The Riverwoods Group to Affiliate With Birch Hill Terrace

Two of the state's leading retirement communities are moving forward with an affiliation. Birch Hill Terrace, a nonprofit charitable Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) with roots in Manchester that go back 125 years, announced on July 12 its affiliation with The RiverWoods Group, a nonprofit, charitable organization that is parent company of RiverWoods Continuing Care Retirement Community in Exeter.

The affiliation has received approval by the NH Department of Insurance, which governs CCRCs, as well as the NH Department of Charitable Trust, which must review and approve such proposals in the state. With approval in hand, improvements are the next step. Birch Hill, which serves 180 residents, will be investing $9 million in the next 24 months into the building.  This will be the single largest capital investment in the company’s history. “We will transform our campus in the next two years,” says Gary Zabierek, president of Birch Hill Terrace.

The affiliation is the culmination of  two years of deliberation between the two boards.  “We are thrilled that our work together has culminated in this partnership,” Zabierek says. “This affiliation will bring fresh ideas and resources to the table. Next month we will start a major capital investment in our physical plant, which will transform the look of our apartment homes, and bring new energy to the community.”

Justine Vogel, CEO and president of The RiverWoods Group, which serves 620 residents and employs 510, adds, “Although we have not taken this step until now, Birch Hill and RiverWoods already share identical values and mission; we were both founded by grassroots community members interested in improving the lives of others.  Together, we can provide peace of mind to more seniors in New Hampshire. As two charitable nonprofit CCRCs we will both benefit from an affiliation.”

Nationally, there are close to 2000 Continuing Care Retirement Communities, and the concept has been around for more than 100 years. There only are a handful of CCRCs in northern New England. CCRCs assist people 62 years or older to enter as independent residents and provide them with a variety of amenities (housekeeping, laundry service, dining, inside and outside maintenance, programs and exercise classes). As they age, if a resident needs a higher level of care, it is available to them within the same campus. Depending on the CCRC contract type, this is generally at a reduced cost. Additionally, often a resident's estate can receive a refund on their initial entrance fee, when resident passes away or moves. The majority of CCRCs are nonprofit, and many are organized within systems.