Village Shalom is sympathetic to the needs of a longtime resident who has raised concerns about our expansion plans, as we place great priority on considering the desires of all residents in our community.
Change can be challenging for any organization, but perhaps particularly for those that serve seniors who call the organization their “home.” Village Shalom is committed to doing all that we can to serve our resident community and their families, minimizing any inconveniences for existing residents and maximizing the advantages that benefit them all.
The process undertaken in the development of the expansion plan was rigorous and thorough. Extensive work with architectural partners involved review and consideration of more than 30 alternative plans. The footprint ultimately selected was the one that not only met expansion plan objectives and city requirements, but also importantly, upholds the Village Shalom value of sound management of our financial resources. This is the only viable plan that best utilizes the plot, optimizes the number of residences and quality enhancements, and supports financial prudence.
The new independent living building in question will be constructed on an existing surface parking lot previously approved for expansion under Village Shalom’s original site plan. Village Shalom performed a great deal of due diligence for the expansion, including a range of studies and evaluations with regard to the building’s design, positioning, parking and layout. Shadow studies were also commissioned to ensure that the new villa building would not materially affect existing residences. Village Shalom first met with its staff, residents and their families before revealing the final plan to the public. When this family raised concerns about the building’s impact, management met with the resident and shared a three-dimensional shadow study covering all four seasons that demonstrated no meaningful shadows would be cast upon the existing villa from the new construction. Village Shalom also made offers to move the resident to another villa, and provided other suggestions to remedy or mitigate the building’s perceived impact — all of which were unfortunately rejected.
Village Shalom’s expansion will transform the manner in which it serves Kansas City families — providing a home to nearly 100 new residents. The project will provide new, impactful services that improve the quality of life of existing residents, including expanded rehabilitation services and greatly enhanced memory care resources. Maintaining a longstanding legacy of high quality care, Village Shalom has served Kansas City area families for over 100 years, and has provided services to thousands of individuals of all backgrounds and with a broad range of needs.
Our staff, management and residents take great pride in our community having received numerous awards of excellence from state and national organizations during this time. Most recently, Village Shalom received a perfect outcome in the 2016 Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) survey, a result rarely seen in the senior care industry. The survey covers all involved with resident care and quality of life, and according to KDADS, less than 3 percent of Kansas facilities are deemed “deficiency-free.”
Village Shalom remains dedicated to its vision of enabling senior adults to flourish in a safe, caring, compassionate community. It will continue to hire and develop professional staff, passionate for their work and for the impact that they have on resident lives. Village Shalom is grateful to the continued support of Kansas City area families and to our longstanding partnerships with area organizations, and looks forward to undertaking this project which will enhance quality of life for an even greater number of families in this community.