The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently recognized Mercy Housing California and the San Francisco Housing Authority for innovative approaches to development that expand economic opportunity and protect public health and the environment.  Mercy Housing California and the San Francisco Housing Authority received the 2008 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement for the category of Equitable Development. The Mission Creek Senior Community project, transformed a brownfield site into an attractive, mixed-use, low-income senior community. The EPA created the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement in 2002 to recognize outstanding approaches to development that benefit the economy, the community, public health, and the environment.

The Mission Creek Senior Community is located in the Mission Bay North area of San Francisco and the 303-acre area that was used for industrial  businesses.  Remediating the brownfield and returning it to productive use is just one of many environmental achievements of Mission Creek.  Mercy Housing employed a LEED-certified contractor and architect who used green building techniques and material featuring the use of solar panels, providing about 25 percent of the power for common areas. The project also has low-flow fixtures and piping for reclaimed water use for landscaping and toilets. Other green measures include landscaping designed for low water use; energy-efficient lighting; large windows to increase daylighting; and long-lasting, low-maintenance interior finishes that use rapidly renewable resources and recycled-product content.

The project includes 139 affordable apartments for low-income elderly residents. Support service programs enable 51 of the building units to serve frail, elderly people. The majority of residents pay a maximum of 30 percent of their income for rent, including utilities—relieving a burden from those particularly affected by housing and energy costs.

For more information the Mission Creek Senior Community, click here.

For the full EPA press release, click here.

Emeritus, a publicly traded assisted living facility operator, posted a $23.1 Million dollar loss in the 3rd quarter as revenues slightly increased but costs to run its operations increased.  The $4.2 million increase in operating expenses was primarily the result of an increase of $2.0 million in utilities costs and $1.9 million in labor expenses. Labor was also impacted by one-time hurricane costs and start-up costs related to new developments and a community acquisition.  These increases were also coupled with other insurance savings relating to the company’s labor pool.  The good news is that the quality and occupancy rates have been stable and relatively increasing but the company needs to continue to focus on cost control going forward.

For its earnings press release, click here and for the full transcript from the Emeritus conference call, click here.

MetLife’s Mature Market Institute releases its annual survey of Nursing Home and Assisted Living costs.  The Average rates for a private room in a nursing home remained essentially unchanged nationally from 2007, while semi-private rates increased 1.1%, from $189 daily or $68,985 annually in 2007, to $191 daily or $69,715 annually in 2008, according to the 2008 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home & Assisted Living Costs. The MetLife Mature Market Institute reports that average assisted living rates increased by 2.1%, from $2,969 monthly or $35,628 annually in 2007, to $3,031 monthly or $36,372 annually in 2008.

The highest daily rates for nursing homes are in Alaska, $577 for a private room and $566 for a semi-private room. In 2008, the non-metropolitan and non-suburban areas of Louisiana had the lowest daily rates for a private room in a nursing home, averaging $127 per day. The non-metropolitan and non-suburban areas of Minnesota and Oklahoma had the lowest semi-private room nursing home, averaging $121 per day. For assisted living communities, Southern Maine had the highest average monthly base rate at $4,708 and North Dakota had the lowest average monthly base rate at $1,980.

For more information, visit the MetLife Mature Institute.

Capital Senior Living Corporation (NYSE:CSU) reported earning of $1.2 million dollars of net income for the fiscal third quarter.   Operating expenses increased by $1.0 million or 4 percent from the third quarter of 2007. As a percentage of resident and healthcare revenues, operating expenses were 63.2 percent. Food costs in the third quarter of 2008 increased 3 percent from the third quarter of 2007, while labor costs increased 2 percent and utilities increased 7 percent, with the the company attributing that primarily due to an unusually hot summer in Texas.

The Company currently operates 65 senior living communities in 23 states with an aggregate capacity of approximately 9,600 residents, including 38 senior living communities which the Company owns or in which the Company has an ownership interest, 25 leased communities and 2 communities it manages for third parties.

For the full earnings, press release click here.

Serena Senior Care, a leading Assisted Living and health management services company in Baja California Mexico, announces new services that allow American retirees living in Baja to fully enjoy their retirement, giving them peace of mind and quality of life.  The company opened its doors in spring of this year offering high quality assisted living, health management, and property care services in the Rosarito Beach area of Baja California, Mexico. The facility is an all inclusive assisted living facility and is equipped ready to host up to 15 residents. In this home, residents will have lodging, all meals, housekeeping, personal care by trained nurses and caregivers, supervision from a Geriatrician, social activities, physical therapy, and many other services.  Sounds like Club Med for Seniors……

http://www.serenaseniorcare.com/?l=news&id=16

Oklahoma ABC affiliate KOCO ran a story recently on the fact that the state of Oklahoma is getting closer to building the nation’s first long-term care facility exclusively for sex offenders.  The story quotes a non-profit organization that states approximately 30 sex offenders are living with other residents causing concern amongst residents and their families.  Governor Brad Henry signed a law over the summer of 2008 that requires the state to build a nursing home specifically for sex offenders.  For more information on this concept and story, click here.