UPDATE: Oct. 15, 2011

Buckner to Provide Assistance to Residents of Buckner Retirement Village

DALLAS – Buckner Retirement Services announced Friday that additional assistance is being provided for residents of the assisted living, memory care and congregate living apartments at the Trew Home at Buckner Retirement Village who are moving due to the home closing on Dec. 1.

Assistance for all residents affected will include:

• Up to $2,000 reimbursement for moving expenses, deposit for a new place to live and first month’s rent.
• Waiver of rent for residents of the Trew Home at Buckner Retirement Village for the month of November.
• Prorated rent for October for the days resident no longer resides at the Trew Home.
• Refunded security deposit.
• Assistance with locating a new community to best meet the needs of the resident.
• Flexibility to allow additional time for residents on a case-by-case basis.
• Six months of ElderCare Assistance for all residents currently receiving assistance at Buckner.
• And moving assistance, including boxes and packing supplies and support with packing as needed.

Residents and their families can contact Janice Gray at jgray@buckner.org or 214-758-8030 seven days a week for information on moving assistance, support for finding a new community or to answer questions regarding Buckner’s support.

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DALLAS – After faithfully serving seniors in Dallas for 57 years, Buckner announced Wednesday that the Mary E. Trew Home at Buckner Retirement Village will be closing due to regulatory requirements for campus improvements that cannot be met.

The closure will affect residents living in the assisted living, memory care and congregate living apartments and will be effective Dec. 1. Independent living will remain open and available for occupancy.

“We care very deeply about our residents and employees,” said Charlie Wilson, senior vice president for Buckner Retirement Services, Inc. “This was a very hard decision to make, but one that was unavoidable. We will do everything we can to provide assistance for our families to find a new home in the coming weeks.”

The closure was initially announced to residents as Nov. 9, but has been extended until Dec. 1. Wilson said the move needed to happen quickly because of state requirements for the memory-care building, which would require costly measures and rapid implementation to fully continue operations through the end of the year.

Buckner is also working with employees to find new employment opportunities, including reassignment to other positions within Buckner and outside employment. Buckner will host a job fair for employees in the coming days.

The closure serves as a first step toward transitioning the campus into a community that will provide high-quality, affordable senior-living options to better meet the needs of seniors in East Dallas.

“The community spirit that has surrounded Buckner Retirement Village for 57 years is unmatched,” Wilson said. “We are known for our incredible employees who provide exceptional care and service to our residents each and every day. We will continue to provide that same level of service in the coming weeks.”

In total, the closure of the Trew Home affects 51 residents and 48 employees.

Buckner is scheduling individual family appointments to assist those who need help finding new housing. To schedule an appointment, please call 214-381-2171.

Buckner Retirement Services serves more than 2,800 senior adults each year in Texas through seven retirement communities. Buckner Retirement Services is a faith-based ministry that strives to enhance the quality of life for senior adults and their families by promoting an active, healthy Christian lifestyle while maintaining their independence and dignity. To learn more, please visit www.bucknerretirement.org.

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