When it comes to the bustling population of a community, senior
citizens are often over looked but the 55 and over make up a good
portion of the St. Tammany population. With this in mind, the
Archdiocese of New Orleans has built a unique senior living community in
Covington called St. Anthony’s Gardens. The community is located on 24
acres and sits approximately 100 yards from Most Holy Trinity Catholic
Church. The $40 million dollar community will rent the apartments on a
monthly basis with no large cash buy-in required making it the only
private pay senior living community on the Northshore.
St. Anthony Gardens can be compared to a resort with its many resort
style features and amenities.
The Garden Center Commons area has it
all. As with any resort, there is an elegant dining room and private
dining room. Residents can stay fit and healthy in one of the multiple
exercise rooms, cardio and strength training rooms,walking
paths and Wellness clinic with medical exam room. They can stay busy
at the theater, library with resident business center, beauty salon,
barber shop, and arts and crafts studio. For solitude and reflection
there is also an On-site chapel and covered porch.
Archbishop Aymond said, “There is a great deal of growth that
continues on the northshore, and we, as church, realized there was a
demand for a senior living facility. It’s important for the church to
reach out and create a home for its citizens.” There are three new home
residential options. According to Ken Swartzfager, asset manager for
the project, “This is considered a Continuous Care Residential Community
(CCRC), where you can easily transition from one stage of life to the
next.”
The first option is “Independent Living” where residents can enjoy a
healthy, active independent lifestyle along with the amenities and
services provided by St. Anthony’s Gardens. Residents will be provided
with housekeeping, lawn service, 24-hour concierge service,
complimentary transportation to scheduled events, basic cable, HDTV
digital audio/video output, high-speed internet, free local/National
long distance calling and home repairs. The 120 independent living
units (studio, one bedroom or two bedroom) feature 9 ft. ceilings with
crown molding in living and dining areas, gourmet style kitchen with
island and breakfast bar, full-sized kitchen appliances plus washer and
dryer, generous walk-in closets and best of all they are pet-friendly.
The second option is “Assisted Living” which consists of 57 studio,
one bedroom or two bedroom floorplans. According to the community
website, residents are “Home but Never Lonely.” The assisted living
residents will enjoy a kitchenette, 24-hour security and emergency call
system, individual heating and cooling controls and plenty of storage
space in each unit. The residents will be provided with assistance with
activities and daily living, medication management, weekly housekeeping
and linen services, three meals daily in restaurant-style dining room
or room service, transportation to (medical care, stores and community
services), and social and recreational activities.
The third option is called “Memory Care” and is dedicated for
residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias. The 36
spacious suites include 24-hour security and emergency call system,
three meals a day served family style or room service, medication
administration, weekly housekeeping and linen services, daily activity
programming, physical and occupational therapy, and a full calendar of
resident activities. This area not only has full time loving care staff,
but also keeps their special residents in mind with dedicated secure
walking areas, scheduled transportation and specialized activities in
the craft room.
John Eckholdt, former chief executive officer of the archdiocese
says, “It’s state of the art and very safe. There’s a nice neighborhood
and a major hospital almost within walking distance. The church is
there. And, the fact that the archdiocese’s name is attached to it is a
sign to people that it’s going to be well-done and people will be cared
for.” Those that are looking to downsize from a larger home and live on
the Northshore now have a new residential option. In fact, Covington’s
new development already has its first resident. Stanley and Frances
Bridges have moved into an independent living home and feel blessed that
they are able to stay in the community they have lived in. Stanley
Bridges grew up in Covington and retired as a pharmacist at Herbert
Drugs. When asked about his new home, he said, “It’s fantastic – they
treat you like royalty.” The development is not only a great place for
Northshore senior citizens but will also be a hub for employment for
Northshore residents. “When the community is fully occupied, St.
Anthony’s Gardens should employ nearly 100 people”, Swartzfager said.
Click
Here,
Here and
Here for the Sources of Information.
A list of the 21 green building products or practices used per the
standards of the National Green Building Standard Certification include
solar water heaters, passive solar design, energy management systems,
reused or salvaged materials, smart appliances, prefabricated
components, building materials driven from renewable resources,
recycling construction waste, building materials with recycled content,
alternatives to dimensional lumber, on-demand
water heaters, materials from regional suppliers, water conserving
faucets and fixtures, efficient construction techniques that minimize
material usage, moisture control measures to enhance durability,
improving the home’s thermal envelope, duct systems designed to minimize
leakage, ENERGY STAR® appliances, programmable thermostats, high
efficiency HVAC systems, and low-e windows.
