More than just a place to live in retirement, The Estates on Lake Granbury offers the ultimate in charming, safe and affordable lifestyle options in a Christian-based environment for active seniors fifty-five and older.

As an independent residence facility with a quiet Victorian ambience, The Estates offers exceptional features, including 24-hour security, meals, housekeeping services, transportation, entertainment and companionship. Your next door neighbors might be engineers, artists, pilots, teachers, ministers, entrepreneurs, moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas and, according to many residents, the best friends anyone could find, anywhere.

Services and Amenities ~ No matter what style of house you call home, comfort, convenience and security are paramount to enjoying life.

One of the great luxuries of living at The Estates is no “honey-do” list. The maintenance department makes sure residents never have to change a filter or a ceiling light-bulb. The staff will even hang pictures for you.

Because The Estates provides a 24-hour attended front desk, someone is always available to answer the phone and greet residents and guests. Since each resident is issued an alert pendant for emergency use, the attendant is often the first person to respond to emergency calls from Alert USA.  When you need assistance, the staff responds within moments.

The activities department ensures that residents have plenty to do: movies in the in-house theater, cards and games, clubs, libraries, exercise classes, a wood carvers group, a puzzle group and more. Outings include fishing trips, casino excursions, live-theater outings, the Breakfast Club and the Lunch Bunch (breakfast or lunch out at local restaurants), weekly shopping trips to Walmart and Kroger, plus monthly trips to department stores and the Dollar Tree.

Affordability ~ Ann Elkins, administrator of The Estates says, “Retirement living facilities face a host of challenges as a new generation comes on the scene. We’re standing on the shore, facing the baby boomer tsunami. The average age of our residents is dropping substantially as baby boomers arrive, ready to enjoy life.”

Baby boomers are healthier and living longer, so making their retirement money last is foremost in their minds.

“For active seniors on a fixed income an unforeseen incident can be disastrous, like a broken hot-water heater flooding your home or an air conditioner breaking down,” Ann says. “One way our facility helps is to make food and shelter a fixed, monthly expense. At the Estates you know exactly what your expenses will be, with no surprises. Once you pay your invoice at the beginning of the month, your meals, utilities, transportation to doctors, housekeeping, linen service and security needs are paid in full.”

In addition, Ann adds, “We’re a nonprofit, so I can work with people to offer competitive pricing. No one should assume by looking at us that they can’t afford to live here.”

Independent Living ~ While The Estates offers a broad roster of services, it doesn’t offer assisted living services. Residents may hire someone to help them with those activities, but it isn’t part of the independent lifestyle.

Ann explains, “There’s often a misconception about facilities like The Estates – that they’re assisted living facilities or even nursing homes. ‘Independent living’ may be a new word in the vocabulary of many people. Independent living is a lifestyle for the active senior.

We do virtually everything except assist with activities such as bathing, dressing or health care. We entertain, provide transportation, cook for you, clean for you and do countless other things to help you age in place. As long as people are active and making their own decisions, they stay healthy longer – both mentally and physically.”

In 2010 The Estates was presented with the Texas State “Champion Employer with Experience Works” award. “Experience Works” is a program that helps older workers re-enter the work force. Seventy-five percent of The Estates’ staff is over age 50.

The Estates and its sister facilities directly affect more than 1,000 families every day.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to help others,” Ann Elkins says. “My job is an answered prayer that I didn’t even know I was praying.”