Building Community: Aldersgate Village

Photos by: Emma Highfill | Rose Wheat Photography & Grace Place

Aldersgate Village has been in operation since 1904, and in their current location since 1979. They are one of the largest retirement communities in the state of Kansas, with independent living apartments, garden homes, cottages and villas, as well as 59 assisted living units, 12 home plus units, and a 196-bed skilled nursing facility on a 168-acre campus. They are also one of the largest Medicaid providers in the state.

Like Brewster Place, Aldersgate is a nonprofit organization, which means that residents who have exhausted their financial resources still have options to stay in the community. They are also a faith-based organization, affiliated with the Methodist church, but welcoming to all denominations and faith backgrounds.

Like many nonprofit retirement communities, Aldersgate’s Medicaid reimbursements are limited, so they aim to reduce expenses while also creating profitable revenue streams.

Marketing Director Renessa Lolley says Aldersgate is deliberate and careful when spending funds. Because of that approach, Aldersgate recently reported that their debt service, coverage ratio, and days cash on hand are the highest that they have been in more than 10 years.

“It is both good stewardship and reassurance of long-term viability and quality service,” Lolley said.

STAYING RELEVANT

Renovation and investment at Aldersgate are still driven by the same need to stay competitive and relevant. Management closely watches the industry for changes, seeks feedback from residents and prospective residents, and works to offer people what they want and expect in their retirement years, both now and in the future.

Aldersgate recently invested in a million-dollar renovation to their dining room, called Esther’s Place. The renovation created a beautiful dining area and event space on the Aldersgate campus.

“Residents enjoy dining in a beautiful space,” Lolley said, “but they also utilize the space to meet with their outside groups and organizations, or to socialize with family and friends. People on our waiting list also visit Esther’s Place, to enjoy the setting and engage with the community before they move in.”

AGE-IN-PLACE LIVING

The Aldersgate team sees that seniors want larger, age-in-place spaces designed with the features and technology that will accommodate them for years to come, which is why they built age-in-place villas. The organization also invested in a new home plus service line, called Nancy’s Place, which opened in early 2019. The new option includes 12 private suites with comfortable shared spaces, including a quiet room and an outdoor courtyard. Providing a variety of housing options is important to the organization’s strategy to meet seniors’ needs in the coming decades, with a full spectrum of services in one place.

“People are waiting longer to move into communities,” Lolley said, “and once here they want to stay as independent as possible. Home health services are a big part of that. People appreciate that they can move in and don’t have to feel like they’re going to have to move again, they can receive services as needed to stay where they are in our community.”

Lolley predicts that the next generation of residents will want more space and more services.

As an example, she notes that residents in the Midwest have largely been “meat and potatoes” diners, but that in recent years there have been more requests for vegetarian and vegan options.

“Boomers want to eat and live how they want,” Lolley said, “and to stay relevant in this industry, we will have to keep up with their needs.”

SENSE OF SECURITY

Aldersgate is proud of their long service record because their stability and longevity give potential retirees and their families a sense of security. Lolley points out that the organization definitely has some strong competition, and she believes that is a good thing.

“Topeka is blessed to have a lot of options for seniors,” she said. “Moving into a retirement community is a major life decision, and Topeka area seniors can make a choice that fits their needs. We all keep that bar high and work to provide the best care possible for our residents. It makes us all better for the people we serve.”