Home Care In Belmont, LA

As a history addict, I’m always on the lookout for clues to the past. Whenever I pass an empty lot, I look for old foundations. Whenever I pass a freshly dug hole, I examine the hole and the excavated dirt for old junk. Sometimes what I see leads to a forgotten story of our past. This is one of those times.

For years now, while traveling down La Tuna Canyon Road I’ve been seeing indications of the hand-of-man in an uninhabited portion of the north side of the canyon. As you head down the road from the Foothill 210 Freeway crossing, you wind down the steep curvy road until you finally reach a flat portion. The “round house” on your left and the debris basin on your right are your landmarks. Directly across from the round house (literally a white two-story house built perfectly round) on the other side of the canyon are indications of some sort of development. A couple of stone wall portions are perched on the hillside along with a fairly tall cement staircase leading … nowhere. The eroded edge of a road section hangs on the edge of the streambed. It’s intriguing. What was it? Perhaps a large home wrecked by fire or flood?

Turns out these are the only traces of the opulent Belmont Country Club, a playground for wealthy Los Angeles residents built in 1926. The first indication of the club’s existence comes from a news article about La Tuna Canyon Road being paved from Vineland in Sun Valley, all the way to the grounds of the country club, in anticipation of its opening. (At that time, La Tuna Canyon Road to La Crescenta didn’t exist. La Tuna Canyon Road only went from Vineland to the entrance to the country club. Essentially it was the residents’ own private driveway.)

Although it was apparently first begun in 1923, the Belmont Country Club opened to great fanfare in 1926. Initially I imagined this was another high-end speakeasy, just like our own speakeasy Verdugo Lodge that later became Mountain Oaks. But unlike Verdugo Lodge, which flew below the radar with no advertising, Belmont Lodge was all over the newspapers and it hosted many public events, so maybe it was legit.

The Los Angeles Times began trumpeting the opening of the Belmont in February 1926. A full ad showed photos of the almost completed club building. It was two stories, concrete in construction, and massive, representing an investment of $100,000. Its Spanish styling included huge arched entryways and windows and the requisite tiled roof. Interior features were a grand ballroom, separate lounges for men and women, dining room and kitchen, along with a number of “sleeping rooms for members that desire to spend occasional nights at the club.”

Outdoor activities included tennis on several courts and a large swimming pool. Picnics and hikes were foremost in the advertising as this was at the tail end of “the golden age of hiking” when hiking was a very popular sport.

“Naturally scenic surroundings and heavily wooded canyons” promised the newspaper. “Spreading shade trees, plenty of tables, cold mountain spring water and miles of interesting trails for hikers make this a wonderful place to spend the day.”

But the jewel in the crown was the 18-hole golf course. It was designed by William Watson, the then-famous golf course designer. The Scottish Watson (he grew up on St. Andrews, considered to be the birthplace of golf) began designing top courses at the turn of the century and in his career designed over 100 courses. Among his famous course designs locally are Brentwood, Annandale, Hacienda and Hillcrest, as well as Minikahda and Interlachen in Minnesota and Belvedere in Michigan.

It’s not stated in the advertisements how much a membership cost in the Belmont Country Club. It did state, however, that memberships were available “at a very low fee and on easy terms of payment to selected applicants only.” Hmm. “Selected applicants only” … I wonder what that meant?

Next week, more on the spectacular Belmont Country Club and why it isn’t there anymore.

Military veterans living at the Belmont Village La Jolla senior community put their service in the viewfinder of photographer Thomas Sanders for photo shoots Aug. 21 that will become a permanent exhibit at Belmont Village.

Sanders created portraits of the veterans with personal memorabilia illustrating their experiences and drew out their stories recorded by Belmont Village staff.

The exhibit, called “San Diego American Heroes: Portraits of Service,” is planned to be revealed by Veterans Day in November.

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“I feel honored,” resident David Sobo said of being included in the exhibit.

Sobo, a private first class in the Army for two years, was drafted in 1955 to the infantry but was later transferred to the Ordnance Corps.

Sobo is one of the 27 veterans at Belmont Village La Jolla out of its 107 residents.

Sanders has been carrying out the “American Heroes” project at the 33 Belmont Village locations nationwide. “At every Belmont Village senior-living community we do this permanent veterans exhibition,” Sanders said.

The La Jolla-area community has been open about a year and had not yet participated.

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Aug. 20, 2023

Sanders is visiting three local Belmont Village locations this week —Sabre Springs, Cardiff by the Sea and La Jolla.

“It’s so memorable,” said James Arp, senior executive director at Belmont Village La Jolla.

Sanders began the project as a graduate student 18 years ago while attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

“I had this homework assignment where I photographed this World War II veteran,” he said. The veteran’s story of surviving the explosion of a shrapnel mine in Italy “blossomed into me wanting to travel the country and photograph veterans.”

Sanders’ goal is to “make people more appreciative of veterans’ stories and help put their life into perspective,” he said.

Sanders began working with Belmont Village Hollywood in 2008 and expanded to a national tour of Belmont Village communities in 2015 in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Sanders has turned his portraits into books, including “The Last Good War: The Faces and Voices of World War II” in 2010 and “Vietnam War Portraits: The Faces and Voices” in 2020.

There also is a version of the exhibits on permanent display at Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports.

“The project really has a life of its own,” Sanders said.

For the photo shoots, Sanders encouraged the vets to bring pieces of their military experience, from uniforms (or hats Sanders provides) and swords to medals and microscopes.

Belmont Village La Jolla resident Bill Massicot, a naval commander who served from 1960 to 1988 and was based in San Diego three times, arrived for his session in full dress uniform.

Massicot said he’s glad Belmont Village is highlighting veterans’ service. “It’s worthwhile,” he said.

Carrying on the project in San Diego is significant since there are so many military bases here, Sanders said.

“[The goal is to] make people more appreciative of veterans’ stories and help put their life into perspective.”

— Photographer Thomas Sanders

The project also is “community-driven,” he said. Residents’ caretakers are involved in preparing memorabilia, and the veterans can meet other vets at the facility.

“It creates a sense of camaraderie,” Sanders said.

The photo shoots aren’t limited to those who have served for the United States. Belmont Village La Jolla resident Amnon Ben-Yehuda was in the Israeli army during the War of Independence in 1947-48 and had participated in special units in previous years.

His Belmont Village photo shoot was the first time Ben-Yehuda had worn his badges and medals on his lapel.

“It wasn’t the kind of thing we would demonstrate,” he said.

Ben-Yehuda, who wrote the book “Healing the Wounds of War” about his experiences, feels a “brotherhood with all veterans,” he said. “We all go through pretty much the same thing. I’m proud of that brotherhood.”

Sobo said he believes military or public service — from building roads to serving abroad or working in a hospital — should be required.

“All the youth of this country should join the military or do some sort of public service,” he said.

Massicot’s best memories of his service are the times he was out at sea.

“That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “Just doing your job.” ?

Recently opened 17-story, luxury Belmont Village La Jolla community touts next-level living

By Lauren J. MappStaff Writer

Aug. 16, 2022 6 AM PT

Stepping into Belmont Village La Jolla is like walking into a luxury vacation resort with a pristinely decorated entry lounge, spacious dining room and plenty of outdoor space.

The apartments have large windows with picturesque views of the mountains to the north, east and south. On clear days, residents will be able to see the Pacific Ocean to the west. The 17-story residence, which opened last month, is La Jolla’s newest senior living facility.

Towering over many of the other structures in the area, the 180-unit building on Noble Drive is the third Belmont property in San Diego County, and the only one to boast a Living Lab from the UC San Diego Center for Healthy Aging and the Stein Institute for Research on Aging.

In the Living Lab, gerontology researchers will work with residents to study ways to improve their quality of life.

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One of the studies that researchers plan to conduct is a training program for seniors to build up their resilience, Danielle Glorioso said. She is the executive director of the Center for Healthy Aging, an umbrella organization for aging-related programs at UCSD, and the Stein Institute for Research on Aging, which focuses on enhancing lifelong health and well-being through research, training and community outreach.

Past research has found that resilience — the ability to adapt to adversity — is an important component of healthy aging in seniors.

“Resilience is correlated with longevity, so people who are more resilient tend to live longer — I think, on average, like seven years longer,” Glorioso said.

“We know that decline happens over time, but how can we help older adults sort of adapt to those changes and improve their years — their quality of life — with the years that they’re here?” she added. “Our goal is not to reverse aging; it’s to help people adapt and sort of live their best quality of life.”

Being embedded on the property at Belmont Village La Jolla, she said, will mean that other research projects can be conducted as well, focusing on areas such as sleep, cognitive testing, robotics to aid seniors and microbiome testing, to name a few.

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“They’re just very supportive of the work that we’re doing — so supportive that they’re willing to give up the space in their community so that we can do our research,” Glorioso said.

But the deluxe living accommodations that Belmont Village La Jolla offers come with a steep price tag that many aging seniors will be unable to afford. The monthly cost per person ranges in price from $7,345 for independent living to $12,060 for memory care, and if more than one person is living in the unit, there is a second occupant fee.

Caring.com reports that the average costs of senior living care in California are $3,413 for independent living to $6,562 for memory care.

Patricia Will, Belmont Village Senior Living founder and CEO, said there are several elements that drive the cost for monthly fees, including the cost of labor for the facility’s staff and the price of real estate in Southern California.

“This is an exquisite piece of real estate, 17 stories, many of the units with apartments with big balconies and ocean views,” she said. “As anywhere here in Southern California, the value of real estate has to count for the pricing.”

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The high costs can also be attributed, in part, to the design of the building’s units, a collaboration between Belmont Village and luxury real estate developer Greystar. Each of the studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments has its own private kitchen to give residents a greater sense of home, and a spacious bathroom, and many have walk-in closets, full washer-dryer units and plentiful storage.

The entire building is also licensed for assisted living. That means that if partners move in who need different levels of care, they can still live in the same apartment with one another, unlike many other senior living facilities where they would be moved into separate units.

Residents with mild cognitive impairment can also participate in the daily “Circle of Friends” program, and two floors of the building are dedicated to secure memory care for those with dementia who are at risk of wandering.

“What we find, however, is that very often, first, seniors who largely have been or are homeowners who sell homes or condos to come and live with us have a leg up because, of course, the rise in home prices has allowed for a wealth creation that enables people to afford Belmont Village,” Will said.

She added that other people are able to afford to move in because of their long-term care insurance policies, veteran benefits and help paying for the facility from their adult children.

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“(Long-term care insurance) begins to smooth the affordability problem for, I’d say, probably 20 to 25 percent of our customers,” Will said. “It’s private insurance, but it pays well for assisted living and memory care.”

The new facility is the latest step in a series of collaborations between UC San Diego aging researchers and Belmont Village.

In February 2020, UC San Diego published research of residents age 60 and older in five facilities across the country, including Belmont’s properties in Cardiff and Sabre Springs. The study aimed to help the population cope with stressors related to the decline of physical and cognitive health, and included three 90-minute group sessions over the course of four months where participants discussed the impact of age discrimination.

“Seniors can improve their overall affect, their sense of well being, their happiness, their ability to thrive,” Will said. “What we are doing now is kind of putting that on steroids.”

That program was expanded into a six-session program that was administered one-on-one due to the pandemic. It is now being redeveloped into a group program to be introduced to residents at the La Jolla property.

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Aside from its work in the Living Lab, Glorioso said there are other ways the university supports the diverse community of seniors in the region.

UC San Diego aging researchers recruit seniors from community centers in South Bay, North County and other parts of the county to participate in research studies.

“What we try to do is we try to go out into communities all throughout San Diego County so that we can get full representation, and so that our work can really reflect the community that lives in San Diego County,” she said.

Low socioeconomic status has been found to impact long-term health deterioration and acceleration of aging among seniors.

A 2020 study from Princeton University looked at the aging progress of 5,018 participants ages 52 and older over the course of eight years. The researchers found that those with a lower socioeconomic status were associated with a faster rate of decline when it came to a number of health categories, including sensory function, cognitive performance, physical capability and emotional well-being.

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One of the organizations UC San Diego has partnered with is Serving Seniors in downtown San Diego through a Senior Change Makers Pilot Study in 2016.

During the study, researches provided training to older adults to help them engage in advocacy to make the community’s crosswalks and sidewalks more walkable and age-friendly. The result was that most of the seniors who received the training then completed a street audit, submitted an advocacy request or made an advocacy presentation to city staff.

Glorioso said lessons learned from research at the Living Lab in Belmont Village La Jolla can be applied to other groups of seniors in the county, and that the resilience training planned for the site has already been given to other groups throughout the region.

“Our work is not just in sort of the higher-end senior living communities,” she said. “It’s just that in this particular project, Patricia has been a true champion of helping us learn more about how to help older adults age successfully, and she has the resources to be able to let us go in-house.”

In an effort to understand what defines aging successfully, UC San Diego will operate a “Living Lab” at Belmont Village Senior Living La Jolla, a 17-story, 187-unit upscale senior apartment community that opened in August.

The Living Lab will start in early 2023 with research associates conducting informational interviews with Belmont Village residents. It will be run by UC San Diego’s Stein Institute for Research on Aging, said Anthony Molina, the institute’s scientific director and vice chief of research in the UCSD Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology & Palliative Care.

The lab’s aim is to “engage older adults in our research not just as participants, which is historically how we work with older adults in clinical research, but also as collaborators and advisors for the work we do,” Molina said.

“What should we be working on? What are the things that matter to them?” he said.

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James Arp, senior executive director at Belmont Village, said the researchers will have their own space “so residents can stop them in the hallway and go to their office.”

The research is open to anyone at Belmont Village who wants to participate, he said.

The access that the scientists and residents will have to one another “is an ideal situation [to make] a difference for the future,” Arp said.

The lab will carry out its research through a variety of formats that might include investigations into “lifestyles and behaviors that promote physical [or] cognitive function” or various interventions designed to promote resilience among older adults, Molina said.

The goal of Molina’s research at UCSD is to support healthy aging and advance precision health care for senior citizens. He said his work is not disease-focused but rather investigates factors influencing healthy longevity, involving “the physical domain, the cognitive domain, even the sensory domain and the quality-of-life domain.”

“We’ve known for a long time, for example, that one’s genetics can contribute to the health trajectory, but I’m more interested in things that we can do something about,” Molina said, including environment, nutrition, exercise and lifestyle.

“We’re really focused on the things that go well with aging,” he said.

“[The lab’s aim is to] engage older adults in our research not just as participants ... but also as collaborators and advisors for the work we do.”

— Anthony Molina, UC San Diego

Molina said he hopes the relationship with Belmont Village “lasts a very long time. It’s going to be a process of multiple different projects over time.”

The projects will be funded through grant proposals, he added.

Molina said he sees the Living Lab not just as a resource for his research program but also for others in UCSD’s School of Medicine, School of Engineering, Center for Research on Empathy and Compassion and more.

“I foresee this being a broader partnership that … is in the interest of our university more broadly to support,” he said.

Belmont Village Senior Living La Jolla, at 3880 Nobel Drive, offers options for independent living, assisted living and memory care. For more information, visit belmontvillage.com/locations/la-jolla-california. ?

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.