Silver Sky to give seniors a space to call their own

Ninety unit assisted living developtment to open in June near Rainbow Curve

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A new building is gracing the area just south and west of the Rainbow curve. The Silver Sky Assisted Living Residence, 8220 Silver Sky Drive, is a 90-unit development perched on a 5-acre parcel of land. The site was donated by the Bureau of Land Management.

The project is the first of its kind in Nevada, using tax-credit financing, donated public land and service reimbursement through Medicaid to provide individual apartments and assisted-living services to low-income seniors.

The project cost approximately $12.9 million.

Nancy Dury is the admissions coordinator and stressed the units are allotted on an individual basis based on income level.

Silver Sky is made up of 90 apartment units. Some are one-bedroom units, others have two bedrooms. They vary in size from 520 to 672 square feet. Each includes wall-to-wall carpeting, a modern kitchenette with microwave and refrigerator, cable television and Internet access and individual heating and air conditioning units. Bathrooms feature walk-in showers.

The only thing they automatically come with is furniture.

"They'll have their own space so they can bring their own things and decorate it how they want," Dury said.

She said she was particularly glad the facility offered great views. Some units overlook Angle Park. Others offer a view of the Strip.

The facility offers community spaces like a dining room which offers three meals a day, a recreation room, lounge and wellness space as well as a general store, beauty shop and laundry facilities. A computer room offers Internet access.

"There's even a movie theater," Dury said. "We think it's important that residents enjoy themselves."

Housekeeping and personal assistant services will be available.

Silver Sky is a pilot program, a new model for assisted living model geared for those who cannot afford expensive assisted living facilities.

In Nevada, the U.S. Census Bureau projects there will be more than 34,000 seniors in the state over the age of 85 by 2030. The Public Policy Institute of AARP reports that, currently, about 27 percent of Nevada seniors age 75 and up have incomes of $15,000 or less.

Dury said it took the combined efforts of local leaders like the mayor and Councilman Steve Wolfson, as well as support from Harrah's Entertainment and other companies, to see the project come to fruition. U.S. Senator Harry Reid, D-Nev., also was involved.

"It literally took an act of congress to get this low-income project in place," Dury said.

Harrah's provided $800,000 over a three-year period towards the project. It also has pledged its employees will do volunteer work at the site.

Silver Sky is expected to open at the end of June. For more information, call 456-8493 or visit its upcoming Web site www.silverskyassistedliving.com.