Developer plans centers to care for dementia, Alzheimer’s patients

A Las Vegas developer plans to break ground in August on a $4 million, 24-bed center to care for those with dementia and Alzheimer's.

Victor Hecker, the former swim coach at UNLV in the 1970s, said the 16,000 square-foot facility is expected to open next spring at the southwest corner of Elkhorn Road and Jones Boulevard. It will be the first of six such centers in the all areas of the valley he will build with partner Bob Fable. They received funding from Valley Bank, and it will be built by R&O Construction.

The 80-year-old Hecker, owner of Hecker Real Estate and Development, said the projects were spurred by the need in the valley for memory care centers that focus on providing care, programs and activities to cater those with dementia and Alzheimer's.

"We're in the middle of a silver tsunami right now," Hecker says. "Thousands and thousands of seniors are moving to Las Vegas. What happens when they get older and need care? This is a something that's desperately needed it. Some facilities have memory care but they're not devoted to straight memory care like were doing."

Christopher Mirando, the owner of Majestic Management, which manages an assisted living home in Henderson and Pahrump and will manage the new memory care center for Hecker, says memory care beds are included in about 15 larger facilities in the valley and hundreds of smaller facilities with 10 beds or less. The need is there because people are living longer and dementia becomes more prevalent as they age, he said.

"No matter how many you build, there's never enough," Mirando said. "What I have seen over the last 15-plus years of my career is, dementia is becoming more commonplace every day."

Gretchen Batis, owner of CQES, trains workers for assisted living care, says there's not enough facilities in the valley to meet the demand. A lot of larger group homes are adding memory units for that need, she says.

Many with dementia today are at home and cared for by their families who are finding it difficult to work and take care of parents or elderly relatives at the same time. They're looking for alternatives.

"They're overwhelmed," Batis said. "Mom's got dementia and the doctor sends them home, and the family doesn't know what to do. They're not prepared for behavior issues or changing the person if they become incontinent. "They're frustrated, and it's not a good thing."

Hecker, who previously owned a construction company, said he's built an automobile dealership and subdivision, an assisted living facility and developed a shopping center He said the construction of the other five centers could begin in 2017. The facilities will have caregivers, a registered nurse and focus on programs and activities, including gardening, for those with dementia and memory issues, he said.

"These people want to live a productive life as they get older and start to have problems with their memory," Hecker said. "It's very difficult for a lot of people who have parents who are suffering from these situations. They need care. They will be fed, get their meds and have activities. They will feel like a person than a sick individual. They can enjoy what they're doing the rest of their lives and be happy and pass away comfortably."