By JESSICA SIEFF
Niles Daily Star

Last week, Niles got news that one of its businesses would be adding to its capabilities while adding opportunities for jobs in the area.

Tim Dockerty, owner of Woodland Terrace of Longmeadow announced a projected opening date in early September for his family’s new senior living complex at Longmeadow in Niles.

The Senior Residential Community will initially open with 30 private assisted living apartments available to residents 60 years or older.

And the additional housing means additional jobs.

To staff the new complex, Dockerty said “we will need to hire approximately 30 new associates to support and care for our residents.”

In anticipation of the opening, Tim Batton, executive director of the Longmeadow complex added that he and members of the Dockerty family will be holding “job fair days” at the residency on August 5 and 6 from 2-6 p.m.

The job fair days will allow prospective applicants to get a first look at the new residency, as well as opportunities to meet one on one with the director and the owners.

Positions available will include business office, concierge, resident 1 care staff as well as staff for building upkeep and dining services.

“I think for the area,” Batton said of Woodland Terrace’s addition, “it’s going to bring a state of the art assisted living facility into the Niles Buchanan area.”

The business of assisted living has gone through an “evolution,” Batton said.  Over the last 15 years, he said there has been a better understanding gained in the needs of the semi-independent community.

The Woodland Terrace assisted living complex, as Batton described it consists of a “central hub” with “small clusters of apartments.”

“Everything is more intimate,” he said.  “And not as cold.”

At that time, Woodland Terrace expects to add additional support staff.

Dockerty added that studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments are available for reservation and currently almost 30 percent of the initial 30 apartments are already reserved.
Batton said tours and more information are available by contacting him at (574) 520-9529 and more information can be found at www.woodlandterrace.com.

To participate in the job fair, individuals only need to come to Woodland Terrace in Longmeadow, located just off of Niles-Buchanan Road near the bypass with their applicant information and resume to explore career opportunities on Aug. 5 and 6 from 2 to 6 p.m.