San Antonio, TEXAS September 29, 2014: The LaSalle Group, a national leader in memory care with more than 15 years of experience, is proud to announce it will begin construction on Autumn Leaves of Westover Hills, a 36,000-square-foot specialized assisted living community dedicated to memory care. The memory care experts currently own and operate 36 communities across the country. This community marks the first with a new design model and includes additional life enrichment programs based on the latest Alzheimer’s and dementia research. Autumn Leaves of Westover Hills will incorporate music in various aspects of the community to engage residents while providing tremendous therapeutic benefits. In addition, the community will feature themed courtyards, an open café designed for socialization and a layout that gives residents more independence.
The community will bring 45 jobs to the area and provide quality care to 54 residents living with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other forms of memory impairment. This is The LaSalle Group’s second community in the San Antonio metro area. Autumn Leaves of Stone Oak recently opened in north San Antonio. The LaSalle Group will be hosting a groundbreaking celebration on Wednesday, September 17th, at 10 a.m. John Barbee, Executive Vice President of Real Estate for The LaSalle Group, will be in attendance, and a light brunch will be served. The community is the result of a partnership between The LaSalle Group, OmniAmerican Bank, and Silverado Interests.
“We are always looking for ways to enhance our communities and adapt our design to ensure that our residents receive the best care possible,” said Mitchell Warren, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Owner of The LaSalle Group. “I am proud of our team for creating a new model that will improve the lives of our residents. We look forward to bringing our unique and purposefully designed community to families who truly need quality care.”
Autumn Leaves of Westover Hills will feature state-of-the-art technological innovations throughout the community. Dedicated listening stations will allow residents to enjoy personalized playlists of their favorite music. Built-in sound systems will play music in the dining rooms and spa. The Music Maker playground will encourage intergenerational socializing with grandchildren. The interactive playground will feature various percussion-like instruments for residents and family members to enjoy. Research shows that music can reduce symptoms of dementia and improve cognitive skills.
The new design creates various areas that promote socialization or give residents a place to relax. An Active Courtyard will feature a putting green, meandering walking path and the musical playground. The Relaxation Courtyard will include several resting spots with comfortable motion seating, a shaded area and a water feature that will produce soothing nature sounds. Inside, a Relaxation Room will create a quiet, calm space where residents can retreat if feeling overwhelmed or agitated. In addition, the new model will have an Arts and Activities room, where residents can challenge their minds through creative endeavors as well as have their work framed and displayed in a gallery setting. The community will also include Jean’s Café, a therapeutic kitchen with a bistro-style gathering area and space for cooking activities that encourage natural conversation. The café is named in honor of Warren’s grandmother.
“Since we only focus on memory care, we are able to truly design our communities to meet the needs of our residents,” said Joseph Jasmon, Chief Operating Officer of The LaSalle Group. “There has been a lot of research done about music’s therapeutic benefits, so it makes perfect sense to incorporate more music in the community. Our goal is to improve our residents’ quality of life, help educate their families and be a resource to the surrounding community. This is a wonderful opportunity to expand the impact we are having on families in San Antonio.”
Autumn Leaves of Westover Hills will also have a Vigil System, which is a motion sensor program in each resident’s private room that allows for safer independent living. The system subtly alerts staff members, if needed, and gathers information that serves to improve the resident’s comfort level. All staff will undergo rigorous training to help them understand behavioral, communicative and cognitive changes residents will experience. The community will also offer a full-service beauty and barber salon, on-site caregivers and meals prepared by a chef and dietician.
“We will provide outstanding care while treating our residents with compassion,” said Warren. “I am particularly excited about the inclusion of a Wall of Honor in Autumn Leaves of Westover Hills. For the first time, we will have a way to pay tribute to all residents who served in the military. It is important to recognize the residents for their accomplishments in the past, present and future.”
The community is expected to open in the third quarter of 2015. Autumn Leaves of Westover Hills is located at 10107 Military Drive West in San Antonio, Texas, and is less than half a mile from the Raymond Stotzer Jr. Freeway. Once open, the community will provide free services for families in the area including educational seminars, speakers and Alzheimer’s support groups. Autumn Leaves of Westover Hills will also offer respite care.
The groundbreaking event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. Anyone interested in attending is asked to RSVP by contacting Sarah Chidalek at schidalek@lasallegroup.com or by calling 214-845-4429.
If you are a member of the media interested in covering this story or would like to set up an interview, please contact Amy Jones via phone at 214-890-7912 ext. 30 or email at ajones@fortegroupinc.com, or Mady Edgar via phone at 214-890- 7912 ext. 43 or email at medgar@fortegroupinc.com.
ABOUT AUTUMN LEAVES
Family owned and operated memory care assisted living communities, Autumn Leaves® is dedicated to serving those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Autumn Leaves communities are committed to providing exceptionally high-quality care and research-based programs that allow for safe, secure and active environments for its residents. An acknowledged leader in memory care, Autumn Leaves combines clinical expertise, knowledge of dementia and heartfelt compassion to create the best possible care environment. Autumn Leaves currently operates 36 communities in 4 states with the ability to serve more than 1,800 residents. For more information, visit AutumnLeaves.com or call 888-662-8886.
ABOUT THE LASALLE GROUP
Family owned and operated since 1990, The LaSalle Group, Inc. designs, develops, builds, manages and owns 36 Autumn Leaves® memory care assisted living communities designed specifically for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, as well as other specialized real estate and businesses throughout the United States. For more information about our business lines, services, current projects and investment opportunities, please visit
LaSalleGroup.com or call Kristin Dupont, Director of Marketing, at 800-452-7255.
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