According to the Erickson Tribune, a newspaper distributed to campus residents, more than 75 percent of the apartment homes sold out in less than four months. The same article reports that since Ashby Ponds was first released in the summer of 2007, 535 people have visited the campus. “The consistent influx of people into our offices is very encouraging,” Retirement Counselor Elena Price said. “Even during the notoriously slow month of December, we met with more than 100 people. This is something people have been waiting on for a long time, and they are scheduling appointments at a record pace.”

The Erickson Tribune quotes Price as saying that Erickson’s flexibility is one of the keys to its continued success. Potential buyers can be placed on a waiting list to reserve their space in line without being pressured to make a decision about their future plans. For example, if an apartment is ready before that person is prepared to move, they are able to pass on the home without losing their place in line. They are also permitted to move their rank to another Erickson community if they so chose.

Situated on 132 acres and located approximately 30 miles west of Washington, D.C., Ashby Ponds will feature two-bedroom apartment homes and large under-building parking spaces – two features that are in high demand at Greenspring and Riderwood.

“This exciting location provides not only rich history but convenient access to the heart of northern Virginia,” it adds. The community’s grand opening is expected to take place this fall.

Other campuses in development include Linden Points in Hingham, Mass., Maris Grove in Glen Mills, Pa., and Ann’s Choice in Warminster, Pa.

Earlier this year, Ann’s Choice was Medicare Certified by the Center for Medicare Services (CMS). According to Erickson, the certification enables home health to provide residents with in-home skilled professional services such as nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, social workers and home health aides under Medicare or Erickson Advantage. The services are free of charge under a physician’s prescription.

Ann’s Choice home health is the seventh certified home care department within the Erickson communities.  
        
Making Its Move
Not one to rest on its laurels, Erickson is branching out geographically and adding to an already extensive list of value-added services. In April 2007, Erickson opened a development office in Orange County, Calif., to explore and oversee new projects in the western United States. “Many retirees have asked us to come to the West Coast,” Kenneth Rohde, Erickson’s vice president of development services for the western United States, said in a statement. “There are currently no full-service retirement communities in Arizona or the West Coast that are even close to what an Erickson community would be.”

The company is currently looking at land for a future site in the Phoenix, Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Sacramento and Los Angeles areas. Rohde says he is also helping with a potential new Erickson project in Denver.

In early January, Erickson announced it had established the framework to begin operating a national realty and moving service company – Erickson Realty & Moving Services (ERMS) – to assist retirees in selling their houses in order to move into Erickson campuses. More than 100 people have moved to the campuses so far this year.

“People want to move into our retirement campuses,” Senior Vice President of Sales Tom Neubauer said in a statement. “They need a little reassurance at this time that they are making the right real estate decision. We are putting the pieces in place to help them attain the retirement lifestyle that they want without worrying about finances and moving logistics.”

Thus far, the ERMS program has helped 221 people settle in the Michigan, Illinois and Massachusetts markets where it has been initially introduced.

ERMS operates a team of personal moving consultants, retirement counselors and a network of specially selected realtors, stagers, contractors and movers, according to Erickson. This team works with retirees to help them establish sales prices for their homes. Marketing assistance and logistical services related to moving and downsizing are also provided. The ERMS team goal is to prepare a customer’s property to achieve the highest sale price within each market while attempting to reduce days of market time. “We are removing the economic – and the psychological obstacles – to moving,” Neubauer said.

For Erickson employees, the company established the Erickson Employee Help Line, which is administered under LifeBalance, can be easily accessed anytime in English or Spanish via telephone or Web site. The helpline is structured to provide assistance to employees who have concerns about relatives who live far away, are themselves providing hands-on care for an elder or disabled relative, or are just preparing for the future care of an elderly relative.