For Rainer Müller, independent senior living ought to be about community, connection to friends, and staying active.
These are principles the founder and chairman of PARC Retirement Living came to embrace 30 years ago when he moved his mother into a retirement residence near Zurich, Switzerland.
He saw her life become richer and more fulfilled because she lived in a community with access to services, activities, and friends.
Müller brought those ideals to Canada when he built his first PARC retirement residence in North Vancouver a few years later.
Construction is wrapping on his sixth building, the nine-storey Cristalina PARC, at the corner of Lakeshore and KLO roads in Kelowna.
“We look for the best locations,” Müller says. “For independent seniors who are active, it’s the best place to be because you can go to the lake, you can go shopping, you can get medical services, you are in the centre of everything you might need.”
He adds a connection to the community is also important.
“We are supportive of community and senior associations, and cultural organizations so our residents can continue to live their lives.”
Müller adds PARC buildings are not like other retirement residences in design or amenities and offer a less structured approach for active independent seniors.
PARC senior VP of sales and marketing, Louisa Flinn, says company research shows a change in the baby boomer generation wanting to choose what works for them in retirement.
“It’s no longer a one-size-fits-all model of senior living,” she adds.
Cristalina PARC offers studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedrooms which also includes heat and hydro.
Amenities include the PARC Active Living program, weekly housekeeping, on-site wellness consultant, entertainment and activities, and transportation. Daily continental breakfast, dinner, and one weekly brunch are included.
John Eakins, general manager of Cristalina PARC, says the company is also a certified living wage employer.
Müller points out that Cristalina PARC is also a green building, using 35 per cent less energy.
Cristalina PARC is scheduled to open in July with 133 suites available for rent offering city, mountain, and lake views.
More information about Cristalina PARC is available on the company’s website.
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