Life Plan Humboldt is a grassroots movement formed to build and operate a resident-run, not-for-profit life plan community in Humboldt County. There are no senior communities like it within 200 miles of Eureka, so active older adults stay in their homes and try to find help as needed, or move away from Humboldt.
Rural older adults face significant challenges, particularly when they can no longer drive and become socially isolated. It is well-documented that rural older adults face the following risks:
• Social isolation increases the risk of dementia and depression.
• Nutrition can suffer due to the inability to shop or prepare food.
• Fall risk is heightened in homes not designed for frailty.
• Access to medical care and preventive health services will suffer with a lack of transportation.
• Home care is hard to find, difficult to administer, and can cost up to $30,000 per month.
• Family caregivers may leave the workforce, compromising their future social security.
Life Plan Humboldt will offer 144 independent cottages and apartments, assisted living, and memory care services for people older than 60. There will be several option levels for entry fees and monthly fees. Plans call for keeping costs accessible to mid-income seniors, who could sell their homes in order to move into this secure environment with a meal plan, transportation, health care coordination, and activities.
LPH is committed to making our community as inclusive as possible. With leadership from the LPH project, the Rural Community Housing Development Corporation (RCHD) will be enabled to build up to 60 affordable senior housing units on the same campus. Affordable senior housing will be financed under separate funding streams and management not associated with LPH.
Located in Ukiah with long experience in developing affordable housing, RCHD is a nonprofit skilled at accessing state and federal funding for the affordable housing portion of our campus. All residents on our shared campus will have access to an activity center, educational and cultural offerings, and outdoor spaces. Without LPH, these affordable senior housing units will not be built.
Housing for all ages and stages has been identified as the No. 1 goal in the State of California’s first Master Plan for Aging signed by Governor Newsom in 2021. The Humboldt County Housing Plan has identified housing for elders as the number one challenge for the county in the coming years. LPH will help address this challenge while opening up housing for working families as LPH residents downsize.
LPH will create 40 full-time jobs in administration, wellness, memory support, dining services, maintenance, housekeeping, marketing, and transportation with a payroll of over $2 million. Additionally, LPH residents and their families will contribute economically to McKinleyville’s town center businesses.
Humboldt County needs Life Plan Humboldt.
Ann Lindsay is the president of Life Plan Humboldt and a McKinleyville resident.