Gordon and Nancy Fales watched as chef Molly Dollarhide prepared grilled asparagus and shrimp, artfully arranged the food on plates, then served them lunch. The Faleses weren't dining in a swanky restaurant. They were at home.
Chef demonstrations are among the amenities at Highview Hills, a new senior housing complex in Lakeville where the Faleses rent an apartment. There's also a day spa, an art studio, a pitch-and-putt golf course, a mini-movie theater and an Internet lounge. And on Fridays, there's even a happy hour in the club room bar.
Last fall, the Faleses sold their Prior Lake home to downsize. They toured several senior facilities, but settled on the Lakeville complex in part because they could bring Belle, their golden retriever. They also liked the building's Arts and Crafts-inspired interiors, and, of course, the gourmet meals.
"Good food was high on our list, and it's surpassed our expectations," said Gordon. "It's like eating at a five-star restaurant every night."
The Faleses, both of whom are retired and in their mid-70s, are part of the emerging 55-plus set who are demanding more from their golden years housing.
"Seniors' expectations have changed," said Cathrine Bondhus, corporate director of marketing for Walker Methodist, a nonprofit that owns and manages Twin Cities senior housing properties such as Highview Hills. "They're more well traveled and their lifestyle has changed over the past 20 years."
Walker and other senior housing providers are striving to meet those expectations by offering perks such as 24-hour concierge service and fitness centers staffed with personal trainers.
Ecumen, a Shoreview nonprofit that owns complexes in Minnesota and surrounding states, is opening an upscale senior building this fall. The Seasons at Maplewood "will have a resortlike feel," said Julie Murray, director of real estate development for Ecumen. That's because it has to.
