A new senior living care facility specializing in assisted living and memory care has opened in Shawnee.

St. Louis-based Cedarhurst Senior Living opened its latest community-based care facility in Shawnee last week. The facility is aimed at helping close a gap that’s expected to widen between seniors living in Johnson County and care available for them.

“This was the perfect market. We did a research study and saw that the Shawnee community could utilize more senior living. We’re super excited to be in this market to change seniors’ lives and have them move in and call this place home,” Alex Neff, divisional director of operations for Cedarhurst, told the Johnson County Post. 

The facility offers 63 assisted living apartments and 26 memory care suites, all with specialized plans for its tenants.

“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. We’ll assess based off what the resident wants, what they need … if they want their laundry done, if they want their trash taken out daily, if they want just reminders to get to different activities, our staff will learn personally who that resident is, what they want, so that they can provide the services for them,” Neff said. 

24/7 on site staffing

Originally approved by the Shawnee City Council in July 2024, Cedarhurst Senior Living of Shawnee opened on Sept. 28.

Aimed at building a community tailored to its residents’ needs, the facility offers a variety of amenities, including:

• 24/7 on-site staff
• All-day dining
• Social events and experiences
• A private movie theater
• Full-service salon and spa
• Outdoor court with seating
• Physical, occupational and speech therapy

Rent ranges from $5,950 to $7,500 per month, depending on the size of the apartment and $8,500 for a memory care apartment.

One couple’s experience

Two of the first people to move into the facility, Ronald and Rosalie Cazares’s journey to Cedarhurst was slightly unexpected.

Living on their own in an apartment in Overland Park, Ronald fell and broke his femur in 2024.

With neither Ronald or Rosalie able to drive, the fall prompted their son, Michael, to help find them a senior living facility where they could still live in an apartment setting but also have medical care and amenities immediately available.

While they lived in a senior care facility in Lenexa for two years, sudden changes in management and staff, as well as the declining quality of the building and services, caused them to look elsewhere and eventually choose Cedarhurst.

“We came here, and we took a tour. You’ve got a nice big dining room, and it’s really nice, and I’ve got a lot of amenities that the other places didn’t have … So far, it’s been really great,” Ronald Cazares said. 

More senior care facilities are needed in Johnson County

When the facility was proposed to Shawnee’s governing body in 2024, it drew praise from city councilmembers.

“I think this is something that will bring value to the community,” Councilmember Kurt Knappen said at the time.

The county expects the population of people 65 and older to increase from about 95,000 in 2020 to more than 148,000 by 2029 and to more than 230,000 by 2049.

While it’s needed, the facility is one piece of the puzzle needed to address that increase.

“We will need accessible transportation, health and supportive services, nutrition, dementia and family caregiver resources, opportunities for social engagement and recreation, and a strong workforce to provide these services,” Tim Wholf, director, Johnson County Aging and Human Services, said in an email to Johnson County Post.

Johnson County Commissioner Janeé Hanzlick said more facilities will be needed.

“We are going to have a lot of older folks that need a place to live, and it may not necessarily be in their own home where they are now,” she said. 

Hanzlick notes that facilities like Cedarhurst won’t be for everyone.

“We certainly need these types of facilities, but they’re not going to be affordable for everybody, especially since they don’t take Medicaid,” she said. 

Johnson County

The cost of the facility is reflected in the services offered by Cedarhurst, as well as the peace of mind their residents’ families have, knowing that they’re being cared for, Neff said.

“I hope our families … know that while they’re working or doing whatever they like to do, that their loved one is safe here. They’re having fun. They’re interacting. They’re building friendships and living life to the fullest,” he said. 

Go deeper: Shawnee approves plan for assisted living facility on Lackman Road