Affordable Assisted Living Facility Under Construction in Findlay to Offer New Housing Option for Seniors, Boost Quality of Life

Why Quality Senior Care – and Having Options – is so Important

Like Gilroy, Carolyn Copus sees the incoming facility as a major positive for Findlay, opening more choices for older adults and their families. Copus has been director of 50 North, Findlay-Hancock County’s senior center for more than 13 years; is a board member of Judson Palmer Home, a non-profit assisted living facility in Findlay; and previously spent several years working for retirement community, Birchaven Village.

Each person, she said, has different needs, financial circumstances, and preferences. “Senior care is far from one-size-fits-all.”

“It gives us more capacity to care for people right here at home,” Copus said. “We don’t want a family to reach the point where Mom or Dad needs assisted living and discover that their best—or only—option is 30 or 40 miles away. Keeping our seniors in Findlay means keeping them close to their children and grandchildren, their doctors, their church, their friends, and the community they’ve known for decades.”

Carolyn Copus, director of 50 North, Findlay-Hancock County’s senior center

Seniors can sometimes find themselves spending more and more time alone. Addressing feelings of isolation is crucial.

“Wellness is not just about medicine or meals, it’s about the whole person,” Copus said. “There are studies that say social isolation is like smoking 15 cigarettes a day – isolation is not good. Exercise classes, walking paths, activities, programs, being able to eat around the table with others, these things are crucial. And their loved ones feel better knowing their parent is being well taken care of.”

The layout of Liberty Assisted Living encourages social interaction among residents, with several interior common areas, including a spacious dining area suitable for family gatherings, a lounge, and a computer center. The design also incorporates activity spaces such as a library, fitness center, game room and general activity room.

“Our various communal spaces foster a vibrant community atmosphere,” Barnett said. “There is a huge social component to our communities that we encourage with programming, activities and common areas. Our outdoor amenities – walking and bike trails, a community garden area and a picnic area – will allow residents to enjoy the fresh air and engage with nature.”

Barnett said Liberty Assisted Living was designed with comfort and safety in mind. There will be three floors with elevator access that provide assisted living services. Each unit will be equipped with modern amenities, including a refrigerator, microwave, individually controlled air conditioning and heating, and full furnishings, including window blinds, carpet flooring, an intercom, alarm system and a call button for safety.

As defined under Ohio statutes and regulations, assisted living services include: personal care, housekeeping, laundry, nursing service (which includes health assessment, monitoring of the individual, medication management and intermittent skilled care), coordination of meals, scheduled non-medical transportation, social and recreational programming, and 24-hour on-site staff availability to assist with unpredictable care needs, supervisory needs, emotional needs, reasonable requests for services, and to adequately assist the individual in performing all activities of daily living.

How it Works

The affordable facility is made possible through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OFA)’s Affordable Assisted Living program, which marries low-income housing tax credits with the Medicaid waiver program to subsidize assisted living, Barnett said.

“Sometimes people can pay upwards of $8,000 a month for assisted living if paying privately,” Barnett said. “Through this program, (residents) pay approximately $900 per month and the Medicaid Waiver covers the rest, including the costs of wellness, activities, housing and meals.”

There are regulations through the State of Ohio to determine who is eligible for Medicaid-supplemented assisted living. The applicant must qualify for Medicaid, and applicant income for the Findlay facility will be capped at 60 percent of the area median income. Barnett said they anticipate the average age of those who will move in to be around 72, however a wide range is expected from mid-60s to 100-plus. Each resident is medically evaluated for their needs.

Grand Contracting is building the facility and Traditions Management, both out of Carmel, Ind., will manage Liberty Assisted Living. Barnett is enthusiastic to be able to provide a “premium product on a beautiful property” for the residents of Findlay. For Barnett, being able to offer affordable housing has always been a personal mission, and Traditions Management is committed to “enhancing residents’ quality of life through genuine and uncompromising care and service.”

“We are so happy to be able to provide this premium product,” Barnett said. “I think it’s fun to see residents’ and their families’ positive comments about it on social media. Traditions really does an exceptional job; they’re the engine that keeps everything running and that’s where you differentiate yourself. We take a lot of pride in providing for these future residents. That’s why we’re here.”

Hiring Employees and Taking Residents Soon

Liberty Assisted Living is slated for completion in October of 2027. Barnett said those interested in applying for a job or to live in the facility can reach out anytime at traditionsmgmt.net/contact-us/.

“We will collect their information and keep them updated as the building progresses,” he said. “We hope to start moving in residents in late 2027.”

Copus is well aware that Liberty Assisted Living will benefit Hancock County’s economy by creating jobs, bringing additional investment and by keeping people here. In order to have a strong community, infrastructure must be in place to support people throughout their entire lives. And the even bigger story is quality of life.

“In Findlay we’re lucky,” she said. “We have parks, the arts, a lively downtown, and great businesses here. Not only are we a great place to raise a family, but we’re a great place to grow older. It’s about keeping our families together, enabling older adults to stay here and continue to be part of this community, and giving choices to families.”

In addition to Findlay, Traditions Management operates twelve assisted living facilities in other Ohio communities and more than 30 across the Midwest. This project represents Leo Brown Group’s eighth senior living development in Ohio.