Residents must move as senior living facility closes
By Ben McCarthy and Kathy Feist
Jeannine Bohannan thought she had found her new, permanent home in late October when she moved into Senior Star at Villa Ventura, at 121st and Wornall Road. But on November 20th, three days before Thanksgiving, Bohannan and the residents at the senior living facility were astonished by a letter that was placed under their doors. The letter, from Senior Star’s corporate headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, said the building was to be closed at the end of the year, and residents had to be out and into a new home by January 1st.
The news has come as a surprise not only to the residents but the surrounding community as well. For years Villa Ventura has been a highly esteemed part of the community. The Italian architecture, large courtyard, and spacious rooms created a source of pride. But the pandemic and the competition from newer senior living facilities in the area took its toll on occupation numbers.
“When you have 173 units available, and only 54 units occupied, it does make it very difficult to meet operational expectations,” explains Senior Star Chief Operating Officer Sadhoworee Betts. The pandemic’s resulting staffing crisis contributed to the decision to close. “Many other companies are facing the ability to recruit and retain associates who want to care for our seniors,” she said.
Another factor is overdevelopment of senior living facilities in the area. In recent years, south Kansas City has seen the construction of the 150-unit Madison Senior Center, the expansion and redesign at Kingswood Senior Center and the construction of the 200-unit St. Anthony’s Senior Living in Brookside. All three offer continuum care–independent, assisted living and memory care–which provides aging in place for residents. Villa Ventura offered independent and assisted living.
“Providers are preparing for baby boomers to start retiring,” Betts explains. “There was a lot of building right before the pandemic. I believe everyone is going to be working on occupancy, especially in south Kansas City.”
According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the average occupancy rates for south Kansas City residential care and assisted living centers varies. In 2023, Villa Ventura averaged a 44% occupancy; Brookside Wornall, 53%; The Madison 66%, Armour Oaks 72%, Kingswood 87%, Carnegie (Belton) 54%, and St. Anthony’s (Brookside) 50%. The average occupancy in Jackson County was 67%. The national average is around 82%.
Betts says Senior Star, which has been in the industry for 30 years, is dealing with challenges in all their markets. Since she started working for the organization six years ago, the number of Senior Star facilities around the country has decreased from 11 to five. “We are getting smaller,” she admits. “Our goal is to operate a continuum of care campus: independent living, assisted living and memory care.”
Senior Star gave Villa Ventura residents six weeks to find new housing. Only 30 is required by Missouri law. If residents moved out by December 21, they could stay rent-free. Any moving expenses would be reimbursed.
“Our goal is to ensure a smooth transition for our residents and associates,” Betts said. “This was not an easy decision.”
It was especially not easy for the residents caught off guard.
Bohannan’s third floor neighbor, Bill Kircher, wasn’t on site on November 20th when the letter circulated. Kircher was already on his way to spend Thanksgiving with his family when he received a call. A recent survivor of a heart attack (as well as multiple preceding strokes), Kircher had just moved into Villa over the summer and was stunned. When he returned numerous flyers promoting nearby senior living facilities greeted him. Betts says Senior Star’s other local facility, Wexford Place (35 minutes north of Villa Ventura), has been made available to all current Villa Ventura residents, with rent waived through March.
According to Bohannan, she and the other residents aren’t likely to take the company up on the offer.
Bohannan and Kircher are two of the few remaining residents on the third floor. Bohannan, who requires a walker and constant oxygen to treat COPD, has a new home nearby at Brookdale now secured. It’s a short, five minute drive, and she assumed Kircher would be joining her there. He’s uncertain as to where he is headed.
Many have chosen Armour Oaks, Brookdale, The Madison, or Carnegie in Lee’s Summit as their next destination.
So why the need to move residents out of their homes during the holidays?
“It doesn’t matter if it was this spring, the holidays or whenever,” says Betts. “It’s always going to be a difficult decision and a different sort of transition.”
But many in and outside the community believe there is an impending sale. Avila University is often mentioned in these conversations. “That’s a rumor,” Betts concedes. (Avila did not return phone calls.)
In the meantime, moving trucks and a trash dumpster fill the parking lot.
“It’s not a happy time,” says Dean Rogers, age 82, who tried to smile for the camera. “I will miss the 47 people here who were family.”
“We’ve operated in this market for a very long time,” says Betts. “And, of course, the closure comes with sadness for us as well.”
