Special Report

Seniors make an economic impact in Billings

Posted: May 16, 2011 12:41 AM by Amanda Venegas
Updated: May 16, 2011 12:48 AM

BILLINGS - With a booming aging population, it's apparent that services and housing unique to the age group are popping up across town. According to a study by the Assisted Living Federation, assisted living communities nationwide earned $33.1 billion dollars in 2008, which was roughly the total economy in Montana.

Back in the 1960's, St. John's Lutheran Ministries started its first senior living community at the corner of Rimrock Road and Shiloh Road among farmland. Now that corner is bustling with 40 acres of senior activity.

"We have on this campus today, 523 residents on the corner of Rimrock and Shiloh. Total number of paychecks we issued last week was probably around 640," said Kent Bugress, St. John's Lutheran Ministries President and Chief Executive Officer.

Burgress says the current West-end location has grown into one of the largest facilities in the state and employers in the county, which currently stands as the tenth largest in Yellowstone County. He attributes that growth to the success of the state's only true Continuing Care Retirement Community.

"We offer all level of services from skilled nursing to transitional care to independent living and a variety of assisted living," Burgess said. "Our goal is to manage the care and needs of people on our campus without having them having to leave our campus."

St. John's operates several facilities, which are nearly at 100 percent capacity. Burgess says the 65 and older boom is evident in the Magic City.

"I think the highest concentrations of seniors in the state of Montana is going to be located in Billings. There's a lot that attracts people to Billings for one, we have two fine hospitals and physician groups," Burgess said.

That senior demographic is also spurring growth of independent living facilities across the Magic City.

"There's another half to this that's very much like a business in terms of private pay services to independent and assisted living folks. That piece of the business is growing and is flourishing," Burgess said.

According to the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Montana has 195 assisted living facilities and 34 in Yellowstone County. That number continues to grow every year.

St. Johns is also expanding with facilities in Laurel and Red Lodge.

"We also operate a small project in Laurel called the Crossings. We have broke ground on a new project in partnership with Beartooth Billings Clinic in Red Lodge and we're also developing a new project up in the Heights by Skyview High School called the Wyndstone," Burgess said about future growth.

Living in one of these facilities can cost some money.

Burgess says, "Independent living is going to run about $2,000 a month, assisted living about $4,000 a month, skilled nursing is about $6,000 a month."

After working in the industry for three decades, Burgess says this age group is playing a role in our economy and with an exploding population through 2030, it will be interesting to see what happens.

"In my mind, seniors are economic development and our ability to serve seniors and retain them in our communities is going to be vital."

Experts continue to have concerns over how reduced medicaid funding will affect seniors and also if there will be a big enough work force to meet the needs of the aging population.