After four years of planning, Mountain View Seniors' Housing (MVSH) has officially unveiled its Life Lease program at Olds' Mount View Lodge, the 77-unit facility that was opened last year at a cost $21.3 million.The new Life Lease program, which will add another 12 suites to the facility, is being promoted as a new concept in seniors' housing in Mountain View County. It is termed as “campus style” living that aims to provide flexibility and freedom for residents, while ensuring security, comfort, and best of all for many seniors – affordability.MVSH held a press conference last Thursday to officially open the program, although new Life Lease tenants have been living at the facility since July 1. The program is open to any county resident. It is also available for seniors outside although country residents have first priority.“It is a concept that has been used in Alberta and Canada for many years, 25 years or some would say even longer,” said Sam Smalldon, chief administrative officer for MVSH, adding the county's Life Lease program is modelled after the one used by the Edmonton area's Capital Care Group.“Basically we are not involved in making a profit. We have to do things at cost and make it work, and we also want to make it affordable,” said Smalldon. “It has to be a reasonable cost, which means we control the project tight to the budget and we have an affordable but nice place for people to live as an option.”MVSH sells its Life Lease suites, which are either one- or two-bedroom and come with six appliances, from $165,000 to $216,000. Potential tenants must pay 10 per cent when they sign on to the program, and the remaining 90 per cent when they move in.There is no specified term to the contract. Tenants can enter and leave the program as they wish as long as they give proper notice. When tenants leave, all their money is returned. If a tenant has to terminate an agreement due to a medical condition, they will also have their money refunded.Once tenants move in they then pay a $1,150 monthly rental fee for a one-bedroom suite or $1,250 for a two-bedroom suite. The rental fees cover utilities and ongoing operational and maintenance costs.An important factor in the concept is that Life Lease tenants are able to socialize and achieve a sense of community with other tenants at Mount View Lodge.“I think it is just lovely. I think they are all a nice bunch,” said new Life Lease tenant Lloyd McCartney, who signed on after living more than 40 years in Sundre. “I like the quietness here and the idea you don't have to cook anymore. You just have to keep a smile on your face, and that's it.”Life Lease tenants at the lodge are able to access other services such as optional meals, housekeeping, laundry, a hair salon, and the many social and recreational activities that are offered. Some of the extra services have an additional cost.Eight of the 12 Life Lease suites are now sold. Smalldon said he expects the remaining four will be purchased by the end of September.“Our model is the most conservative and safest from the point of view for the board and clients,” said Smalldon. “The biggest thing here is that their (tenants') money is not at risk. They can get it back right away.”He said the Life Lease program was a priority for MVSH because there was a growing demand for the housing option throughout the county.“Seniors want housing options and private developers have not been providing them,” said Smalldon. “The primary difference between a private developer and us is profit factor. We do it at cost and it becomes more affordable.”At Thursday's press conference, Smalldon and Bruce Beattie, reeve of Mountain View County and chair of the building committee for MVSH, said they want to introduce a Life Lease program to Sundre when that community's proposed new seniors' housing initiatives are realized.“That is our goal. It is called a campus-style building, and we would like to bring the same concept to our project in Sundre. It is driven by the community of Sundre and we are supportive of that,” said Beattie.MVSH is currently working with the Sundre Seniors' Community Housing and Care Committee (SSHCC) and Bethany Care Society to examine future seniors' housing needs in the community. Earlier this month officials unveiled a preliminary pre-design concept plan for a proposed 143-bed Sundre seniors' housing facility.For more information on the MVSH Life Lease program call 403-335-8404, or visit www.mvsh.ca
