CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - On February 26, the Citrus Heights Planning Commission unanimously approved a proposal for a 74,000-square-foot senior care facility at 8220 Sunrise Blvd. The applicant — LRS Paul Boundy Architects, based in Portland, Oregon — intends to operate a high-quality 80-unit assisted living facility. A 20-unit memory care wing would be reserved for residents experiencing Alzheimer’s, dementia, or similar illnesses. The memory care wing will be secured 24 hours a day to ensure the well-being of the residents. The facility will be State licensed and provide meals, medication, housekeeping, entertainment, transportation, and daily living assistance.               

LRS is focused on preserving the natural amenities of the 4.55-acre site, which fronts Sunrise Blvd. to the west, with Twin Oaks Ave. to the north and Antelope Rd. to the south. An existing tributary to Cripple Creek along the northern side of the property will be protected by a 45-foot setback. There are numerous trees on the property, and LRS will preserve as many as possible. When trees must be removed for the construction of the facility or other property improvements, LRS will follow mitigation measures such as replanting new trees on the site.

The plans for Carefield Living Citrus Heights show Tuscan-style architecture, with large arched windows, tiled roofs, stucco, wood accents, and stone veneers. The building will have a two-story profile in the front, dropping to one story in the back. Residents will enjoy various amenities, including an art studio, media room, activity/game room, family and TV rooms, library, pool, exercise studios, dining area, and landscaped courtyards.

LRS has experience in the hotel field, so their focus is on the customer experience. “We don’t build projects just to build,” said Steve Barklis, managing partner for Carefield Living Citrus Heights. “We try to be proactive and anticipate the real needs of the clients.” Barklis said they “have a brand standard” for Carefield and are “very hands on” in the management, with a focus on both resident and staff experience.

Normally, they don’t want residents staying isolated in their rooms, so they create facilities that invite interaction in beautiful common spaces and outdoor areas: “We want interactive experiences,” said Barklis. Of course, with the current social distancing requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Barklis said they are following that order in their current care homes.

The timeline for the Carefield Living Citrus Heights project is up in the air right now since no one knows how the COVID-19 crisis will play out. But Barklis said it would be about “two years before we’re open for business, under normal circumstances.” He said, “We don’t know what the impact [of COVID-19] will be … We’ll see where the dust settles.”

LRS is moving forward with finalizing the plan details and securing the required building permits. Barklis said, “We love the site,” and they are looking forward to creating all the outdoor spaces that make Carefield such a desirable place for seniors to live. “We try to make it something great — something better than they could experience in their own homes.”

Barklis said, “Senior living is a need-based demand” … “It is not an elective.” They fill the need for care that families aren’t equipped to handle, helping seniors live in comfort and security when they can no longer live on their own. LRS chose to build in Citrus Heights because “there is a demand there,” said Barklis. He explained that senior care homes generally serve clients who live within 5–10 miles of the site because people like to stay in the area they know, where they are most comfortable.

Colleen McDuffee, Community Development Director for the City of Citrus Heights, said, “We know there is a demand for facilities like this in our community. Senior facilities such as this allow our residents to stay in their neighborhood and their community as they age.”