The Willows at Worcester

Family continues tradition of care at its newest residence By Brian Goslow WORCESTER - Donnie and Dottie Salmon opened The Willows at Westborough over two decades ago to give active seniors a setting where they could live independently while having the convenience and security of a familiar and supportive atmosphere. Now the Salmon family, which has provided senior living and health-care facilities in the region since 1952, will do the same for Worcester residents with the planned fall opening at 101 Barry Road of a similar community for active adults 62 and older. The Willows at Worcester will include 40 cottages with adjoining garages that will surround the property, and 151 one- and two-bedroom apartments in a main building, which will also have underground parking for 154 cars. "Some of the cottages are attached to buildings and garages, but their back door leads into the community so all residents can easily participate in dining and fitness at the Hub and the clubhouse," Kate Salmon-Robinson, director of marketing communications and community relations for SALMON Health and Retirement, said. Salmon-Robinson said the Worcester property will "be very much the same as and very different from" the company's other facilities. "The Willows at Westborough is over 20 years old," she said. "We've learned a lot so we're able to build on the successes we've had and that our residents have been positive about." The Worcester-based facility, which will feature single-floor living, onsite banking, a convenience store and two dining areas, will join a recently rehabilitated and expanded Our Lady of Mercy Health Care Center that will continue to provide 28 rest-home beds for Sisters of Mercy nuns. The 21-acre property overlooks the city's Greendale and West Side communities. "It's a nice, quiet neighborhood setting," Willows at Worcester Executive Director Andrew Freilich said. "At night, you can hear a pin drop and go out and walk around the property. It'll be quiet but filled with a lot of activities." Some people who move into a senior-living community are afraid that by doing so, they're losing their independence. "But a place like this, they're gaining their independence because we take care of mowing the lawn and fixing a leaking roof so they can live rich, active lives," Salmon-Robinson said. The Willows will take care of all interior and exterior upkeep. That will leave residents plenty of time to take advantage of what the city has to offer, culturally and academically. "We'll be providing transportation to the Worcester Art Museum and Foothills Theatre and we'll go to Boston and Lenox (for Tanglewood concerts)," Salmon-Robinson said. Not that residents will have to go far to find things to do. The Willows at Worcester will have a fitness center featuring a large indoor pool overlooking the courtyard, a spa and Jacuzzi. "It's very much resort-like living," Salmon-Robinson said. The Salmon company worked with fitness researchers in planning the center. Staff will support and encourage residents to stay fit through the PEP (Personal Exercise Program) program. "It'll be like a club," said Salmon-Robinson. "Research shows that if you do it (exercise) with someone, you're much more successful. Our program focuses specifically on muscle groups and independence. You need to have healthy muscles to get out of a car or golf cart." Introductory pricing for refundable entrance deposits at The Willows at Worcester range from $179,000 to $399,000 for apartment homes and cottages up to 1,600+ square feet of living space. Charter memberships "for our pioneer depositors," as Salmon-Robinson called them, will receive special benefits that will be announced shortly. "Pricing will be competitive and priced for the Worcester market," she said. "The refundable interest deposits are at least 90 percent refundable when a resident leaves and based on the terms of their residency agreement. Initial deposits to reserve an apartment home or cottage are 100 percent refundable at any time." Monthly service fees ranging from $1,850 to $2,400 will go towards maintenance, housekeeping, utilities, cable TV, local transportation, a daily meal in the bistro or fine dining room and the aforementioned fitness and social amenities. Salmon-Robinson said the depositors are a diverse group who'll soon be introduced to each other and asked what services they'd like to have. Some of the offerings under consideration are an indoor computerized golf course, a sports bar, an area where residents can exercise their minds and body using the Nintendo Wii video game console and a caf with a Starbucks-like feel. Freilich, who has a construction background, said work on the property began last August. "We're moving at a pretty rapid pace and a little ahead of schedule," he said. "A lot of the buildings and attached cottages are up, the windows are installed and we're starting interior work." Work is also under way on the main building. "We've started closing the structure and putting in the windows." The project's architect is EGA Associates Inc. of Newburyport, which has designed similar facilities in the state, including the Village at North Woods in Taunton, Herrick House in Beverly and the Masonic Home's Overlook skilled nursing, rest home, independent-living and performing-arts facilities in Charlton. "They really are the best in senior housing and active adult living design," Salmon-Robinson said. "We think they've designed a modern facility with a classic New England design. That's important because so many folks in New England are comfortable with that design." For more information on The Willows at Worcester, visit SalmonHealthandRetirement.com or call 508-755-0888.