Senior Housing News, which covers the retirement-community industry, has just published a long, upbeat article about Kendal Corporation (KCorp) and its plans. It makes no mention of the imminent departure of Kendal-Crosslands Corporation (KCC) from the Kendal system.

Most of the article consists of quotes from an interview with Stephen Bailey, KCorp’s Chief Strategy Officer.  Bailey talks about KCorp’s role in soon-to-open Enso Village, the newest affiliate, and about the opportunity to connect with local colleges and universities near Kendal sites.

Among the other points made in the article:

  • All the affiliates have 90+% independent-living occupancy rates currently.
  • Enso Village will be 80% occupied by February, with 300 residents preparing to move in starting next month. Enso Village is sold out.
  • KCorp is involved in developing a similar community, Enso Verde, near Los Angeles. There are also discussions of “a deal” involving another community in Northern California, and potential “new communities on the East Coast.” (It isn’t clear whether these would be newly built or acquired.)
  • The Kendal system will grow via a combination of “development, acquisitions and affiliations.”
  • KCorp “is in the midst of finalizing a new affiliation agreement” — the “fundamental document that governs how Kendal works with and supports its affiliates”.
  • KCorp “is additionally exploring a new community model wherein older adults would live in a congregate building with a live-in care manager affiliated with Kendal at Home”, Kendal’s home-based services arm. This model would be much more affordable than a CCRC.
  • Bailey also emphasized Kendal’s “roots as a faith-based Quaker institution” and said “the organization is living those values by adopting a culture of reaching consensus…. That’s what makes Kendal special.”

The article presents a remarkably positive view of KCorp, an organization that is arguably going through a very difficult period, with an acting CEO and with a key affiliate disaffiliating. But I suppose it is not surprising coming from Senior Housing News, an industry publication which tends to focus on the good news.