IN THE SUMMER OF 2015, SANTA CRUZ WILL START A RESIDENCY PROGRAM DESIGNATED FOR PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. THE SANTA CRUZ ELKS SECURED APPROVAL FROM THEIR NATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN CHICAGO FOR A 50-YEAR LEASE, ALONG WITH A 25-YEAR RENEWAL. THE NEW FACILITY WILL BE BUILT ON WHAT IS NOW THE UPPER PARKING LOT OF THE ELKS LODGE AT 150 JEWELL STREET. THE LEASE WILL PROVIDE NUMEROUS BENEFITS TO THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE SANTA CRUZ ELKS. THE ENTIRE PROJECT (WHICH STARTED 7-YEARS AGO) WILL COST BETWEEN 10 AND 11 MILLION DOLLARS. RATES FROM 44-HUNDRED TO 59-HUNDRED DOLLARS PER MONTH FOR SEMI PRIVATE TO FULL PRIVATE ROOMS.
SANTA CRUZ MEMORY CARE RESIDENTS (ONCE PUT INTO THE SYSTEM) WILL BE DIVIDED INTO 4 “NEIGHBORHOODS” OF 12-16 PEOPLE. THE MONITORING SYSTEM WILL MONITOR THE DOORS RATHER THAN RESIDENTS HAVING TO WEAR A WANDER GUARD BRACELET.
