Heritage Hills seeks input from seniors

By Rose Hooper

Right now, 21 percent of Jackson County residents are age 65 and older, a percentage that is increasing rapidly each year. More than 1,400 of those seniors have been evaluated as being medically or socially at-risk.

"We have many valuable services for our seniors, but the one many of them need the most, we don't have... and that's assisted living," Bryson said.

Plans are under way for a new senior complex in Jackson County called Heritage Hills. A local developer is drawing up a proposed complex, and area seniors are being asked to get in on the ground floor with their ideas.

"Because events are rapidly developing, we need the immediate input of seniors for the design of the first complex," said Jenny James, development researcher with the project.

James helped launch a major campaign to survey as many seniors as possible.

"This is a great opportunity for seniors concerned about their future, and for anyone now caring for a senior, to have a say in the design of the first new senior care complex in Jackson County," James said.

Most questions require a simple rating of "not important," "important" or "very important." "I think it's pretty user-friendly," James said of the survey.

For instance, the survey asks if one can no longer live on their own, what is the most important to them: Staying in current home, being independent, maintaining control over finances, living near family or friends, living near doctor or clinic, having 24-hour access to a health care worker, having affordable transportation, keeping pets or a garden, socializing and so forth.

"Of course, our goal is to keep our seniors in their own home as long as safely possible, but if they have to, or choose to, move to Heritage Hills, we want to make it as much like home and as comfortable for them as we can," said Bryson.

Early on, Bryson said some misconceptions developed about Heritage Hills.

"Some thought it would just be townhouses for the very rich, mainly those who retired in our county from other places; others thought it would just be subsidized housing for the poor," said Bryson.

"We are trying to meet everyone's needs, hence the importance of the survey," said Bryson. "The emphasis, though, is on giving our local people a say in this," added Bryson, who is working with the local developer and the local housing coalition.

"Now it's nothing short of a nursing home in this county if seniors can no longer live by themselves, especially those without a strong family support system," James said.

Copies of the survey are available at CVS, Eastgate and Kel-Save pharmacies, Harold's and Ingles grocery stores, the Jackson County Public Library and the Golden Age Senior Center.

"We're also getting the surveys out to several churches and organizations," said James. "If you would like us to bring the survey to your group, call us at 631-0433."

All information is confidential. The deadline for filling out the survey is Friday, March 22.

Back to Archive: 03/14/02.