Senior adults looking to relocate often wish they could have the care they need while maintaining the independence they enjoy. At The Neighborhood at Tellico Village, that kind of balance is enjoyed by dozens of residents.

The Neighborhood combines the luxury of a resort with the comfort of a condominium and the amenities of an assisted living facility. Buyers have the freedom to make changes at the pre-construction stage of building. Base units are 1700 square feet with a choice of screened porch or sunroom. Buyers can customize bath/shower types as well. Skylights, lighting, color choices and flooring selection can all be customized. Since marketing through Gables and Gates Realtors in February, interest in The Neighborhood at Tellico Village has grown.

“It’s nice to be in a resort atmosphere and have this kind of care package,” said John Ritchie of Gables and Gates Realtors. “We’ve identified a strong need for this, since we have a lot of people stop by and say this is the lifestyle they’re interested in.”

The Neighborhood offers many different options for people with different needs. For example, the assisted living facility has an around-the-clock nursing staff. But for those who do not need this level of intensive care, living in The Neighborhood means they can get help with everyday tasks such as yard work, property management and house cleaning. There is even a meal plan for those who do not wish to cook every meal. It’s a lower level of service for people who don’t wish to take care of everything on their own every day. Many of these residents still drive their own automobiles.

“There’s a shopping cart, or a menu, of different styles and units,” said Derek Cimala, president of The Neighborhood at Tellico Village. “There’s the feeling of an independent home, but we offer a menu of different selections to appeal to a wide range of folks.”

While this type of senior citizen community is fairly common in more populous areas, Cimala says The Neighborhood is the first of its kind in Tellico Village. The development currently houses 40 to 50 people in the assisted living facility, while there are more than 20 occupied condos. All told, Cimala estimates there are probably 80 to 90 people in the development currently, and more are signed up to move in.

“What we try to do is develop these types of projects in smaller communities,” Cimala said. “Typically they have evolved in bigger cities, but if there is no senior citizen population to support them in the smaller communities, (the facilities) don’t exist. That’s why we went out to Tellico Village. Those towns are smaller, but they have seniors that didn’t want to go 30, 40, or 50 miles away to receive assisted living services. It’s a niche market we found.”

Ritchie says, “Gables and Gates Realtors jumped at the chance to work with The Neighborhood at Tellico Village when the opportunity came up. Everyone who lives there is a member of the property owners association, so they have access to the resort privileges. That kind of convenience makes The Neighborhood a good product to sell.”

“The customer profile is generally people who are moving out of their houses in Tellico Village and want to downsize, or people whose children live in Tellico Village and want their parents to live closer,” Ritchie said. “But they can still maintain their independence. It’s a great package. When we pitched it to our sales force, they all said they wished they lived in a place like that.”

“Part of The Neighborhood is currently under construction as new, larger condominiums are built on the 50-acre site. Currently all the condos have two bedrooms, but three-bedroom condos are soon to be constructed as well as single-family dwellings. Multiple-story condos will add to the diversity and appeal to different price ranges and preferences,” Cimala said. “Additional utilities and roads will make the new additions just as convenient as the existing development.”

“We’re looking at additional acreage and several different housing units that will meet the needs of the senior population,” he said.

Ritchie says the construction has piqued people’s interest, but they often want to tour the existing facility to see what it has to offer. The price of buying a condo in The Neighborhood ranges from around $185,000 to $235,000, and there is no minimum age requirement for residents.

The meal plans can be tailored to each resident’s individual preference; for example, someone can sign up for three meals a day or just one or two.

“People want a sense of security, but they also want their independence,” Ritchie said. “If you’ve got a parent living there, you’ve got the peace of mind of knowing someone is helping them with their home and they can request meals when they choose to.”

The Neighborhood at Tellico Village is located in Loudon. For more information, call John Ritchie, Gables & Gates, Realtors, (865) 777-9191 or visit their web site at www.theneighborhoodattellicovillage.com.