WesleyLife, Genesis partner to develop senior living communities

Editor’s note, Feb. 22: WellSpire will be the name of the new entity that is being formed by the partnership of the two organizations, they announced today. “The name WellSpire is derived from the words ‘well’ and ‘inspire,’ and our choosing of those two words was very deliberate in terms of our goals for the new organization,” WesleyLife CEO Rob Kretzinger said.

WesleyLife and Genesis Health System will join forces in a new entity to develop senior living communities to serve eastern Iowa and western Illinois, the organizations announced Wednesday.

Both companies will continue to exist independently, a WesleyLife spokeswoman told McKnight’s Senior Living.

“As a broader-reaching organization, we will be better positioned to meet the needs of a growing, thriving population whose expectations are changing,” WesleyLife CEO Rob Kretzinger said in a statement. “This affiliation allows us to create a model by which hospital systems and senior living organizations align efforts to better impact the health and well-being of this population. We’re looking forward to serving a greater number of older adults in a more meaningful and efficient way.”

The to-be-named company will put its name on a new senior living community in the Bettendorf, IA, area that is in the pre-development stage and then will look to establish another community in Moline, IL.

“Any communities in the pre-development stage, such as the one in Bettendorf, will follow WesleyLife’s Communities for Healthy Living model, which focuses on enhancing the well-being of those we serve,” Kretzinger told McKnight’s Senior Living. “They’ll include all levels of living, from independent living to assisted living, memory support and long-term care/skilled nursing services.”

The partnership also will look at the existing Genesis campus of Illini Restorative Care and Crosstown Square independent living apartments in Silvis, IL, as well as Genesis’ West Wing Place intermediate bed long-term care nursing unit in DeWitt, IA, to identify possible physical changes, expansions or new developments.

“This collaborative effort will benefit the senior community by aligning a wide range of services, positioning this new organization to be the single solution in the region for senior services,’’ Genesis Health System President and CEO Doug Cropper said. “We’re excited to partner with WesleyLife, which shares our commitment to seniors and serving their needs.’’

Genesis Senior Living Aledo, a skilled nursing, memory care and rehab facility in Aledo, IL, will remain under the direction of Genesis and will not part of the new company.

The 72-year-old WesleyLife, based in Johnston, IA, owns and operates eight communities for people aged 55 or more years; they offer a range of independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehab. The company also has a network of home- and community-based offerings, including home healthcare and services, adult day services, nutrition, transportation, hospice care and public health nursing services.

Genesis, based in Davenport, IA, offers a full continuum of care, including preventive, primary, acute and tertiary hospital care; home health and nursing home care; hospice; and rehabilitation and long-term care. The organization’s existing partnerships, including assisted living partnerships with Senior Star’s Elmore Place in Davenport, IA, Grand Haven Retirement Community in Eldridge, IA, and Ridgecrest Village retirement community in Davenport, IA, will remain in place, a spokesman for Genesis told McKnight’s Senior Living.

The companies said they will provide additional details about the partnership as they further define goals and logistics.