The Dallas faith-based senior living community will benefit from Bell’s experience within the senior living industry.
Buckner Retirement Services announced the hiring of senior living industry veteran Jake Bell as the new executive director for Ventana by Buckner, effective Aug. 22, 2023. As executive director of the faith-based senior living community, Bell will oversee community operations, regulatory compliance, and resident and associate relations.
“At Ventana we believe it is our calling to provide our members with the highest quality of care possible,” said Michael Olmstead, vice president and COO of Buckner Retirement Services. “Jake is passionate about serving seniors and I know he will ensure we continue to provide service excellence to Ventana Members in everything we do, from the delicious food to the premier health and wellness program.”
Bell has an extensive resume as a leader in senior living both at the community and provider levels. Most recently, he served as president and CEO of Christian Horizons, a senior living provider in the Midwest overseeing seven life plan campuses and five stand-alone communities.
“I was drawn to Buckner because it is one of the premier providers of senior living in the country,” said Bell. “Ventana is one of the most vibrant senior living communities that has been developed recently, and I found the prospect of working here very exciting.”
Bell also has leadership roles with Lutheran Senior Services, Catholic Health East, and Red River Management. He has a Bachelor of Science from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and a Master of Science in administration and long-term care and retirement facilities from the University of North Texas.
As executive director of Ventana, Bell said his immediate goals include establishing relationships with the members of Ventana as well as the associates who serve them and providing stability and certainty as a leader within the organization to achieve its fullest potential.
Ventana offers its members a high-rise life with adjacent 12-story towers housing independent living apartment homes, including one-, two- and three-bedroom options and ranging from 950 to 2,000 square feet. Ventana also includes the full continuum of care for senior adults with assisted living, nursing care, memory care and a rehabilitation component.
The community includes underground parking, spacious common areas, modern wellness and fitness centers, heated indoor pool, salon and spa, movie theater, rooftop garden, multiple patios and more.
“Ultimately Ventana is a community of people who both live and work here, so developing strong ties with them is extremely important,” continued Bell. “I want to make both living and working at Ventana a wonderful experience.”
Bell steps in for Danica McGuire, who served as executive director of Ventana for the past two years.
About Ventana by Buckner:
Ventana by Buckner is a $140 million exclusive high-rise Life Care retirement community in North Dallas. Ventana offers an independent lifestyle filled with activities and experiences, whether traveling with friends, exercising at the state-of-the-art fitness center, or having a 5-star dining experience in one of the six dining venues. Its adjacent 12-story towers include one-, two- and three-bedroom independent living apartment options that range from 950 to 2,000 square feet. Ventana includes the full continuum of care for Members with assisted living, memory care, long-term care and rehabilitation. Ventana by Buckner is owned and operated by Buckner Senior Living, part of faith-based nonprofit Buckner International, which has served children, families and seniors in Dallas and across Texas and internationally for 144 years. Visit VentanaByBuckner.com to learn more.
About Buckner Retirement Services:
Buckner Retirement Services is one of the largest not-for-profit senior living providers in Texas. Dedicated to Inspiring happiness®, BRS enhances the quality of life for senior adults and their families by promoting an active, healthy Christian lifestyle while maintaining their independence and dignity. BRS is part of Buckner International, a faith-based ministry serving more than 350,000 people each year in Texas and six countries worldwide. Visit BucknerRetirement.org to learn more.
Information Contact:
Josué Lara
Public Relations Coordinator
Buckner International
956-652-0585 (cell)
jlara@buckner.org