SARA TRAMIEL/VIEWPacific Pines Senior Apartments resident Beverly Pollesel is shown in her apartment , Aug. 13. Pollesel, 75, has lived in Pacific Pines since it opened in 2005.
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Nevada Housing and Neighborhood Development Inc. is providing homes and independence for valley seniors.
"The demand is so much greater than the supply," said Jacque Haas, real estate development manager with Nevada HAND.
The nonprofit group receives funds from Henderson, Las Vegas and Clark County to offer low-income residents an affordable place to live. A few of the development group's communities are for families, but most offer housing to seniors.
Residents must be 55 years or older, but Debby Moffat, manager of Pacific Pines in downtown Henderson, said most community members are in their 60s and 70s.
"We have three residents in their 90s, too," she said.
There are waiting lists for most of the group's facilities, which are priced differently and have specific income requirements.
"All the buildings are for low-income (seniors), some are just lower than others," Haas said.
Although price is a big reason why seniors look at Nevada HAND communities, Moffat said it's about much more.
"They feel safe, and they're not alone," she said. "If they are at home, alone and not feeling well, it can be scary."
Most of the senior facilities are independent living. Residents have an unfurnished one- or two-bedroom apartment complete with bathroom, full kitchen, living and dining room.
Residents share common areas such as fitness rooms, pools and beauty salons. Nevada HAND also offers an assisted-living community at 8220 Silver Sky Drive, where meals are cooked for residents.
"It's just home," said Beverly Pollesel, 75, who has been a resident of Pacific Pines since 2005.
"This is the first time I've lived in a senior community. I lived with my daughter before and I felt I should be on my own. When I leave, it will be feet first, or if I come into a lot of money, who knows, the Bahamas sound nice."
Pollesel said she has a two-bedroom apartment because she likes to have a guest room when her mother and sister visit from California.
The apartments have 36-inch doors, which make it easy for residents in wheelchairs to navigate around their homes.
The communities each have a resident services coordinator who organizes group activities, including exercise and art classes and transportation to grocery and drug stores.
Haas said the goal is not to duplicate services, but to coordinate with local resources.
"There is a lot going on," Pollesel said. "You can participate if you want, but you don't have to."
Pacific Pines is within walking distance of the Henderson Senior Center at 27 E. Texas Ave., and many residents use the center daily.
Nevada HAND also helps residents with Medicare and Medicaid applications, as well as senior discounts from local utilities and food commodities from Catholic Charities.
For more information, call 739-3345 or visit www.nevadahand.org.
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