20 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 6-12, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com It’s a quintessential clear fall afternoon at Carmel Valley Manor, nestled in the hillside on the south-facing side of the valley. The views of the Santa Lucia Mountains on the other side are stunning from the picture windows recently uncovered in a renovation of the sit-down dining room. On the other side of the kitchen area, a group of residents happily chat in a cafe of lighter fare that was created during the renovation, which continues in other areas of the facility. Once known as Hollow Hill Farms, the 28 acres where CVM sits were purchased by the Northern California Congregational Churches in 1960. Board members formed Northern California Congregational Retirement Homes, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, to build a retirement community and care facility on the property. Ten years earlier, the churches had petitioned their national denomination “to give serious attention to the duty which Congregational Churches have toward elderly people,” according to CVM’s website. CVM no longer has a relationship with the original churches, says President and CEO Jay Zimmer, but it continues to follow the original mission in the articles of incorporation, to provide housing and health care to seniors. Zimmer, who’s been in the position for over five years, comes from a background managing hospitals back East and transitioned to senior living facilities. The facility is licensed as a Continuing Care Retirement Community. Its assisted living center, Hillcrest, is licensed as a residential care facility for the elderly. The Health Center is licensed as a skilled nursing facility. Zimmer says they also provide memory care, but don’t have a distinct memory care unit—CVM is working with the county on a master facility plan that will include such a unit in the future, in addition to 14 new housing units. Zimmer hopes to have approvals and entitlements within two to three years. Currently there are about 240 residents, with 146 independent living units, 36 skilled nursing beds and 24 assisted living units. The youngest resident is 68, the oldest is 106. The housing units range from studios up to full homes. The entry fee depends on the type of unit—the base entry fee is approximately $700,000 for a single person. There’s also a monthly service fee, which can range from $5,500 a month up to $12,000. All meals, care and activities are included. “That entry fee covers their health costs for the rest of their lives,” Zimmer says. The Carmel Valley Manor Foundation pays residents’ fees if they run out of money, totaling around $350,000 a year. There are a bevy of programs, events, hikes and other activities to keep residents involved, if they so choose. A residents’ council has a number of planning and advisory committees. Unlike other senior facilities that seem to struggle finding and keeping employees, CVM offers competitive wages and benefits. “We typically staff better than for-profits,” Zimmer says. “And the staffing makes a huge difference.” Horowitz, the attorney, is nearing retirement after a long career. He found his niche in practicing elder law after serving as the lead trial counDECODING CARE A quick guide to the types of senior living and care facilities. By Pam Marino In the marketplace for senior living, there are different types and levels of living arrangements and care. It’s important to understand the distinctions when it comes to choosing a facility or knowing which regulatory agency to contact. Here’s a brief guide on which kind of facility does what—some facilities have multiple types of care on property. RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES FOR THE ELDERLY: Also known as assisted living, RCFEs are non-medical facilities that provide services to help with the everyday needs of seniors over the age of 60, including housing, meals, housekeeping, personal care and activities. They also offer support with medical monitoring and medications and offer limited on-site rehabilitation and medical care. They are designed for people who can no longer live alone but do not require 24-hour nursing care. RCFEs are regulated by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. There are an estimated 7,600 RCFEs in California, serving 180,000 residents. Currently there are 40 such facilities in Monterey County. CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES: CCRCs offer longterm continuing care contracts to provide for housing, meals, services and nursing care for the rest of a person’s life. There are usually levels of services, from independent living where the resident mostly takes care of themselves and may transition to assisted living and in some cases skilled nursing or memory care. There are just three local facilities that include continuing care contracts: Pacific Grove Senior Living (left over from the nonprofit former owners), Canterbury Woods in Pacific Grove and Carmel Valley Manor. Regulation is also by DSS, with shared responsibility between the Continuing Care Contracts Section and the licensing division. SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES: These can also go by the terms “convalescent hospital” or “rehabilitation center.” SNFs provide people with supportive care, sometimes on a long-term basis, and are regulated by the California Department of Public Health. MEMORY CARE: A facility specifically designed for long term care of people with dementia or other memory issues, providing day-to-day care and structured activities. It can be within an assisted living facility and is regulated by DSS. 55+ COMMUNITY: This is typically a community for people aged 55 and up who are living on their own, without need of extra care. There may be common areas and activities, but services like meals, housekeeping and limited medical support are not included. INDEPENDENT LIVING: Like a 55+ community but with more services like transportation, housekeeping, landscaping and social activities. It could include apartment living or homes. Top: The grounds at Carmel Valley Manor are dotted with places for residents and visitors to gather. Bottom: A woman using a walker gets an assist from an instructor during a movement workout class at Carmel Valley Manor’s assisted living center.
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