Guests were treated to speeches, tours, and a champagne toast at the July 14 grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Belmont Village Senior Living La Jolla.
A 17-story high-rise with 180 units of independent, assisted living and memory care at 3880 Nobel Drive, this latest state-of-the-art Belmont Village community is the third in San Diego, the 15th in California, and the 33rd of its kind nationwide.
Belmont Village La Jolla not only features the franchise’s signature amenities and programs but also introduces the first-of-its-kind Living Lab. A collaboration with the Stein Institute for Research on Aging operated by UC San Diego, the lab allows faculty and researchers to study health, well-being, and longevity for successful aging to help advance the quality of life for seniors everywhere.
On hand at the grand opening were Belmont founder and CEO Patricia Will; Bob LaFever, managing director of developer Greystar Development and Construction Services; and Dr. Alison Moore, a board-certified internal medicine doctor and geriatrician who is interim director with UC San Diego Center for Healthy Aging and the Stein Institute for Research on Aging.
“This collaboration comes from very special partnerships,” said Will in introducing Belmont Village Senior Living La Jolla. “I want to share some of what’s going into the DNA of this building, our lifelong commitment to finding ways to enhance well-being in elder seniors. And it’s largely due here in San Diego to the Stein Center for Research on Aging at UCSD. The Stein Center is creating a Living Lab here where their researchers will be engaging with our seniors to put all of the aspects of enhancing well-being on steroids.”
Will introduced Moore as “a brilliant scientist also equally committed to social justice,” noting her work “focuses on interesting aspects of older adults.”
“I’m especially excited by the partnership we have with Belmont, at what implications it has in the field of aging,” said Moore. “The Living Lab is something our organization’s leaders have dreamed of for years. It will provide residents with opportunities to participate in research studies that interest them, and in doing so, serve to guide and inform our research.”
“It is an opportunity to learn more about specific aspects of aging including behavioral, biological, and technological interventions to promote healthy aging,” continued Moore. “By being embedded in the community, this program will allow us to dive deeper into understanding the bedrock elements that promote healthy aging, quality of life, and well-being at any age. Our mission (at Stein) is to work with the community and promote recent scientific advances so that we can benefit from them in our daily lives.”
Belmont’s director of communications, Lorena Capellan Grimes, conducted a guided tour of Belmont Village Senior Living La Jolla showcasing its chic design. Captivating design elements of the project include sprawling pools and lounge areas, immaculately manicured grounds, fitness centers, the latest technology, and wellness programs encouraging health and personal growth for La Jolla seniors.
A real estate developer, Will co-founded Belmont Village Senior Living in Houston in 1997. With her background in medical real estate, Will saw the lack of sufficient Alzheimer’s care provided to her mother-in-law and decided to take action. She became a fully integrated developer and operator of first-rate senior living communities, which focus on assisted living and memory care.
Will has been recognized for her contributions to the senior living industry. In 2018, she was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame and is widely recognized as an innovator and influencer in senior housing.
