For many Americans, aging can mean having to relocate to a senior living community to get needed care.
A new facility set to open this year in Lakeway aims to provide that specialized attention, making it possible for area seniors to stay close to family and friends here in Central Texas.
When Belmont Village Lakeway, at 107 Bella Montagna Cir., makes its debut in August, it will feature 156 senior residences – 48 devoted to independent living, 55 assisted living, 26 Circle of Friends memory program and 27 memory care.
The 130,000-square-foot facility is being built by Houston-based Belmont Village Senior Living, which already operates Belmont Village West Lake Hills, at 4310 Bee Cave Road in the Westlake area.
Other Belmont Village Senior Living facilities can be found in Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Atlanta and Louisville, Ky.
Patricia Will, founder and CEO of Belmont Village Senior Living, said the 20-year-old company, which operates nearly 30 facilities across the country, is open to expanding even further in the Austin area in the future – perhaps near downtown or the University of Texas.
“Many of us went to school in Austin and know the city very well,” she said. “We’ve been watching the phenomenal growth pattern. Not only that, Austin is the most beautiful major city in Texas.”
Amenities at the Belmont Village Lakeway include a theater, great room, library, fitness center, salon, pool and dining options, including Bistro and Josephine’s Kitchen. The facility is also a block from Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Lakeway, home of many physicians, Will said.
But it’s the beauty of the surrounding Hill Country that could wind up being one of Belmont Village Lakeway’s best selling points, she said.
“We have a lot of green space,” she said. “The sheer beauty of the site – with very commanding outdoor areas – is unmatched. We were very respectful of the surrounding areas. We’re very deliberate with what we do and we want to do it well.”
A number of people in the Austin area – and elsewhere – in their 50s and 60s are seeing their elderly parents move to be closer to them, creating a need for more facilities such as Belmont Village Lakeway, Will said. The independent living option is for seniors who have little in the way of needs, while the assisted living and memory care programs target residents who need more assistance.
“Most communities are usually either/or assisted living, memory care and independent living,” Will said. “We’re different. We can cater to couples with different needs under the same roof.”
Until it’s complete, Belmont Village Lakeway has set up a welcome center for prospective residents in the Lakeway Commons shopping center, 900 S. RM 620 in Lakeway.
Click here to view the story by the Austin American-Statesman.