Since the senior population has made progress getting the COVID-19 vaccine — with approximately 80 percent of Florida’s 65 and older population already vaccinated — one of today’s current trends is that seniors are living more active lifestyles, and as a result, looking for senior living communities that provide amenities and services that cater to their evolving needs.
As the baby boomer generation is now passing age 70 and the 65-plus population is projected to increase by 10,000 people per day through 2035, 50 million people will move into the senior living market, with more than half of that growth occurring in the next decade.
In partnership with Liberty Healthcare Management, national multifamily developer ZOM Living’s senior living development division ZOM Senior Living will soon be answering the demographic’s rising demand by opening the Village of Wellington’s first independent senior living community, Wellington Bay.
With 283 apartment homes spread across 46 acres, this impressive community provides the ample space and upscale amenities that independent seniors are seeking to safely live their lives to the fullest. Studies done around the correlation between seniors’ longevity and lifestyle have even shown that those who live in active communities live longer independently and lead happier lives as a result of the activities and engagement that enrich their daily lives.
At a time when the health and well-being of the senior community has been making headlines, the project is seeing increased interest from seniors and their families looking for communities that offer great standards of safety and quality of life. Wellington Bay’s high safety standard can be attributed to its management by Liberty Healthcare, a 145-year-old, family-owned business that has provided care to thousands of seniors over the years. The community’s leasing team has seen a rise in interest and leasing, as more people are inquiring about and visiting the senior living development for tours. Recently, Wellington Bay hit a record 27 tours completed in just one week. To date, Wellington Bay is 50 percent pre-leased, speaking to the sector’s growing demand for active, independent senior living.
While planning the community, ZOM and Liberty Healthcare focused on providing options for Wellington Bay’s residents by offering an attractive range of residential units, including 113 sophisticated apartment homes, 36 garden flats and 10 villas. The luxury apartment homes vary in floor plans and sizes, ranging from one-bedroom apartment homes to two bedrooms plus a den, and feature open floor plans and upscale finishes with numerous windows to allow for an abundance of natural light.
For those desiring an even more independent lifestyle, the three-story, elevatored garden flats provide a more private and spacious residence with waterfront views. For those who prefer a freestanding home, residents may choose a single-story villa that includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study, two-car garage and a private patio.
As an added comfort, residents receive priority access to accommodations, offering additional levels of support and healthcare services should they be needed. One of the true values of Wellington Bay is its on-campus access to multiple levels of care, including the Lisbet Health Care Center, which houses both the assisted living and memory support areas. Lisbet Assisted Living offers 100 spacious studio and one-bedroom to two-bedroom apartments that allow residents to receive the extra help they need to maintain their most independent lifestyle.
In addition, the memory support center has 24 memory care units for those experiencing cognitive impairment, which provide specialized attention and security, allowing family members to regain peace of mind knowing their loved ones are safe and in an environment that matches their abilities and needs.
Those wishing to see the development can visit Wellington Bay’s leasing center, which boasts a model apartment for viewing. With an estimated move-in date between November and December 2021, the development’s independent living garden flats and villas are the furthest along, with roofing installed, electrical work being completed and an indoor pool in place.
Wellington Bay also caters to the demographic’s demands by offering a robust program of amenities and services, including an on-site spa offering massages, hairstyling and nail services, several walking trails and lakes, pickleball, bocce ball, an outdoor pool and open-air bars. On warmer days, residents may prefer the air-conditioned venues within the 65,000-square-foot clubhouse, featuring a bar, billiards and poker tables, Mahjong and bridge card rooms, a library, an art room and an indoor pool. The retirement community also offers fitness analyses conducted by wellness instructors, who design exercise routines to maintain or even improve residents’ personal fitness goals.
While the dining options at Wellington Bay are very inviting, flexibility is central to the dining philosophy, and residents have the option of dining on property or eating out whenever they choose. Residents are able to enjoy a choice of multiple on-site food venues, from fine dining to casual eateries, or exploring the restaurant options located nearby. The property is adjacent to Lake Lisbet and all the conveniences of the Mall at Wellington Green, so residents are within walking or easy driving distance to many eateries, retail shops and three specialty grocery stores: Trader Joe’s, the Fresh Market, and Whole Foods Market.
To learn more about Wellington Bay, visit www.wellingtonbayfl.com.
