Cape Girardeau County has strong demand for senior housing

The demand for affordable senior housing in Cape Girardeau County is strong, as evidenced by a recent survey and an area developer.

The United Way and the Community Caring Council conducted a senior needs assessment and found that more than 89 percent of Cape Girardeau County senior citizens were living either alone or with a spouse.

Dan Sanders with MACO Development of Clarkton, Mo., said his company has three senior housing developments in Cape Girardeau that are always full and have waiting lists. The company's most recent senior housing development opened on West End Boulevard with 100 percent occupancy. Between the three properties -- Heritage Manor, Rosebrook Apartments and West Court Manor -- Sanders said the company has about 130 living units for people 55 and older.

To meet the demand, Sanders said, the company is planning another property with duplexes with garages. MACO is trying to secure funding and tax credits to build the duplexes on LaSalle Avenue. While the properties are not federally subsidized housing, he said the units will be affordable at about $450 a month and include utilities, appliances and yardwork services.

"The rents are affordable. Something for someone living on Social Security, a pension," he said.

If the company receives the funding and credits, he said, the LaSalle Avenue property would be the most expensive of its Cape Girardeau senior developments.

Roy Jones, housing coordinator for the Community Caring Council, said while there may be waiting lists at some seniors-only properties, Cape Girardeau County does a better job than most surrounding areas at providing housing for seniors. The reason, he said, is entrepreneurship.

"Developers figure out ways to provide this through tax credits, grants," he said. "With seniors there are more opportunities than others, such as young mothers with children."

However, Jones said there is some senior homelessness in the county. He said his organization receives calls asking for housing assistance, which often means helping with a deposit.

"At any age it's hard to come up with two months' rent. Getting the deposit can sometimes make the difference," he said.

He said it was difficult to provide exact numbers of how many seniors in the county are homeless. Just because someone is homeless does not mean they are living in their car or on the street.

"They can be bouncing from friends and family," he said. "They have no permanent house. They are homeless."

Seniors will often be homeless for a few weeks while they try to secure a place to live. Jones said the demand for affordable housing for college students in Cape Girardeau raises rents for everyone. Seniors, however, tend to make better tenants, Jones said.

"They have learned to take care of their property," he said. "Fewer seniors would use drugs and party. They typically wouldn't do anything destructive to the property."

Seniors who decide to live in retirement communities or independent living facilities do so because of the desire for companionship and help with yardwork, home maintenance and housekeeping, Jones said.

Scott Sprandel, manager at Saxony Village, one of Cape Girardeau's independent living facilities, said the extra help provided at some facilities allows seniors to focus more on taking care of themselves.

"It's like an all-inclusive resort," he said. "We take care of the stuff they don't enjoy doing, giving them more time for socialization."

Jones and Sprandel said the more interaction seniors receive, the happier and healthier they are.

When Virginia Lewis, now in her 90s, moved into Saxony six years ago, it was so her family would know she was taken care of, even when they were not around. Saxony's services gave Lewis and her family comfort and allowed her to keep her active lifestyle.

Lewis and her friend Gloria Robbins, who is in her 80s, continue to drive, take trips and participate in a variety of activities.

"It's a fun life," Lewis said. "The activity lady, Dolores Pobst, is great."

Robbins said typical activities include trips, cards, trivia, playing Wii games, formal dinners and teas.

She said she is fortunate to live in an independent living facility like Saxony because not everyone can afford it.

Sprandel said services at Saxony include one meal a day, housekeeping every two weeks, maintenance, bus service and daily activities.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

243-8600

Pertinent Address:

2825 Bloomfield Road, Cape Girardeau, MO