Study that led to Marian Woods
identified needs of aging sisters

A demographic study commissioned by a task force of the Sisters of Mercy, Regional Community of New York and its four partner congregations concluded that an assisted living facility like Marian Woods was the most cost-efficient way to provide for its senior members. The statistics were compelling. The study found that in the year 2000, 30% of members will be age 70 and older, and in 2018, less than 10% will be below age 70. Furthermore, while the number of members overall will decline, the number of elderly members will remain constant. The study also indicated that the percentage of elderly sisters utilizing some type of elder care was far above the national average.

As time continues to pass, the study concluded that the sisters will not be able to take care of their elderly members. With very few nursing home or healthcare expenditures reimbursable by third party payers, religious orders would face staggering medical costs that could literally undermine their teaching and healing missions.

The task force unanimously concluded that building a new facility, licensed as an adult home by the State of New York, was the best choice. Licensed adult homes enjoy third-party reimbursement, like Medicare, enabling the facility to sustain itself financially once the
construction costs are paid. (Through a Retention Standards Waiver Program, Sisters requiring greater levels of care will be able to receive them at Marian Woods.)

At this point the task force began its search for a suitable location. The site they identified sits on 13 undeveloped acres in lower Westchester County, originally the estate of businessman Henry Gaisman. The 120 acres surrounding it will be preserved as a town park, creating a magnificent, wooded setting.

The five religious communities jointly agreed to share the responsibility of constructing Marian Woods, and will serve as founding members, having pledged more than $1 million of their own resources to help pay for the construction costs. The 50-bed facility will accept religious from other communities as the need arises.