DeSmet Retirement Community sits in central Florissant, Missouri, near the police department and in Historic Old Town Florissant, and the place offers both independent and assisted living, with memory care, so you see residents with all different needs living together, which helps people stay in one spot as their needs change, since it's a full Continuing Care Retirement Community. There are between 50 and 75 units, including apartments, villas, and single-family homes, plus 33 independent living apartments that each have a full-size kitchen and bathroom, and a 58-apartment residential care facility licensed by the state. Every room is designed for comfort with private bathrooms, full tubs, air-conditioned ground floor units, kitchenettes, and cable TV with Wi-Fi. Residents can choose from studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and semi-private rooms with special room pricing for assisted living.
Meals are provided, like breakfast and dinner, with restaurant-style dining in a big dining room, private dining for family visits, and the staff can even bring your meal to your room, plus guest meals are offered, and there's a grocery shopping service for residents. There's a full housekeeping and laundry service covering clothes, linens, and towels, and the staff takes care of maintenance and general upkeep, which makes it easier for people who want maintenance-free living. For those who want to stay busy, the building has a movie theater, a TV lounge, a library, a gaming room, a computer center, and a small library, along with a fitness center, wellness programs, and things like a spa or sauna for relaxation, and people enjoy garden areas, walking paths, or just sitting outside on nice days. There are scheduled activities every day-music, games, crafting, and movie nights-with community-sponsored programs, resident-run clubs, onsite and offsite events, devotional services both on and offsite, an arts room, and plenty of ways for people to meet up and socialize in either indoor or outdoor common spaces, including a special pickleball court that some places don't have. The staff runs a transportation service with buses for group outings, shopping trips, and local medical appointments, and residents can also get help setting up other rides for non-medical trips, with parking for those who still drive and like having their own car nearby.
There's a 24-hour emergency call system and staff are always on duty, including nurses, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), visiting nurses, and therapy professionals like podiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists, with support from 12 to 16 hours of onsite nursing care every day and 24-hour supervision for safety. The healthcare team can help with medication management, assistance with bathing, dressing, and other daily activities, and they're trained to help with transfers between beds and wheelchairs, even for residents who need standby help. There's diabetic care, including assistance with blood sugar checks and insulin, but incontinence care is available only for those who can manage it themselves, so the place does prefer residents who need light care, although both assisted and independent residents live here, and there's the option for hospice services when that time comes. Memory care services are provided for those with memory issues, which is good for families who want their loved one to age in the same community. The staff try to create a friendly, caring place-families often mention this-and the building feels home-like with all the common spaces and the chance to keep active, along with small pets being welcomed so residents don't have to part with their companions.
The owner is Rebecca Larson and her business partner is Larry Greenberg, with Mr. Mitch Bachtel serving as the administrator, and the Retirement Housing Foundation (RHF) runs the property and has been supporting seniors since 1961, focusing on providing good housing at an affordable price so people can have a good quality of life while staying active as long as possible. DeSmet Retirement Community offers different levels of care, many amenities focused on comfortable living and social connection, and programs that support wellness and independence, which does allow people to enjoy their later years at a pretty steady pace without having to move again as their care needs change.
