348-resident senior living community located on the campus of Arizona State University sets a new standard for fast growing senior living model.
Mirabella at Arizona State University, a 348-resident senior living community located on the campus of Arizona State University, has successfully met criteria to be awarded the nation’s first certification as a “University Based Retirement Community (UBRC)”. The newly established designation is offered through UniversityRetirementCommunities.com, launched last year as a directory, information, and development resource for the rapidly growing model of University Retirement Communities (URCs) with connections to a host university or college. The site currently lists more than 80 communities nationwide.
“As the number of URCs has grown and continues to grow with the retirement of the Baby Boomers, we felt it imperative to bring structure to this sector, in particular recognizing communities that achieve the highest level of integration and potential for long term success with a host academic institution,” stated Andrew Carle, Founder of UniversityRetirementCommunities.com. Carle serves as lead faculty for the graduate curricula in senior living administration at Georgetown University, including defining a 5-criteria model for URCs that was used as a basis for creating the Certification program. Communities meeting all five criteria can be certified as a University Based Retirement Community (UBRC)™, those meeting 3-4 criteria as a University Linked Retirement Community (ULRC)™, and those meeting 1-2 criteria as a University Affiliated Retirement Community (UARC)™. Mirabella at ASU met all five criteria, while achieving a perfect 100 score.
“We are incredibly proud to become the first certified UBRC in the nation” stated Lindsey Beagley, Senior Director of Lifelong University Engagement for the community. “URCs are cross-sector innovations that have the power to re-imagine retirement to be more active, learning-centered, and intergenerational which we know are associated with healthy, resilient aging. Students also benefit tremendously from the opportunity to learn with and from the most experienced people in our society. It's a win-win for everyone."
Certification criteria include the proximity of the community to the campus, documented resident-to-university and student-to-community programs, a continuum of senior living services, the percent of residents who are alums or retired university faculty or staff, and a relationship between the community and university that supports long term operational success. In addition to its campus location, Mirabella offers numerous opportunities for lifelong learning, participation in university events, and student-to-resident interactions, including unique “Artists-in-Residence” cohousing of PhD Music majors and residents of the community.
In addition to a full continuum of independent and assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing services, approximately 30% of residents have a past connection to the university. The community holds a 99-year land lease through the university’s real estate division.
The certification allows the community to display the “Certified” UBRC logo, as well as receive the highest search ranking on UniversityRetirementCommunities.com.
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