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Lake Vista of Cortland Opens Retirement Apartments
CORTLAND, Ohio -- The Park Place Apartments at Lake Vista almost make one look forward to growing old, or at least reaching 55, the minimum age to become a resident in Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services' 11th senior-care residential community.The top officers of Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services, the mayor of Cortland, a state representative from Trumbull County and key staff from Lake Vista of Cortland held a wide gold ribbon, provided by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber as were the oversized scissors, that Barry Linville used to cut it. Linville is chairman of the Lake Vista home's advisory board. With that snip, the three-story building that offers 86,000 square feet, cost $13 million and took a year to build, was officially open Monday.On an extremely warm and extremely humid afternoon, the speakers said all the right things in their brief comments just before a heavy rain fell. Mayor Curt Moll called Lake Vista of Cortland "a tremendous addition to our city," state Rep. Dan Sferra praised Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services for accepting no government moneys in its construction or operation, and everyone commented favorably about its aesthetics and how it is filling a need of older citizens."This is a huge and beautiful building behind me," Linville said in opening his remarks."This is a home," said the president and chief executive officer of Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services, David J. Kaasa, "that fills the physical, spiritual and mental needs" of its residents. And he noted jovially, it is the only Presbyterian retirement campus in the state with its own lake view.The idea to build the home was born a decade ago, said Kenneth A. Kempner, the chief operating officer. While construction did not begin until a year ago, Florence Wilson of Cortland placed the first deposit on an apartment two years ago. Naudean Burr, a resident of Howland, is the first resident to occupy an apartment. "It was only right that Naudean was the first," Kempner said. "She's been hugely valuable as a volunteer -- she waters the plants, answers the phone and helps out in the clubhouse -- and has done so much to help the staff."The campus at Lake Vista offers 36 assisted-living apartments, 12 for those afflicted with Alzheimer's, and 37 for independent living, 31 of which are rented. Units designed for independent living offer one-, two- and three bedroom apartments. Only one of the assisted-living units is committed, Kempner reported. The apartments range in area from 800 to 1,200 square feet and monthly rents from $1,732 to $2,257. A second resident in a unit increases the rent by $420 a month.In addition, there is a common dining hall, beauty shop, a clubhouse and elevators, among other amenities. Housing administrator Theresa Ryhal says the dining commons offers "upscale restaurant-style dining." The campus has only 15 staff, a number that will grow to 40 as more residents move in, Ryhal said. On the staff are nurses, nurses' aides, food preparers and maintenance workers.As the apartments fill, Kaasa and Kempner expect 70% of the residents will be women. At Lake Vista, the residents' average age is 75, the oldest is 102. While Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services owns and manages the home (and 10 others across the state), only 30% of the residents are Presbyterians and being Presbyterian does not provide any advantage in being admitted, Kempner said. The staff encourages the residents to remain active and involved in the community, Kaasa said. They enter Lake Vista, a barrier-free facility, because of the physical security it provides and ability to be with other people. Many have cars and continue to drive.Many move to retirement campuses from the two-story houses where they lived because they find the stairs take more effort, Kaasa said. In many cases, a widow or widower finds the house has too many memories of a recently lost spouse.In keeping active, Ryhal reports, two literary clubs meet in the clubhouse to discuss books they've read. The Cortland Literary Club was formed before ground was broken for Lake Vista, the Lake Vista Book Club is new.The Cortland Community Band, of which two Lake Vista residents are members, plays concerts in the clubhouse, Ryhal said.General contractor on the project was Murphy Contracting Co., Youngstown, and the architects were J.M.M. Architects, Columbus.Visit Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services at www.oprs.org "