RETIREMENT VILLAGE SEES TURNAROUND.

Byline: Bettie Rencoret Senior columnist

It has not been all sweetness and light at Sierra Retirement Village, opened in March in what had been a motel.

Tenants complained about the lack of a promised restaurant and medical services program, the closed swimming pool, the nonexistent emergency assistance telephone system and other problems.

But the owners say they have changed managers, opened the swimming pool, made other changes and gave assurances last week that almost everything has been put right now.

``I don't deny there have been problems,'' said Craig Cordial of Cordial Cos., the owner. ``The owners of this project are very sensitive to the issues. I'd like to make it clear to everyone that we're going out of our way to make sure things are turned around and righted, and the program we've put together is accomplished.''

Cordial attributed most of the problems to the growing pains of a new facility.

``It just didn't fill up as fast as we anticipated,'' Cordial said. ``Consequently, we had ongoing fixed expenses but not enough people living there to pay for them.''

Along with the new management, the facility received an infusion of money from real estate developers Kaufman and Broad, who are limited partners with Cordial Cos. in the project.

The new management firm is Solari Enterprises Inc., which Cordial said has extensive experience in working with senior housing.

``They are very sensitive to the needs of people that may fail in health quickly,'' he said. ``They have an understanding of that, and that's what we needed to find in order to accomplish our goal for the project overall.''

Cordial said the Solari group has been able to weed out the nonpaying tenants who put an even greater financial burden on the project because there weren't enough residents.

``They've been able to make us and the other partners in the partnership feel comfortable,'' he said. ``This management is solid. They understand the program, so we expect that more money will flow into it. Even in that difficult period, they leased 12 more units.''

He said 35 of the 96 units are now occupied.

``We feel that now the floodgates will open, and we'll be full by the end of the year,'' Cordial said.

Dissatisfaction developed over unfulfilled expectations and problems like unpaid bills that resulted in the office's telephone being disconnected.

Tenants, asking for anonymity since a spokeswoman they chose to voice their protests was asked to leave the facility, said that by July the swimming pool, supposed to be fully operational about April 26, still had flaws that kept it unusable.

The 24-hour emergency assistance phone service was nonexistent, the well-equipped on-site restaurant had not been made operational, and a medical services program had not been implemented, they said.

El Morgan, who took over as resident building manager for Solari, says all of the complaints have been, or are being, addressed now.

She said the heated pool and spa are in good working order now and are being used daily by the tenants and their families. The emergency assistance phone service is in place in every room, she added, though tenants don't have to sign up for it.

``This is not an assisted living facility,'' Morgan said, ``but we are negotiating at this time for medical services through Lancaster Community Hospital.''

With 35 tenants, the facility has outgrown the ability of Lancaster Community Hospital to supply meals, as it has done since the opening. The company is negotiating with nearby Jimmy's restaurant to provide a varied menu, one that can satisfy even residents with special dietary needs, she said.

As for the home's restaurant just off the lobby, it has such sophisticated equipment that the only way it could be opened satisfactorily as it is would be to let it out to a contractor, Morgan said.

``That would be financially prohibitive since it would not be open to the general public,'' she said. ``Instead, we plan now to activate it as a community kitchen for potlucks and such. This weekend, for instance, we plan a soup kitchen. I am already looking toward special arrangements for Thanksgiving and Christmas.''

Morgan said an area off the community room is being readied as a beauty parlor and barbershop, and a hairdresser will soon be on site.

Morgan said she has spent 25 years in the real estate industry.

``For 10 of those years I've dealt with specialty problems such as were experienced here. I've been called on to assume this position for several other troubled properties, so I guess you could say I'm a trouble-shooter.''

Teri Hodges, one of the original 18 residents, said conditions at the home have definitely changed for the better.

``I was getting ready to leave before, but I'm happy here now,'' she said.

Tenant Esther Morga echoed those sentiments. ``It's really a great place now,'' she said. ``We are all just so happy with everything!''

LANCASTER - For seniors 60 and over and other persons considered at high risk for respiratory ailments, the Friends of the Center group of the Antelope Valley Senior Center will hold its annual flu shots clinic Oct. 20.

Hours will be from 9 a.m. to noon in the adjacent Lancaster Homes recreation room, 711 W. Jackman St.

For information, call the center, [phone].

LANCASTER - Menus for the week at the senior life nutrition sites in Lancaster, Palmdale and Pearblossom have been announced. All meals include bread, margarine and coffee, tea or milk for the suggested donation of $2.

Monday: Closed. Columbus Day.

Tuesday: Hamburger patty; macaroni salad; parsleyed carrots; tomato, onion and lettuce salad; fruit.

Wednesday: Lemon chicken, sweet potatoes, peas, marinated beets, apple cobbler, pineapple juice.

Thursday: Pinto beans with ham, cornbread, broccoli, lettuce salad, tapioca pudding.

Friday: Hot turkey sandwich, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, garden salad, fruit cocktail.