facility’s services will differ from what Robinwood offers.
Because of memory issues and confusion, Alzheimer’s patients require a lockdown facility and a staff that includes orderlies to prevent them from wandering away and coming to harm. Brown said Robinwood, by contrast, has residents who range from needing no help at all to others who need minor assistance and still others who need 24-hour care. The ones requiring extra care get it from privately contracted outside providers who work with their patients at Robinwood. Some of Robinwood’s most common services are medication reminders, help with bathing and dressing, and tasks like laundry, housekeeping and transportation.
Phil Johnson, director of economic development for the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC), said JEA Senior Living asked the chamber for help about a year ago. BACC helped with demographics about retirement homes in the area and even assisted in choosing the Quail Ridge name.
“We have been involved, and we will be involved,” Johnson said.
He predicted more facilities for senior citizens will arise in the area. “The fact is that we have some wonderful communities nearby here in Bartlett that are serving retirees, whether it be Robinwood or some of the large apartment complexes that have a lot of retirees and older people. We are probably in a good spot to grow this type of business and the ancillary jobs that will support them.”
Bartlett mayor Keith McDonald agreed.
“I’d love to say it was all us, but it was location, location, location. We’re just in the right spot at the right time,” McDonald said. “… Because we have so many adult facilities already, this is just a natural.”
For more information, call JEA at (800) 254-9442 or go online to jeaseniorliving.com.
