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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 4, 2006 Maxine and Que Jameson are longtime residents of Jacksonville but new to Pioneer Village, a senior retirement community open since November at the entrance to the historic town. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli The new Pioneer Village One longtime Jacksonville couple make the move to the city’s new retirement center By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — Music fills the richly appointed lobby of the assisted care building at Pioneer Village retirement center. A menu on the concierge desk features the week’s dinner choices, which range from prime rib to mac and cheese. Maxine and Que Jameson agree they are happy they moved from their former hill-side residence to the level terrain of Pioneer Village, a huge new development for seniors in Jacksonville. "We love it here," they say in unison. The 82-year-old Jamesons were the first folks to sign up for a two-bedroom, two-bath 1,206-square-foot "River House" at Pioneer Village, which opened in November. Advertisement "We signed up four years ago when it was just a dream," says Maxine. "We haven’t found anything we don’t like about it," says Que. Fondness, friendships and familiarity with the area were key factors in making their move to Pioneer Village, the Jamesons say. Que, a retired manager of the Jacksonville branch of U. S. Bank, has spent his retirement creating hand-carved miniatures of the town’s historic buildings. Maxine remains involved in the Booster Club, the Southern Oregon Historical Society and the Jacksonville Woodlands Association. "We’ve lived here (in Jacksonville) for 35 years," says Maxine. Executive Director Molly Parish says to become a "villager," you must be 58 years old or have a medical need. Parish says making the transition into any retirement complex can be an adjustment for seniors and their families. "Families feel guilty and adult parents feel guilty," she says. But Parish says the comment she hears most often from residents is "Why did I wait so long?" It’s no joyless dumping ground for the elderly. And neither is it inexpensive. An entrance fee of $187,275 and monthly rental costs of $2,790 entitle prospective Pioneer Villagers to the same amenities that the Jamesons have, such as staffed emergency response systems, paid utilities, scheduled transportation, regular housekeeping and evening meals in the community dining room, says Sheri Parker, marketing director. The entrance fee is set aside in escrow, with up to 100 percent refunded. While Pioneer Village ultimately keeps 25 percent of the entrance fee should resident live there beyond one year, the remainder can be used if residents move into one of owner Jeff Chamberlain’s other assisted living centers, Parker says: Farmington Square — an Alzheimer’s-dementia community, or Medford Rehabilitation Center — a skilled nursing community. "It’s like long-term care insurance," says Parker. "For some people it works out great. It’s protected money." If residents die with a balance remaining from their entry fee, the money goes to their estate, Parker says. Parish says space at Pioneer Village is still available. For more information, contact Parker at 899-6825. Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail The new Pioneer Village ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Cheap Website Hosting Sports Equipment Student Loans Online Pharmacy tcg student loan consolidation Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Discount Hotel Reservations High End Computers Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Salvia Divinorum Online Casino Fundraisers Advertisement s