Prime Living

ONE OF THE BEST parts about retirement is choice. Everything-from deciding whether to sleep late and stay home in order to work on a favorite hobby to choosing which week to visit the grandkids-is open for consideration once eight-hour-plus work days are a distant memory. These small choices during retirement are usually fun and easy to make. It’s the bigger choices in retirement-such as where to live- that deserve greater, more serious attention. Fortunately, this choice isn’t as difficult to make as it once was with the incredible new retirement living options available in and around the Dallas area.

Those age 50 and older are now the fastest growing segment of the population. In fact, one out of every five people in the Dallas area is over 50. And, whether you’re retired or just very close to it-choosing the right place to live during retirement is essential because the choice you make can also dictate the lifestyle you’ll have. Michael Richardson, president of operations at US Home, developer of Fairview’s age-qualified active adule resort community, Heritage Ranch, says planning is everything when it comes to retirement living options.

“Retirement living used to mean picking up and moving to a better place for the climate, usually out of state,” Richardson says. “But there is an increasing number of people who want to stay in the same area or city where they grew up, had their careers, or raised their families. They want to live somewhere that offers a different and fun lifestyle and allows them to interact with their peers.”

A variety of living options are available in and around the Dallas area for those at different stages of retirement. From age-qualified, resort-style communities filled with an abundance of recreation opportunities for the newly-retired adult to upscale retirement communities that offer the best in continuing care throughout the senior years, Dallas residents in search of a retirement destination for themselves, their parents, or their grandparents can rest easy knowing they’ll have a unique place to call home.



AGE-QUALIFIED ACTIVE ADULT COMMUNITIES

DEL WEBB’S SUN CITY GEORGETOWN

Nestled in the beautiful Texas Hill Country 30 miles north of Austin is Sun City Georgetown, an age-qualified retirement community in Georgetown for active adults age 50 and older. Covering approximately 5,300 acres, Sun City Georgetown is a Del Webb master-planned community with more than 3,100 residents. The community expects a population growth of up to 17,000 upon its completion in about 18 years.

Sun City Georgetown is becoming well-known throughout Texas and the nation as a premier retirement community, winning the Silver Award for “Best in Active Adult Community” from the National Association of Home Builders in 1998 and one of the “Top 20 Retirement Communities” in the U.S. by New Choices Magazine in 1998 and 1999. Located in the heart of Central Texas, Sun City Georgetown is small-town, private community close to many residents’ family and friends, as well as the urban conveniences of nearby Austin-another attractive feature. Dallas residents have really noticed the enticing lifestyle Sun City Georgetown offers-about 50 percent of the residents are from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Residents also enjoy the community’s authentic country ranch/Hill Country atmosphere, native limestone buildings and features, mild weather, and shady live oak trees throughout.

However, the main attractions bringing residents to Sun City Georgetown are the amenities and activities which include an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a tennis center, the Legacy Hills Golf Club & Grille, the soon-to-open White Wing Golf Club, a state-of-the-art fitness center, miles of scenic nature trails, an arts and crafts center, a woodworking center, a barbecue pavilion and park, a natural lake stocked with fish, a health clinic on site, and 12 fully-furnished model homes. Residents are members of several Sun City clubs.

The Village center is the social and recreational hub of the community featuring a ballroom, a billiards room, and a library. Nearby is the crafts building which houses the Village Store, an art studio, a ceramics room with three kilns, and a sewing room. The latest addition to the community is the state-of-the-art wood-shop. Sun City residents don’t have to travel far for city conveniences. Travel and insurance agencies, a hair salon, a market, golf cart sales, gas stations, banking, and a Senior University are all located within the community.

Sun City encourages visits from the residents’ family and friends. The park features a large pavilion near the lake-the perfect spot for family reunions, and there is a playground nearby where visiting grandchildren can play.

Those shopping around for a retirement community can take advantage of Sun City’s Vacation Getaway program which offers people 50 and older the opportunity to sample the Sun City lifestyle. Packages include two- and three-night stays in fully-furnished homes, gift certificates to the Legacy Hills Grille, and unlimited use of the Village Center recreational facilities. Guests enjoy Sun City tours, a wine and cheese party each week to meet residents and, a continental breakfast every morning. For Vacation Getaway information, call 1-800-833-5932.

Homes in Sun City Georgetown feature custom appointments and lavish touches throughout. A variety of floorplans are available to suit different lifestyles. Home styles range from one-bedroom cottages to two- and three-bedroom classics and ranchers to 3,150-square-foot luxury residences. All homes are semi-custom and feature cultured limestone or stucco exteriors to blend in with the surroundings. Many homes include sought-after features such as side entry garages, large front porches, ceramic tile, great rooms, split bedrooms. Homes are priced from approximately $125,650 to more than 5300,000.

For more information, call 1-800-833-5636.



HERITAGE RANCH

Those eyeing retirement in the next few years can now add visiting Heritage Ranch to their retirement-planning agenda. The Dallas area is finally getting its first age-qualified active adult resort community in Fairview, north of Piano and east of 1-75 between Allen and McKinney. Situated on 572 acres of rolling terrain, Heritage Ranch will include 1,144 single-family homes and a $15 million amenity package. This resort-style facility will include a 20,000-square-foot clubhouse along with an 18-hole Arthur Hills championship golf course.

Heritage Ranch is a development of US Home Corporation (NYSE-UH) which currently has 30 active adult residential communities in place across the nation. Heritage Ranch will offer four product types ranging from 1,500 to more than 3,000 square feet with prices ranging from the $140s to the $290s. Residents will take ownership in the resort-sty]e amenities through the Homeowner’s Association, giving each homeowner an equity interest in the $15 million complex.

The clubhouse will be the centerpiece of the community featuring an auditorium, restaurant and bar, computer lab, fitness facility media room, business center, swimming pool, and tennis courts. An extensive system of walking trails throughout the community and the championship Arthur Hills golf course with its natural creek views complement the indoor recreational activities. A full-time staff will be on-hand to plan activities at the clubhouse such as arts and crafts classes, computer training, and a variety of other activities.

Residents can also take advantage of participating in small planned trips with their neighbors to favorite nearby places such as gambling in Shreveport and shopping in Canton. The natural beauty of the area is an amenity in itself. Heritage Ranch residents can enjoy the rolling hills with creeks, an abundance of 100-year-old trees, and a natural spring waterfall. More than half of the total acreage will be dedicated to open space.

Because Heritage Ranch is an age qualified community, 80 percent of the home sites must be owned by at least one resident age 55 or older. No permanent residents under the age of 19 can live in Heritage Ranch.

“Heritage Ranch will offer a lifestyle that is not available in the market today,’1 Richardson says. “People spend their lives devoted to raising their families and advancing their careers. The lifestyle offered at Heritage Ranch will allow the residents to develop a whole new social network.”

Completion of the first set of homes in Heritage Ranch is scheduled for late 2000 or early 2001, with the golf course scheduled to open in the spring of 2001. For more information, call the Heritage Ranch Hotline at 972-297-6515.



SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES

THE FORUM AT PARK LANE

One of the most convenient aspects of The Forum, a Marriott Senior Living Community, is its continuing care feature, Forum residents have peace of mind knowing that if their needs should change, they can always choose from the community’s independent, assisted, and intermediate and skilled nursing services. Rehabilitation therapy is also available.

Located at 7827 Park Lane in Dallas, this upscale community meets the standards of the most discriminating resident. A favorite feature at The Forum is its dining services. The dining room is similar to a fine restaurant with linen napkins, gourmet menus, fine china, table-served meals, and an exquisite décor. The latest addition to The Forum’s dining services is the Picasso Room, an area set aside for more formal dining occasions. Reservations are required, and residents often invite friends and family to join them for special celebrations, such as birthdays and anniversaries. Picasso Room diners are treated to the best in fine dining with gourmet cuisine ranging from roast tenderloin of beef with brandy cream to whole smoked trout. Specialty liqueurs and tableside flambé complete the elegance. Other favorite dining services are the daily continental breakfast buffet and weekly outdoor dining at the Patio Grill.

The Forum is especially proud of its assisted living suites, which offer the rewards of independent living, complemented by a personal level of assistance. The suites are designed to meet the needs of independent retirees who wish to maintain their active, independent lifestyles, yet have the security of knowing that assistance is available when needed. The Forum has 34 one- and two-bedroom assisted living suites with a professional staff that can assist with bathing, grooming, dressing, dining, and medication monitoring. Assisted living residents can also take advantage of The Forum’s other services-housekeeping, transportation, scheduled events and activities, and entertainment, among others. All residents at The Forum can choose from a variety of floorplans of spacious apartments that can accommodate all of their favorite furnishings and keepsakes from home.

Call 214-369-9905 for information.



An EdenCare Assisted Living Community, EdenBrook in Piano offers residents assisted living and Alzheimer care in an upscale environment. EdenCare recognizes the diverse lifestyle needs of seniors today, as well as the revolutionary changes in the delivery of healthcare services.

EdenBrook is the first of EdenCare’s original prototypes in Dallas, enabling residents to enjoy an ongoing quality of life, even as their healthcare needs increase. EdenBrook provides customized services that emphasize self-management of daily activities and wellness amenities such as relaxing spa baths, aromatherapy, massages, exercise classes, walking programs, customized recreational games, disease intervention, and most importantly-a zest for life. EdenCare communities further demonstrate their commitment to “aging in place” by offering ancillary services such as therapy, management of chronic condirions, and home care.

EdenBrook’s Customized Care Program matches care services to the ever-changing needs of the residents and their healthcare situation. Amenities such as housekeeping, heart-healthy meals prepared by a chef, transportation, and daily activities are included in the monthly rent. The private apartments are designed for the upscale resident and are equipped with a full bath, walk-in closets, and kitchenette, and they range in size from 290 to 730 square feet. In addition to their apartments, residents can relax in the elegant common areas, the library, a tearoom, the garden room, and the conservatory, or they can invite guests and family for dinner in the private dining room.

EdenBrook offers the Keepsake Program to provide the best quality of life for residents with memory impairments. For those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other conditions that impair memory, EdenBrook’s Keepsake Program provides innovative living environments and activities to maximize quality of life.

The Keepsake Neighborhoods are safe, cozy, and cheerful places with inviting activity areas including Life Skills Centers where, with assistance, residents participate in familiar activities such as setting the table, folding towels, gardening, working at a desk, or baking. EdenBrook offers both private and companion Keepsake suites which feature individual armoires, a private bathroom, and personal security call buttons.

Driven by a commitment to help residents lead happier, healthier, and more independent lives, the healthcare professionals of EdenCare Senior Living Services, in consultation with respected geriatric physicians, have developed Disease Management Protocols for the most common disease states of assisted living residents.

EdenCare continually researches and implements programs that allow residents the highest possible quality of life, including opportunities for rehabilitation-given their physical and mental limitation. EdenCare is committed to caring for the mind, body, and spirit of its residents.

Call 972-473-7400 for information.

CLASSIC RESIDENCE BY HYATT

Situated in the heart of Dallas at 5455 La Sierra Drive is Classic Residence by Hyatt, an upscale, luxury retirement apartment community for independent seniors. Residents enjoy amenities such as an elegant, full-service dining room, a beautiful 10-story atrium with fountain, a fitness center, a heated pool with deck, a library, a club room, and several beautifully-appointed lounge areas for visiting with friends and guests.

Classic Residence by Hyatt offers some of the most spacious apartment homes in Dallas featuring full kitchens, washers and dryers, all utilities except phone, individually controlled heating and air conditioning, and a 24-hour emergency call center, among other amenities. A daily continental breakfast, a daily choice of lunch or dinner, long-term extended care insurance, weekly housekeeping and linen service, a 24-hour concierge service, assigned and covered parking, and maintenance service is included in the monthly fee. Also included is scheduled transportation for shopping, events, and appointments and well as planned cultural, educational, and social events.

Another benefit of Classic Residence by Hyatt is its convenience. Although most residents are quite active, they can take advantage of the many on-site services. The community has an on-site bank, hair salon, and manicurist. Classic Residence by Hyatt provides dry cleaning pick-up and delivery; prescription drug and delivery, transportation, catering, spa, and Wellness Center services as well.

The dining services at Classic Residence by Hyatt rival those of the finest restaurants. Each meal is served on fine china with elegant glassware, flatware, linens, and fresh flowers to accompany the meal. Menus change daily and offer an exceptional variety, and healthy alternatives are always available. Menu choices range from a harvest of regional favorites and traditional home-style meals to tantalizing new dishes. Guests are always welcome, and the culinary staff can cater special meals for family gatherings or private dinner parties.

For more information, call 214-691-1001.

5455 La Sierra Drive

Dallas, TX 73231

214-691-7612/800-691-7612

Classic Residence by Hyatt offers Dallas’ most spacious retirement apartments. Included are breakfast and one main meal daily; housekeeping; transportation; covered parking; long-term care insurance; and cultural, educational, and social events. There is nothing like maintenance-free living with the Hyatt touch!



7831 Park Lane

Dallas, TX 75225

214-369-9902

Upscale senior living providing apartment homes, assisted living, and skilled nursing. Medicare accepted.



Caring for Mind, Body, and Spirit

edencare.net

LewisVille

972-434-1727

EdenTerrace and EdenGardens holistic approach of caring for mind, body, and spirit maximizes residents’ happiness, healtbfulness, and independence.

PIANO

972-473-7400

EdenBrook of Piano is the first of EdenCare’s original prototypes in Dallas. This assisted living and Alzheimer community will enable residents to enjoy an ongoing quality of life in an upscale environment even as their healthcare needs increase.



1311 N. Central Expressway U200

Dallas, TX 75243

972-297-6515

Heritage Ranch is a 572-acre master-planned,gated, age-qualified, active adult golf course community in Fairview, east of 1-75 and

north of Piano.



One Texas Drive

Georgetown, TX 78628

800-833-5636

Sun City Georgetown, Texas’ premier community for active adults, age 55 or better, is located just 30 miles north of Austin. Call today for a free video.