Senior care facility opens to public

District CEO Cheryl Fama said enthusiasm is building as the care center continues to move toward its expected official opening sometime in the early part of 2018.

“We are really excited about it,” said Fama, of the $55 million project which broke ground at 1600 Trousdale Drive, on the corner of Magnolia Avenue, more than two years ago.

Fama said officials consider the services provided at the facility slated to house 132 beds essential to address the sizable aging community along the Peninsula.

Such a need is bolstered by prospective tenant interest in leasing space at the Trousdale, said Fama, as three potential residents reserved rooms ahead of a marketing push expected to ramp up in coming weeks.

District officials spearheaded the Trousdale’s construction on property owned by the public agency, but the facility will be managed by nonprofit care provider Eskaton.

Sylvia Chiu, executive director of the Trousdale, said in a prepared statement the partnering organizations maintain a similar goal in assuring the facility best meets the needs of the local senior population.

“We share the same vision and dedication to providing quality and transformative care in our community,” she said.

The Trousdale will offer 101 units for those needing assisted living care, and 23 residences will be specially designed for those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

To assure residents’ quality of life, programming such as art, music and yoga classes along with other amenities will be offered with tech-supported communication services to ease connections with family and friends.

Officials have paid great attention to guaranteeing the facility will be able to accommodate the shifting demands of a community aging gracefully into the 21st century, said Lawrence Cappell, chair of the district’s Board of Trustees.

“The future of aging services looks nothing like it does today,” he said in a prepared statement. “The role of the caregiver is now being taken on by the adult children. Not only are we servicing the person who is getting older, but we’re also going to be servicing the person who is taking care of that person.”

As the project moves ahead, Fama said all is on track and officials have avoided the same sorts of development setbacks as nearby Sunrise Senior Living, a privately owned and operated facility at 1818 Trousdale Drive which recently opened after enduring financial hurdles.

“It is pretty much running well,” said Fama, who added she expects the project to blend well with the larger vision district officials have for the surrounding area.

Beyond the Trousdale, Peninsula Health Care District officials are planning to develop a massive medical campus also specializing in senior care spread across 8 acres near the intersection of Trousdale Drive and Marco Polo Way.

The Peninsula Wellness Community is a tentative proposal to build between 150 and 250 senior housing units, up to 120,000 square feet of senior support services, as much as 40,000 square feet of rehabilitation and therapy space as well as between 100,000 square feet and 150,000 square feet of office space, among other features.

Fama said officials are nearing a decision to select a developer for the project in the next few months, with an eye on navigating through the environmental and legal review process in the early part of next year. The project is required to be officially approved by the Burlingame City Council before it may move ahead.

Completion of the wellness community, in conjunction with the Trousdale and other nearby senior care facilities — plus the medical center’s presence — will ultimately offer the community a hub of vital aging support resources, said Fama.

“All of this is going to be a big campus of health-focused resources,” she said.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

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