Newly built Madison offers ageing in place continuum
By Jill Draper
A new south Kansas City senior living community opened its doors in mid-August, and despite the ongoing pandemic, residents are slowly trickling in. The Madison offers 91 independent living apartments in a three-story building. An adjacent one-story facility with 44 assisted living apartments and 10 memory care rooms will open later in September.
“We take pride in providing a continuum of care,” says Jess Ayres, executive director. “We know how difficult it can be to make one move, and by offering ageing in place, our residents won’t need to find a brand new community.”
The Madison is located on the west side of Highway 150 off W. 141st Terrace. The community is managed by Arrow Senior Living, which also manages The Parkway in Blue Springs and The Princeton, under construction, in Lee’s Summit.
Independent living apartments come in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom styles starting at $2,645 per month. Residents sign a one-year lease, which includes all meals and snacks, utilities, cable TV and Wi-Fi plus free transportation for one medical trip per week and regular trips to the nearby Target and Walmart.
Happy hour is at 4:30 p.m. every Friday, and will include entertainment after the threat of Covid-19 diminishes. “It’s kind of a tricky situation,” says Ayres, who explains that residents are free to come and go, but must agree to take common sense precautions while out by wearing masks, washing hands frequently and social distancing. Because there are only six residents with a few more moving in the coming weeks, they eat in the dining room.
Visits from family members are currently not allowed, but walk-in and scheduled tours are available daily, and virtual tours can be found at themadisonseniorliving.com.
Not all areas are open to the public, but a recent tour included stops at the fitness center, the indoor aerobics pool (which features a chair lift for those with mobility problems), a theater room with a large-screen TV, a demo kitchen, and a bistro with coffee, pastries and fruit available around the clock. One- and two-bedroom units include a full kitchen, walk-in showers, washer and dryer and several closets. Covered parking and storage cages can be rented for an extra fee. The Madison is pet-friendly, and its first residents include two dogs.