The Legacy
Story…

We began with a vision to serve.

In 2006, Barry Ray and Bryan Cook, each a veteran of the senior living and long-term care industry, joined their complementary skills to found Legacy Senior Living with the desire to “serve the greatest generation with honor, respect, faith, and integrity.”

Collectively, Ray and Cook had served for over 25 years working for one of the largest long-term care and senior living providers in the United States. Frequently, they had worked side by side, sharing operational responsibilities on retirement campuses. The two partners and co-founders also had a joint history as graduates of Lee University in Cleveland, TN.

First Five Years: 2006-2011

The Turn-Around Proving Ground

Legacy’s first acquisition was Southern Care in Tifton, GA, later named Legacy Village of Tifton. Around this same time, two third-party management facilities were added to the fold, Renaissance Marquis in Rome, GA, and Concordia Retirement in Bella Vista, AR. In 2008, the founders purchased a boutique personal care facility in Douglasville, Georgia called Grace Senior Living. During this time, other third-party management agreements were entered into as the company developed a reputation as a proven turn-around operator. Those included facilities in Birmingham, AL; Huntsville, AL; Charlotte, NC; and a long-term management relationship in Stanardsville, VA.

Second Phase: 2012-2017

Innovative Growth & Mission to Serve

The second five years of the company consisted of consistent, intentional growth where the founders purchased Legacy Village of Jacksonville, AL, and The Harbor at Prattville, AL. Also, in Georgia, Legacy added Legacy Village at Park Regency in Moultrie and Legacy Village at Plantation Manor in Thomasville. A co-development/long-term management agreement also commenced during this period for Sycamore Springs in Elizabethton, TN. New facility construction was completed for Renaissance Senior Living in Vero Beach, FL.

Additionally, during this period, memory care additions at Rome, GA, and Jacksonville, AL opened the door to a new branded product, The Harbor, a purpose-built, thoroughly researched, assisted living memory care neighborhood. The new unit was focused on taking Alzheimer’s residents back to a “happier time”—the 1950’s and included mid-century modern furnishings, Dutch doors, nostalgic black, and white photos, and colors from a 1955 General Motors color wheel. Technologies to assist in serving the memory care population were also introduced at this time. The success of The Harbor brand was immediate and duplicated in other existing memory care facilities and later in free-standing facilities. The uniqueness of the product at that time was recognized in McKnight’s Long Term Care magazine, with an article titled “Happy Days are Here Again.”

As the Company grew, several cornerstones were developed:

A team member recognition program called “Going the Extra Mile”
Service Standards reflecting objectives of service in each department
A trademarked activity program called “Purposeful DayTM”
Satisfaction Surveys for residents/families and team members
Team Member Incentive – Legacy Rewards
Annual “Thank-You Tours” with ownership and senior leadership meeting residents with thankful acknowledgment and gifts
Company Team Member Benevolence Program – Legacy Cares
Fresh Forward Dining
Focus on Care & Quality Assurance – full-time Support Center nurses including Vice President of Clinical Services.
Chaplains at every location serving residents, families, and team members
Consistent capital improvements at every location to keep assets at the top of each market
SERVE customer service program

Current Phase: 2018-Now
Continuous Improvement

Growth continued during the next five years with the new construction of a flagship facility in Cleveland, TN—Legacy Village of Cleveland, and the new construction of a free-standing memory care facility, The Harbor–Renaissance of Annandale, VA. Acquisitions during this period included The Harbor in Opelika, AL, and Legacy Village of Hendersonville, TN. In addition, significant renovations occurred at several locations. These projects included building new units, large common area expansions, and renovations at Legacy Senior Living’s Tifton, GA, Rome, GA, and Prattville, AL locations.

In 2022, Renaissance Senior Living and The Harbor of Madison, WI opened after a complete redevelopment and renovation of an existing 10-story building.

Covid-19 | 2020-2022

Throughout this time frame, one of the largest challenges to the senior living industry arrived – the COVID-19 Pandemic. Everyone (residents, team members, families, and company leadership) was affected for several years by operational challenges and the personal effects of this virus. The CDC recommended shutdowns that kept residents from touching families and others for over a year, living in isolation. Residents could not socialize but had to stay in their rooms for everything, including in-room meal delivery for many months. Team members feared for their lives as they continued to serve through the turmoil.

Legacy creatively innovated to offer several proactive wellness programs to serve our residents at the highest levels possible through this most difficult time – all while honoring federal, state, and local guidance and directives. These included:

Immunity Boost and Hydration stations using fresh fruits, juices, vegetables, and vitamin/mineral shakes
“Get Moving” Activities – exercise, sunshine, and socialization. Hallway activities such as carpet bowling and devotions allowed residents to at least be a part of something as they sat at their door, all the while keeping the six feet distance from others.
“Culture of Wellness” – a proactive approach to mental, physical, social, and spiritual well-being, along with twice daily temperature and oxygen saturation checks

During the pandemic, Legacy Senior Living invested millions of extra dollars in supplies and staffing. It fought to get ample and correctly functioning Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and stockpiled food and supplies due to fears of supply chain breakdowns. Also, because of the company’s appreciation and thanks to all team members for their incredible service, Hero Pay was initiated for team members to recognize their superlative efforts and incentivize team members to show up and serve.

Post-Pandemic
Our Strategy of Recovery:

FILL: Welcome prospects back to senior housing

TWEAK: Evaluation of new opportunities and revenue streams

ENCOURAGE: Enhance exceptional workplace for Team Members

“V-SHAPE” Recovery: Build back occupancy and revenue levels

The Future of Senior Living

Over the years, Legacy has been highly focused on providing exceptional care and service to our residents while supporting the families that have entrusted the company with their care. This has always been the primary commitment of the company! The Company is also very occupancy-driven, averaging 95%+ before the pandemic and returning to 94%+ after the pandemic.

Serving with excellence will forever be our passion!

Legacy has been blessed over its history and looks forward to continuing to serve residents, families, cities, and towns.