LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–An estimated 6.5 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia. To help meet the growing need for those requiring memory care, Front Porch Communities and Services continues to expand its resources through innovative services and expanded capacity in multiple locations across California. With 19 senior living and 32 affordable housing communities, Front Porch is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit senior living providers.
“Memory care has long been provided at many Front Porch communities and today we are seeing a growing demand to offer this service for residents with Alzheimer’s and related dementias,” said Front Porch CEO John Woodward. “We believe it is our responsibility to respond so we can continue to serve the needs of current and future residents.”
As part of this commitment, Front Porch expanded memory care at its Vista del Monte campus in Santa Barbara by converting 24 skilled nursing rooms to 16 memory care accommodations. Additionally, San Francisco Towers added 12 memory care accommodations on a floor previously used for skilled nursing.
Similar changes are in progress at other Front Porch campuses. Fredericka Manor in Chula Vista is converting eight independent living cottages into 22 additional memory care accommodations. The recent closure of skilled nursing at Walnut Village in Anaheim has cleared the way for an expansion of its memory care program with 31 additional apartments. Most recently, Front Porch acquired land adjacent to Carlsbad By The Sea for a proposed site new 40,000 sq. ft. multi-level building that will include 19 suites for memory care.
“Memory care at Front Porch is a welcoming place where our compassionate staff work to meet the needs of each individual with an emphasis on dignity and whole-person well-being,” said Woodward. “Our goal is to see our residents flourish through personal attention, meaningful connection, and opportunities for self-expression. From cultural events to cognitive enrichment and the latest technologies, ours is a nurturing, stimulating environment that we are now happy to offer to even more people at more of our communities.”
As part of this effort, Front Porch’s Center for Innovation and Wellbeing (CIW) integrated groundbreaking technology into memory care programming in ways that improve both mental and physical engagement. CIW’s innovations have resulted in wide-ranging benefits including improved relaxation, motivation, socialization, memory, language abilities, focus, and concentration. These technologies have also been shown to reduce stress, loneliness, boredom, and the need for psychotropic drugs.
Woodward noted that the COVID-19 pandemic forced his organization to put many of its capital plans on hold and focus on immediate once-in-a-lifetime demands. He went on to highlight that the financial strength of Front Porch allows the company to now move forward with a number of capital development projects, including the expansion of memory care. In FY22 Front Porch capital spending approached nearly $90 million and Woodward anticipates capital spending in FY23 to be approximately the same.
In its audit report released last month, Front Porch Communities and Services received confirmation of its “A” rating from Fitch Ratings and its “A-” rating from S&P Global (Standard & Poor’s), both with a “stable outlook.” Only one other not-for-profit senior living organization in the country has “A” category ratings from both agencies.
About Front Porch
Front Porch is a dynamic not-for-profit organization, dedicated to empowering individuals to live connected and fulfilled lives through community and innovation. In support of this vision, Front Porch provides quality, accessible and affordable human services to approximately 7,500 residents in 19 senior living and 32 affordable housing communities. Other programs and services connect more than 10,000 participants throughout the country. Learn more at frontporch.net.
Contacts
Mary McMullin
MMcMullin@FrontPorch.net
(925) 956-7353
