COURTESY OF ST. FRANCIS HEALTHCARE SYSTEM OF HAWAII
An artist's rendering shows the planned design for a 23-acre residential care community in Ewa Villages which will allow older people to live independently with support services to keep them out of hospitals.
"Staying healthy at home" is the theme of a 23-acre residential care community planned by the St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii in Ewa Villages. Senior care planned
for Ewa VillagesSt. Francis Healthcare System
expects to provide an affordable
care communityBy Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.comSupport services needed at various stages of aging will be incorporated in the development to allow seniors to live independently and prevent their deterioration.
"This is new and this is exciting, and we're really jazzed about it," said Myron Tong, St. Francis Healthcare Foundation program director.
He said the foundation is working with grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and private foundations to purchase the undeveloped property.
Under HUD guidelines, 51 percent of the occupants will be low or moderate income, Tong said. It is hoped to keep the rent about $500 or $700, "more on the lower side," he added.
"We see all these retirement communities for the high-end ones. We don't have anything for people who can't afford that.
"That's our dream, the vision, to build something for the regular people who can't afford a down payment for $300,000 or $500,000."
Groundbreaking was held April 4, and planning and design will start in July for 150 rental apartments in the first phase of the project, Tong said. Construction will begin next year and is expected to be finished in June 2005.
Eugene Tiwanak, chief officer of the St. Francis Healthcare Foundation, said, "The emphasis is on 'staying healthy' as the residents age."
Tong said the care community "will be the legacy" of Sister Beatrice Tom, St. Francis chief executive officer. "She entrusted Gene and myself to pull the project together."
The environmental design features an "Open Village" concept with recreational and operational services located central to the living units.
Areas will be included for a community center, fitness and wellness facilities, recreation, group activities and a garden.
Another 150 units in a similar complex are planned in the second phase, and a special adult day-care center, senior center and other supportive facilities will be built in the third phase.
Tong said the development is part of the foundation's long-term care plan. "It's not anything medical, but if we can keep seniors out of the hospital and healthy as long as possible, they won't take up a bed, because no one is building long-term care, residential or assistive living facilities."
Exercise programs are planned for residents "to get them on a regime to help them stay healthy," he said.
The community will be wheelchair accessible, and St. Francis is working with Catholic Charities to coordinate and provide case management services if needed by residents.
Tong said the residential care community is a pilot project. "As we've gone to neighborhood boards ... one question they all ask is, 'When are you going to build one (in their area)?'"
He said, "It's something we really need in the community. No one is addressing this. Nothing has been built this large."
St. Francis developed the program and is working with several developers to build and operate it.
"We run hospitals. We're not landlords," he said, explaining a separate corporation was set up to manage the project.
The second phase probably will be completed in 2006, Tong said. "If we see the need to go quicker, based upon demand, we might do it concurrently as we go along."
St. Francis Healthcare System
