$14-million senior living facility in DeWitt nears completion

DEWITT – A $14-million senior living facility in DeWitt is closing in on completion ahead of a projected April opening.

The facility, named Woodlands of DeWitt, represents the first partnership between Sparrow Health System, the Wirt-Rivette Group, an assisted-living developer and operator, and Sierra Homes of Michigan.

Sparrow Health System will provide physicians and other health care providers for the facility's residents.

Woodlands of DeWitt will provide a continuum of living arrangements for senior citizens from independent living apartments to advanced, 24-hour memory care for patients with Alzheimer's disease and related conditions.

The facility also will include a fitness center, therapy pool, lounges and other amenities. 

 "This is a great opportunity to provide an innovative approach to how we take care of our seniors," said Kira Carter-Robertson, Sparrow's senior vice president for affiliate operations. "There is a great need in this community."

"As people live longer and are healthier later into life, they're still experiencing those memory issues," said Nick Rivette, a representative of the Wirt-Rivette Group. "What we found is that memory care was in high demand. So when we look at other communities in Greater Lansing, there's long waiting lists and people are struggling to get in. So that's kind of why we wanted to build this quickly and get it operational."

"One of the main motivating factors of building in DeWitt is folks want to stay in DeWitt," Rivette said.

According to Rivette, demand for the units is high despite even before construction is finished.

Independent living units, which come with an attached garage, can range from $2,500 to $3,000 per month.

Assisted living units can average between $5,000 and $6,000 a month.

As of mid-February, the facility had almost sold out of its 28 independent living units and had sold nearly a quarter of the assisted and memory care units.

There are 15 assisted living units at the facility and 30 memory care units.

About 75% of the reservations have come from DeWitt residents, Rivette said.

Despite the high demand and need for care facilities in the area, Woodlands of DeWitt will be "private payer" only will not participate in the state waiver program for low income or senior housing which could offset some of the costs for residents.

"That is consistent with most independent or assisted living facilities," Carter-Robertson said.

"I think particularly in the DeWitt-area, household incomes are quite high and for most folks who have done fairly well throughout their life can afford a nice setting for assisted living and memory care is what we found. Certainly, other markets are different," Rivette said. "So for folks that are selling and moving to this environment, they have the means to be able to afford it."

The facility does accept long term care insurance and veterans benefits, which can help with costs.

Contact business reporter Christian Martinez atcmartinez@lsj.com or (517) 267-1342. Follow him on Twitter at @ChristianM_CA.