Assisted living facilities thriving in Utah County
Jim Walker, Marlene Walker, Jo Ann Phipps, Clara Miemi and Maggie Sullivan eat cornbread and drink cream soda and root beer during a Pioneer Day celebration at Osmond Senior Living in Lindon on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Jared Osmond, owner of Osmond Senior Living, poses for a portrait in front of a piano played by the Osmond's at the senior care center in Lindon on Thursday, July 16, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Seniors eat cornbread and drink cream soda and root beer during a Pioneer Day celebration at Osmond Senior Living in Lindon on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
A tiny cowboy hat sits on the table during a Pioneer Day celebration at Osmond Senior Living in Lindon on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Monty Schmidt watches as Robert Gardner takes a photograph during a Pioneer Day celebration at Osmond Senior Living in Lindon on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Jim Walker and Marlene Walker play a game of recalling western movie stars during a Pioneer Day celebration at Osmond Senior Living in Lindon on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. GRANT HINDSLEY, Daily Herald
Jared Osmond made his name through his furniture stores, Osmond Designs, which he owns with his wife, Heather. But in the past few years, he’s putting the Osmond name on a new venture — assisted living for senior citizens.
In February, Osmond Senior Living opened in Lindon on State Street in the former Somewhere Inn Time reception center. After only a few weeks after opening, all their rooms were filled, and they now have a waiting list.
Jared Osmond chose to use the former inn after driving by it regularly.
“It had such a name for itself. And I wanted to create something different, something that didn’t feel like a hospital. This place was a reception center, it was filled with love. I wanted our assisted living facility to be the same — filled with joy,” Osmond said.
He purchased the property and remodeled the entire inn, adding living suites onto the back of the building. He designed the living suites to feel like home, with the common spaces having a vacation-like feel.
“A lot of folks that come to assisted living don’t always have family around, and they don’t have many visitors. They don’t feel loved. My goal was for them feel loved,” Osmond said.
Osmond’s father, George Earl Osmond Jr., was the initial inspiration for this latest venture. A few years ago, his father was struggling with ill health. Assisted living care seemed like it might be in the future, and Osmond wanted to help. With his business acumen, his love of taking buildings and repurposing them, and his wife’s design sense, he felt he could create an assisted living facility that would boast “affordable luxury.”
He first bought a large home in Cedar Hills, and remodeled it into a 16 bed assisted living home. He didn’t know much about senior care then, but he hired the best people and listened to them when they shared what didn’t work at other places.
That home in Cedar Hills was and is still popular with residents. But after a few years, Osmond felt he could do more, and offer a more activity-filled place. So he sold that business and looked around for a larger building. When he hit upon the inn, he knew it was the right place.
In all of his planning though, he focused on providing the best care that is top-notch in safety. He knows how people feel and the worry they have about safety. He’s all too aware of the recent rise in elder abuse.
“This became a big thing for me, to add safety. We have extra staff, a buddy system, and checks and balances throughout the facility. I still worry about abuse. I know it happens, but it’s not going to happen here on my watch,” Osmond said.
His other focus with Osmond Senior Living is to provide a vacation-like experience where the residents are active, engaged, and excited to be.
“When they are in our common areas, I want them to feel like they’re on a vacation,” Osmond said. He feels he must have achieved that goal because he’s had a families tell him that their moms and dads enjoy spending time with them, but are always ready to go “back home” to the facility.
Eric Toland, owner of Beehive Homes in Lehi, is also striving for the best care and a high level of safety in his facility. However Beehive Homes, with more than 10 homes dotting cities around Utah Valley, fills the niche for those seniors who want to live out their days in a more home-like, quiet place.
Beehive Homes was started by Toland’s father and uncle, with just two locations in Boise, Idaho and Pleasant Grove in the late 1980s. Soon, friends and family wanted to open ones in their hometowns. Then the Tolands started franchising because others wanted to open their own Beehive Home. There are now more than 150 homes in 13 states.
The goal at Beehive Homes, Toland said, is make their residents feel like they are in a home. The homes are a part of regular neighborhoods in residential areas, and usually only have 10 to 16 beds.
“We want it to feel like home, not an institution. We keep it small on purpose. A lot of our residents like it small and don’t want to be around a crowd,” Toland said.
Senior care is a growing industry. Osmond is already planning to add on to Osmond Senior Living and at least two more Beehive Homes are currently being built, one in Lehi and one in Provo. Both types of facilities provide care for Level 1 and Level 2 residents, as well as those in need of Memory Care services.
Facilities Providing Level 1, Level 2, and Memory Care:
Osmond Senior Living
Beehive Homes, in American Fork, Lehi, Orem, Payson, Provo, Pleasant Grove,
Park Place of Pleasant Grove
www.parkplacepg.com/services.html
Manila Country Home
The Charleston in Cedar Hills
www.facebook.com/thecharlestonatcedarhills
Bel Aire Senior Living in American Fork
Ashford Assisted Living and Memory Care in Highland
www.ashfordutah.com/assisted-living
Courtyard at Jamestown Assisted Living in Provo
