Willowbrook Place to expand care services

Thiensville - Senior living community Willowbrook Place will have the ability to offer Residential Care Apartment Complex (RCAC) services to all of its tenants.

RCAC services include support such as housekeeping, personal assistance, health monitoring, and medication management, as well as meal plans.

The Village Board approved the change to Willowbrook Place's conditional use permit tonight, which used to allow up to 40 percent of residents to receive RCAC services, after a joint public hearing before the Village Board and Plan Commission.

President William Arpe of Fiduciary Real Estate Development, which owns Willowbrook Place, said that after the recession hit fewer seniors are willing to sell their homes and move into establishments like Willowbrook, and that 40 percent RCAC service hasn't been enough for all the tenants who need it.

"Our original business plan was to be independent (living)," said Arpe, "but it didn't work."

State inspectors will need to certify Willowbrook for 100 percent RCAC usage before the services can be expanded. Village Board members were in favor of allowing the 100 percent usage potential, allowing the state inspectors or prospective clientele of WIllowbrook to decide exactly how many residents would need the services.

"I would hate to put restrictions on (Arpe)," said Trustee Kim Beck, "who knows how to run his business."