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Press Release

Ranchitas… just right?

Remember the classic tale of Goldilocks and the three bears? It’s all about a little girl who wants things to be “just right”. My Father's Retirement Ranch has provided the Wickenburg area with a variety of senior living options since 1979. And now there are more options to choose from than ever before. If the Independent Apartments seem a little too small and the newly completed Casitas are a too roomy, then the forthcoming Ranchitas are bound to feel “just right”!

Kevin Armstrong, Executive Director at My Father’s Retirement Ranch, expects the Ranchitas to be very popular with the active fifty-five-plus crowd. “The response to our new Casitas has been tremendous! Not everyone is looking for 1700 square-feet though, so there has been a lot of interest in the Ranchitas - designed to be just under 1000 square-feet.” The new brand new Ranchitas will also offer total independence with the same type of flexibility - on a slightly smaller scale. While maintenance, groundskeeping, and a calendar packed with activities will be included, a menu of options such as dining and housekeeping services will also be available as add-ons. Construction on the Ranchitas is scheduled to start in January, with the first units available in the Fall of 2007. Pre-lease applications are now being accepted. One couple has already made an earnest deposit after selecting their Ranchita from the eight scheduled on the blueprints. In the memo accompanying their reservation they stated “We were pleased with what we saw when you showed us around the Ranch last week…From all we can see, this appears to be an ideal set up.”

Take a closer look at My Father's Retirement Ranch, and you may well find the fit to be “Just Right!”

Kevin Armstrong is the Executive Director at My Father's Retirement Ranch. He can be reached at (928) 684-5925.

Kevin P. Armstrong Executive Director My Father's Retirement Ranch 400 N Jefferson St., Wickenburg, AZ 85390 phone & fax (928) 684-5925

Living in a Retirement Community… Is it really affordable?

As run headlong into the holidays, it seems that everyone is thinking about finances, and how to make the most of what they have. Not a bad idea. Whether you have already done some homework, or are looking at your options for the first time, you may suffer from a mild case of “stickershock”. Before you dismiss the notion as too expensive, though, let’s take a look at your current cost of living. You might be surprised to find that your cost of living before and after moving into a retirement community may be quite similar.

According to a recent publication by the American Seniors Housing Association the laundry list of typical monthly “living expenses” might look something like this: food, housing/shelter, utilities, household services and supplies, transportation, some entertainment. Another variable to factor into the equation is the value of any property that is currently not producing income. This could be rented or sold with the returns being invested to produce ongoing income, instead of remaining a liability. “Other/discretionary” expenses may include healthcare, utilities, apparel & services, entertainment, personal products and services, reading/ education, miscellaneous, cash contributions, personal insurance/pensions, personal taxes, gifts, etc.

The report goes on to explain that spending patterns for age 75+ seniors, with average annual incomes between $35,000 and $50,000, are close to the prevailing monthly fees for service enriched independent living. In an average household , seniors allocate approximately 65% of their after-tax income to living expenses with 35% going toward other/discretionary outlays. To apply these percentages in terms of round figures, an individual with after-tax income of $2000/month would expect to spend about $1300 on living expenses, leaving approximately $700 for various other/discretionary expenses.

Retirement communities typically include the “living expenses” listed above in a single monthly rate, accommodations starting at about $1100/month. Other benefits often include activity programs, emergency call services, transportation services, and monthly healthy living checks (to name a few.) And, most residents are thrilled about the prospect of letting someone else take care of the meals, maintenance, and housekeeping!

Keep in mind that it’s always a good idea to seek the counsel of your family, friends and/or financial advisor to help you make the decision that will best meet your needs and goals. Chances are, you can not only afford to live in seniors housing, but you can do it with financial peace of mind.

Kevin Armstrong is the Executive Director at My Father's Retirement Ranch, building on twenty-six years of family tradition in Wickenburg. The Ranch offers flexibility within a variety of retirement living options ranging from Senior Apartments to Independent Living and Residential Care. He is ready to answer your questions and show you around The Ranch at 400 N. Jefferson St. Wickenburg, AZ 85390 (928) 684-5925.

Inter-dependence can offer Independence

By Kevin Armstrong
Executive Director
My Father’s Retirement Ranch

At some point, we all face important decisions involving the delicate balance of personal independence and a high-quality of life.

It is a task that requires careful consideration, and the resolve to take action when interdependence offers more freedom than total independence. While seniors used to wait until they were forced to move to an “old folk’s home” at age 85 or better, the new generation of the maturing retirees prefers to keep the ball in their own court by looking at the options earlier in the process, in the ballpark of age 55-65.

As a result, retirement communities everywhere are going to great lengths to add new accommodations and offer a wider variety of services to attract younger retirees. Flexibility is right at the top of the list of priorities and it influences everything from the size and layout of the units to the available services, payment options, and beyond.

Leah Armstrong, Resident Care Manager at My Father’s Retirement Ranch, spends much of her time working with seniors, their families, physician offices, and pharmacies to orchestrate the best possible living situation for each individual.

“We really encourage residents at the Ranch to continue with an active lifestyle” Armstrong explained. “We offer a variety of services to help make that happen. A lot of folks take advantage of our services, not because they have to, but because it frees them up to do the things they want to do.”

A menu of available services at My Father’s Retirement Ranch includes meals, housekeeping and personal laundry, errand running and shopping. Various wellness-related services are also offered a la carte to provide the highest level of flexibility.

There are typically two categories of people interested in what a community has to offer: a) those who, ready or not, will be making a change in the very near future, without fully understanding their options, and, b) those who are doing their research now so they are ready when the time comes. Today the number of cases in this second group is increasing steadily as individuals and couples age 65-75 are starting to represent a larger percentage of the population.

There are several motivating factors that drive people to consider their options. Folks often mention concerns related to the burdens of homeownership such as the hassle of yard work and maintenance, the headaches of paying numerous bills, and a desire to be free to come and go as they wish – without worrying if their place is alright. They also want to know that there is a helping hand ready and willing if they should ever need it. When it comes down to the defining moment, though, the balancing act is different for every person.

The key to navigating the transition gracefully is in prioritizing needs and preferences, doing the homework to get to know the options, and then mustering up the courage to step out and act on a decision before being forced to do so. Once a person comes to terms with the needs, then he or she can be free to declare independence from all the weighty factors. Inter-dependence can become the ticket to enjoying life again!

Kevin Armstrong is the Executive Director at My Father’s Retirement Ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona. He can be reached at (928) 684-5925.

Feb 23, 2005 – Wickenburg Sun
The Desert Trek Club of West Park is pleased to announce a special engagement with local “Culture Keeper” and outdoorsman, Dana Burden. The public is invited to join club members at My Father's Retirement Ranch as Dana presents the story behind the making of his recently released book, Desert Hiking – Out Wickenburg Way. As a Wickenburg native, Dana has a wide variety of stories gathered up and is sure to captive those in attendance (if only to distinguish which are fact and which are fiction!) Although the book is officially a “hiking” guide, the presentation will be of interest to all who can elate to the adventuresome spirit that our town inspires. The presentation will include a demonstration of the CD that comes with the book. The CD includes the text, additional color photos, plant and animal pictures, trails and way points, legends and lore and GPS mapped trails. Books will be available for purchase and signing. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to meet the man, the myth, the legend - Mr. Dana Burden at My Father's Retirement Ranch on February 26 at 9:30am.

Community Profile – Wickenburg Sun October 2004

Family Business an Asset to Wickenburg

The story sounds a lot like the tales of the pioneers: - They loaded up their belongings in New Hampshire and headed out west – without a definite destination in mind. In this case they were seeking a life for their children without the severe allergies of east coast living. Somewhere along the trail, a helpful wayfarer suggested Prescott as a “mighty nice town”, and after a couple of months in a campground there, they were introduced to the little town of Wickenburg. This is the story of Bill and Brenda Cowles.

Since their arrival in Wickenburg in 1976, the Cowles family has upheld the standard of what life in Wickenburg can and should be. Bill and Brenda raised three children here, Chip, Tyler, and Leah, all active participants in the Saddle Club, 4-H, and Wickenburg athletics. All three swore they would escape the small town of their youth, but Tyler and Leah returned to the community after attending college at NAU, and are now married and raising families of their own here. “We had big ambitions of living in some far off exotic place, but when it came down to it, we wanted our kids to have the benefit of knowing their grandparents – that’s something we never really got to do as kids.” Chip is now serving as Campus Ministries Director for Campus Crusade for Christ in England. He and his wife, Diane, have two daughters Gabriella (6) and Daniella (4). Tyler serves as Operations Manager for the Ranch and he and his wife, Jennifer, have headed up Young Life activities in Wickenburg. They have two children Seth (3+) and Morgan(1). Leah is also a manager at the Ranch and her husband, Kevin, does marketing and public relations for what is indeed a family business. They have two sons, Aaron (3+) and Benjamin (15mos). According to Kevin, “The residents love to see the family in action. They get a big kick out of it when a 3 year old brings the dinner rolls to their table!”

“I was doing private duty nursing at the time, and we got started by renting out a room in our own home, and things kept building from there.” Brenda is a registered nurse (RN) and has served on various local health care committees and boards, and Bill has served the town in numerous capacities, most recently on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Perhaps the greatest contribution the Cowles family has made to our community is in providing a means for seniors - our parents, grandparents, and neighbors - to preserve an element of life which has become so much a part of them - life out Wickenburg Way. They have done so by developing a selection of 30 independent apartments and 20 assisted living units which can help provide a seamless transition from a private residence while maintaining an individual's dignity and preserving deep Wickenburg connections. The Ranch offers the personal care of a family owned and operated enterprise and stands out in our community as a reminder of the significant contribution the Cowles family has made toward maintaining the quality of life that everyone wants in Wickenburg.

This week the Cowles family has good reason to celebrate their accomplishments as My Fathers Retirement Ranch celebrates a 25 years of serving the people of Wickenburg. Although the Ranch has put on barbeque bashes for the residents and their invited guests for the past 16 years, this will be no ordinary party. “We wanted to open this event up to the town as a way to say thanks to all the people who have helped us care for our residents over the past 25 years.”

The public is invited to join in the festivities at the Ranch on October 23 from 10am-2pm. More information and directions are available on the web at myfathersretirementranch.com.