Spokane Valley-based Evergreen Fountains Senior Living Community is a family-owned independent, light assisted, and assisted-living community that's focused on the holistic well-being of its residents.

Brothers Prokey and Greg Arger operate Evergreen Fountains Senior Living Community with Greg's son, Gene Arger.

Established in 2008 in response to a growing demand in the senior care industry, the senior community is located at 1201 N. Evergreen Road, about a quarter-mile south of the Interstate 90-Evergreen Road interchange in Spokane Valley.

Prokey, executive director and CEO at Evergreen Fountains, says the company appeals to residents and distinguishes itself from national competitors in the market by prioritizing a comprehensive wellness model that addresses the intellectual, emotional, physical, and social needs of both employees and clients, which has been a key to the company's longevity and success.

Evergreen Fountains—and the senior care industry overall—has experienced a significant uptick in demand since the company was established 17 years ago, with 85 independent units and 25 assisted-living units in a main building, along with six cottages for independent seniors. Strong demand prompted an expansion in 2018 for an additional 12 cottages and 34 apartment units in a second structure that's connected to the main building by a skywalk. 

The property has 18 triplex cottages that average 2,000 square feet in size and 156 apartments that range between 710 square feet and 1,500 square feet in size and come in 30 different floor plans, Gene says. Leased units start at $3,200 a month, and the community operates on a private pay model, he adds. 

Rent includes paid utilities, food and dining, housekeeping and maintenance, and access to various activities and social programs.

The senior community has 170 residents currently and is about 92% occupied, says Kathie Walker, leasing manager at Evergreen Fountains.

Demand is strong for cottage units, which have two- or three-bedroom floor plans and come with garages, as well as for the larger apartment units, Prokey says. 

In today's market, more people are moving into senior communities earlier in their lives and bringing more of their belongings with them, which is why larger units are popular choices for residents, explains Gene.

"What they're doing is trying to maintain their independence longer," Prokey says. "They don't want to go from their house to skilled nursing. So now, they're coming into independent living."

Gene, who serves as marketing director at Evergreen Fountains and broker at Arger Real Estate Inc., says the senior community has maintained a 90% occupancy rate or better for a while now.

A driver behind high occupancy at Evergreen Fountains has been the age-in-place movement, which encourages older adults to stay in their homes as they age, rather than moving directly from their home into assisted-living facilities, Prokey says. Evergreen Fountains was designed to allow residents to age within the community, starting in the fully-independent cottages, says Gene. Residents can choose to transition to the main building for independent living with access to additional care services and amenities, followed by light assistance, and then assisted living.

"Seniors that are over 80 are going to need more care as they get older and older. We see the market accelerating in that component. We're seeing the demand for seniors needing care is increasing," says Prokey.

Evergreen Fountains sets itself apart from competition with a "third level of care" that received special approval from the Washington state Department of Social and Health Services to implement. Dubbed light assisted living, the third level of care allows the company to provide light assisted care to all residents in their community without requiring seniors to move into designated assisted-living units.

For example, a resident occupying a fourth-floor independent living unit who needs light assisted living services can receive it there, instead of having to relocate to a dedicated assisted-living apartment, which is the standard practice in the industry in Washington state.

"The big picture is live longer, live better," Prokey says. "Everybody wants to focus on living longer, but then how can you live better?"

While keeping residents comfortable in their apartments, the company provides custom senior care based on a wellness wheel, which is the foundation of Evergreen Fountains' business model, the Argers explain. 

The wellness wheel breaks down components of care into intellectual, emotional, physical, and social needs that are considered vital for a full and balanced life. The wheel provides a path for staff to help residents maintain their health from the start, rather than addressing issues after they occur. Custom care plans also involve caregivers who take time to understand the resident's entire life story and past contributions and not just current daily needs, Prokey says.

Evergreen Fountains currently employs about 80 total staff , including 40 full-time employees—an increase of nearly 38% in the last four years. Many managers have been employed for a decade or longer, Prokey asserts.

Greg Arger says, "That's very important for the residents. It's very important that they get to know (employees). You get to know the resident, the nurses, aides."

Evergreen Fountains also offers wellness and social activities, nutrition and dining programs, and fall prevention programs that keep residents engaged. Amenities include a fitness center with an indoor warm water pool and a variety of fitness classes scheduled daily. 

Key aspects of employee retention include competitive wages, paid lunch breaks, medical and dental benefits, and a corporate wellness program that provides employee access to the fitness center and swimming pool. 

Additionally, the community hosts regular events such as barbecues and a summer concert series, plus holiday celebrations and other special occasions, such as Wine & Cheese Fridays, Greg says. 

Other amenities at Evergreen Fountains include a chapel and movie theater, Greg adds.

"After COVID ... we're seeing that residents are really flourishing again because of the activities," Prokey says.

Another benefit for residents is the on-site internal medicine doctor, Dr. Bob Hustrulid, who serves as a primary-care physician for many residents. 

Evergreen Fountains recently recognized about three dozen residents who had lived there five-plus years. 

"This year was probably the biggest year we ever had," Prokey says.