Lakeview Village celebrates 50 years of resident health and wellness

Lakeview Village is celebrating its 50th anniversary of encouraging health and wellness so its residents can enjoy their retirement years to the fullest, pursuing the interests and activities that enrich their lives.

When Lakeview Village accepted its first residents 50 years ago, most people considered retirement communities to be places that housed people whose health was declining. However, that was never the case here.

Throughout its half-century history, Lakeview Village has offered a wide spectrum of activities that promote health and wellness, as well as social events and entertainment for its residents. This emphasis on ensuring residents’ long-term health has led to serving three generations of some families.

Lakeview Village is the largest continuing care retirement community in Kansas but it blends so well into the neighboring single-family homes in Lenexa that many people aren’t aware it’s there. It offers up-to-date residential choices and an innovative approach to lifestyle and health care for its 750 residents who enjoy living on a 100-acre campus full of mature trees and walking trails.

The newest independent-living options are patio homes with 1,568 square feet of living space, two-car garage, and the option to finish the full basements. Residents also may choose from a spectrum of other independent-living homes that include one-, two- or three-bedroom apartments, garden cottages and custom villas.

No matter what style of home residents choose, they will find light-filled rooms, outdoor living spaces, kitchens with custom cabinetry and contemporary appliances, and accessible bathrooms. Every home includes all utilities paid, weekly flat linen service, bi-weekly housekeeping, full maintenance services and one meal a day in any of several restaurant-style dining rooms.

Because Lakeview Village is a continuing care retirement community, it also offers in-home care, rehabilitation, assisted living and skilled nursing care. The Lakeview LifeCare program allows residents to transition among these varying levels of care without the concern of major increases in monthly payments. Additionally, because a percentage of the entry fee and monthly fee is considered a prepaid medical expense, a large portion of the monthly fee may be tax-deductible year after year.

This nonprofit, faith-based community has realized the importance of having high-level rehabilitation care and geriatric-specific medical services readily available to ensure the best quality of life for its residents.

“We want our residents to live strong and healthy lives,” said Lakeview Village CEO Jamie Frazier. “We want them to enjoy an active, independent lifestyle for as long as possible, without concerns about the future cost of long-term healthcare.”

Its newest building, Eastside Terrace, includes an indoor saltwater pool, a rehabilitation pool and a fitness center with weight-training and cardiovascular equipment, along with wellness trainers who develop individualized fitness programs to keep residents’ minds and bodies healthy and engaged.

Eastside Terrace also houses a full-service rehabilitation center with inpatient, sub-acute care and outpatient care. Lakeview Village has two physicians and a nurse practitioner on site to handle the medical needs of the clients and has added weekly visits by a cardiologist and a wound care physician, along with twice weekly rounds by a rehabilitation physician. The center is highly recognized for its quality rehabilitation and is used by Lakeview Village residents as well as people from around the metropolitan area.

“About 20 percent of the rehabilitation patients are Lakeview Village residents; the other 80 percent are from the greater Kansas City area,” Frazier said.

Lakeview Village offers a full spectrum of activities both on and off campus to fit a variety of interests. Residents can pursue their hobbies in the woodworking shop; display their artistic creations in the art gallery; grow vegetables and flowers in elevated gardens; swim; fish; choose a book from the library; play bridge, billiards or other games; socialize in a number of community rooms scattered throughout the community; sing with the Lakeview Chorale or make music with the residents’ band.

Lakeview Village also encourages an active and healthy lifestyle for its skilled nursing residents, 90 of whom were taken this spring on a picnic at Lake Lenexa. Money raised for the trip provided bus transportation and one-on-one caregivers.

Buses travel throughout Lakeview Village on a regular schedule to take residents between activities on campus and also on scheduled outings to area theaters, restaurants, shopping and events in the Kansas City area.

Lakeview Village also offers opportunities for inter-generational activities. Many of the servers in the dining rooms are high school students just entering the work force who value the friendships they form with residents. The residents show their appreciation for the servers by providing annual college scholarships.

An on-site child development center also provides an inter-generational opportunity for residents to volunteer with children. One of the activities is the Giving Grove, a grove of fruit trees, along with raised vegetable gardens, that are tended by the children. Some of the produce is donated to food pantries.

Along with 70 floor plans and a full range of services and activities, Lakeview Village offers a wide variety of entry fee and monthly payment plans, which can be tailored to fit a resident’s budget and tastes. To schedule an appointment with a LifeCare Counselor, please call 913-744-2449.

This story was originally published June 20, 2014 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Lakeview Village celebrates 50 years of resident health and wellness."