The Marshes of Skidaway Island: LCS Community Operations Ensures Long-term Stability and Delivery of Exceptional Service
The Marshes of Skidaway Island at a Glance
The Marshes of Skidaway Island is a retirement oasis just minutes from the charming city of Savannah, Georgia. The community was founded in 2004 as the brainchild of residents of The Landing, an affluent neighborhood on Skidaway Island.
Project Scope
Senior Living Management Services
Type
Life Plan Community
Unit Mix
Independent living: 182 Apartment villas: 128 Cottages and townhomes: 54 Assisted living suites: 21 Licensed skilled nursing beds: 23
Challenges
Community opened three years before the Great Recession of 2008. Recession devastated the housing market and tightened seniors’ budgets. Occupancy rates dropped to 90%. Community had a little more than a month cash on hand. Incentives were necessary to attract new residents.
Celebrating Positive Outcomes
The Marshes of Skidaway Island continues to thrive through a long-standing partnership with LCS Community Operations. Together, we’ve navigated economic challenges like the Great Recession, made strategic financial decisions, and cultivated a community known for its strength, stability, and resident satisfaction. These outcomes reflect a shared commitment to excellence and the evolving needs of residents and families.
800+
Through a decades-long partnership, LCS Community Operations and The Marshes of Skidaway Island have built a foundation of financial strength. Strategic planning and sound operations have ensured long-term stability and confidence for residents and families.
370+
Since opening, the community has steadily grown in reputation and demand. A consistently full waitlist reflects the trust families place in the lifestyle and care offered at The Marshes.
97%
High satisfaction scores are the result of a shared commitment to quality, service, and resident well-being. This enduring focus has shaped a community where people feel truly at home.
Business Profile
The Marshes of Skidaway Island is a retirement oasis just minutes from the charming city of Savannah, Georgia. The community was founded in 2004 as the brainchild of residents of The Landing, an affluent neighborhood on Skidaway Island. Wanting to continue their active and idyllic island lifestyle, residents influenced the development of a 58-acre life plan community. The community includes two restaurants offering residents a culinary variety through casual and formal dining. A host of amenities, such as bocce ball and weekly housekeeping and maintenance, offer the promise of a life well lived. The community also offers a continuum of on-site health care including assisted living and skilled nursing, allowing residents to receive the care they need within the community they know and love.
Business Situation
Across the country, the Great Recession of 2008 had an outsized impact on senior housing developments, as tumbling home prices forced many Americans to delay plans to sell their homes. One survey by the AARP found nearly a third of people 65 years of age and older postponed their retirement.
The recession resulted in occupancy rates at The Marshes of Skidaway Island falling to 90%, and the cash reserves tapped out at enough for about 30 days of business. LCS Community Operations had been a crucial part of The Marshes of Skidaway Island’s team
since the community’s inception and their clear vision and excellent working relationship with the staff and 12-member board of directors enabled the community to adapt to challenges experienced during the Great Recession of 2008.
LCS Community Operations led several financial projects in conjunction with the community, including refinancing in both 2013 and 2020. Refinancing was instrumental for The Marshes of Skidaway Island’s financial turnaround, taking the cash on hand from 30 days to more than 800 days. This turnaround also mirrored achievements in occupancy. Beginning in 2016, 100% of the community’s units sold. The waitlist for prospective residents has now exceeded 280 spots as of August 2023.
In 2020, the board signed a seven-year contract with LCS Community Operations to continue managing the community. The extension reflected the trust in LCS Community Operations as a partner and ensured the long-term stability and standard of service residents have come to expect.
Delivering Exceptional Experiences
The depth and breadth of resources provided by LCS Community Operations empower communities to prioritize their residents and worry less about the day-to-day operations. The result is a delivery of exceptional service and increased resident satisfaction. Residents report a satisfaction rate as high as 97%.
Residents report a satisfaction rate as high as 97%.
At The Marshes of Skidaway Island, the board’s confidence in LCS Community Operations has led to multiple strategic planning sessions to remain competitive in the market. LCS Community Operations takes care of monitoring state regulations for compliance and conducts mock surveys to help minimize citations. Those efforts have led to a compliance record at The Marshes of Skidaway Island far above the state and national averages. In September of 2023, the community achieved a deficiency-free health center survey, and it was also deficiency free on its most recent assisted living survey, both of which reflect the support of the Health Services Division. This designation means that The Marshes of Skidaway Island operates in total compliance with state and federal regulations in the key areas of resident care, services and staffing regulations.
LCS Community Operations provides the community’s staff with access to professional development opportunities. The community also benefits from having a network of LCS Community Operations communities that can provide guidance. And because each community is unique, the services provided by LCS Community Operations are personalized to fit the community’s needs.
Resources, expertise and day-to-day oversight from LCS Community Operations frees community leadership to focus on residents. At LCS, it’s true that Experience Is Everything®. For the residents of The Marshes of Skidaway Island, their excellent experience is made possible through the strong partnership between the community and LCS Community Operations.
