Update: Boards of Buckner Retirement Services, Baptist Memorials Ministries Approve Affiliation
(DALLAS, Texas) – The boards of two senior living providers with Texas Baptist ties have given the green light for the organizations to affiliate in 2010, say leaders for the respective institutions. Dallas-based Buckner Retirement Services Inc., which owns and manages five senior living communities in Texas, is exploring an affiliation with Baptist Memorials Ministries, a continuum of care community with campuses in San Angelo and Burnet, Texas.
Buckner and Baptist Memorials had entered into a letter of intent in May, which began proceedings for an affiliation starting Jan. 1. The affiliation would join the two non-profit organizations’ leadership, business and marketing functions for increased service to elders, leaders of both entities say. The boards of both organizations met in July and voted to proceed with the affiliation following due diligence investigations by both entities.
Buckner and Baptist Memorials are affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The decision of the two boards paves the way for an approval vote by representatives, or “messengers,” to the BGCT’s November meeting.
Buckner served 1,210 residents in 2008 on its five campuses, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled care. Baptist Memorials served more than 1,000 elders in 2008 on its San Angelo campuses and through the Woodlands, an independent living campus in Burnet.
For more information, go to www.bucknerretirement.org or www.bapmem.com.
Buckner Retirement Services Explores Affiliation with Baptist Memorials Ministries
(DALLAS, Texas) – May 8, 2009 – Dallas-based Buckner Retirement Services Inc., which owns and manages five retirement communities in Texas, announced today it is exploring an affiliation with Baptist Memorials Ministries, a continuum of care community located in San Angelo.
Buckner and Baptist Memorials have entered into a letter of intent, which would open the way for an affiliation starting Jan. 1, 2010. The affiliation would join the two non-profit organizations’ leadership, business and marketing functions for increased service to elders, leaders of both entities say.
Buckner served 1,210 residents in 2008 on its five campuses, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled care. Baptist Memorials has a population of about 600 residents annually, including 400 in its Village and High Rise facilities and 200 in skilled care. Both entities are affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
Pearl Merritt, president of Buckner Retirement Services Inc., said the connection of the two faith-based retirement organizations provides greater strengths to both.
“Buckner operates retirement communities in Longview, Dallas, Houston, Beaumont and Austin – all east of I-35,” she explained. “With this affiliation, we can now offer a full continuum of care to elders in West Texas through a like-minded community committed to excellence in elder care and culture change in the retirement industry.”
Baptist Memorials President Pat Crump called the potential affiliation “exciting,” noting the connection with Buckner will “give Texans a true statewide choice when they seek a retirement community that will offer them quality care in a faith-based context.”
Buckner International President and CEO Kenneth L. Hall said the joining of the two entities “is a cause for celebration in the Texas retirement industry. Buckner and Baptist Memorials both have strong reputations for their quality of care and their leadership in retirement service provision. This affiliation will cause a lot of people in the field of services to elders to take note.”
For more information, go to www.bucknerretirement.org or www.bapmem.com.