Font ResizeThe new assisted living center at 508 Airport Drive has 15 private rooms for seniors, seven of which already are taken.
"It's about having dignity in your old age in an environment you're accustomed to, which is a home, not an institution," owner Jay Manning said.
Manning, who owns several other assisted living centers, opened Bee Hive with the help of a loan from Bank of the Southwest.
Bee Hive, based in Boise, Idaho, has about 140 homes in the U.S., including 16 in New Mexico.
The assisted living center's opening comes as Farmington continues to see an expanding senior population, said Dorothy Nobis, president and CEO of the Farmington Chamber of Commerce.
"I think we're going to have an influx of retirees who want to move here," Nobis said, noting Farmington's dry, warm climate.
"The Boomers and older, they're here and they're here to stay and they're good for the local economy," Nobis added.
The 2010 Census revealed an 82 percent jump in the population of Farmington residents age 85 or older. The city had 859 residents in that age group, up from 471 in 2000.
"We're just happy to be here to serve this population, which is a growing segment of the population," Manning said.
Bee Hive's base rate is $3,500 per month, he said. Military veterans can receive a federal "Aid and Attendance" benefit of up to
The home's small size lends itself to a family atmosphere, said administrator Joli Johnson. It's also a housing option families can rely on as a senior requires more intensive care.
"We offer care all the way to the end of life," she said. "We don't kick them out; we keep them here and continue to care for them."
Manning touted the bathrooms, where seniors can maintain a measure of privacy and dignity. The toilets feature a high-tech bidet that can be activated by remote control from outside the bathroom.
Manning used the remote to demonstrate the system. He strode away with a satisfied grin, saying: "It's the cat's meow, baby!"
