Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 9, 2010

14

HOMES AND PROPERTY

MountainViews-News Saturday, October 9, 2010

One Of A Kind: Featuring unique homes & gardens and the people who create them Story and Photos By Chris Bertrand

The British Home: Independent and Assisted Living for Seniors

 Chris is taking a few week’s vacation. Please enjoy a few of her favorites while she’s away.


An incredible place 
is hidden in a quiet 
residential area of 
Sierra Madre, The 
British Home in 
California. The home 
is currently licensed 
to accommodate 41 
residents. They can 
enjoy the four and a half manicured acres, in five 
home-like cottages. Each cottage has a common 
living room, a full kitchen and laundry facilities 
for residents’ use. Three, family style meals are 
offered each day at the communal dining room, 
with menus planned a month ahead by a dietician 
consultant and foods committee. I can attest to 
the delicious food and their warm hospitality, as 
I enjoyed a wonderful lunch with many of these 
active, engaged seniors. Many stopped by, inviting 
me to their rooms to visit. 

Ambulatory seniors over 65 can move in as 
independent living residents for approximately 
$2500 a month. Administrator, Jill Levredge 
points out that this amount covers three meals a 
day, transportation to local medical appointments, 
medication management, and basically everything 
except medical related expenses, personal items 
and extras like a private phone or upgraded cable 
service to their private suites, which include a 
full bath. Current residents who find they need 
additional care can elect to move within the 
British Home to the assisted living cottage.

Audrey Mc Ilwrath, President of the Resident’s 
Council, points out that residents here don’t just 
sit back and watch life pass them by. She, for 
instance, continues to offer her skills in training 
the Rose Parade’s princess each year with her 
public speaking skills. Beryl Burridge, another 
resident, is very active in the volunteer program at 
Methodist Hospital.

The British Home is a freestanding residential 
care facility for the elderly, (RCFE) founded 
by the Daughters of the British Empire. There 
are three other British homes across the US, in 
Brookfield, IL, Ossining, NY, Houston, TX. The 
DBE fund raising and volunteer efforts originally 
established these homes for senior of the British 
Commonwealth who needed or wanted to stay 
stateside, some after years of service as nurses or 
nannies. 

Residents come from many British influenced 
locations, including England, Ireland, Scotland, 
Australia and Canada, often because relatives live 
locally. Today, the home is open to seniors of all 
nationalities and faiths, though the personality 
of the British Home remains definitely, well… 
British! 

Several British magazines are stacked in the 
various reception rooms, also known in California 
as living rooms. Framed pictures of the British 
royalty abound, including one of the Queen 
visiting this very home in 1983. Steak and kidney 
pie, plus liver and onions are occasionally served, 
although an alternative main dish is available for 
those who might not wish to eat so traditionally 
British that day. The silver tea service always 
remains polished and on display at the antique 
buffet in the dining room.

Everywhere, DBE volunteers leave their stamp 
and loving impressions on the place. Rhona 
Jorgenson, retired from Fox television, 
comes regularly to visit and volunteer 
with the Home’s mascot dog, a black lab 
named Cotton. A picture of this rescue 
dog is even framed in the guest suite. 
Rhona was busy planting and gardening 
during my visit, but took a bit of time to 
join me for lunch.

The residents and staff are proud of 
the MBE status of current DBE board 
president, Marlena Smith, received two 
years ago. Many of the past presidents 
have also received this honor. MBE, 
Most Excellent Order of the British 
Empire, is an honor bestowed by the 
Queen on exceptional persons dedicated 
to philanthropic service.

Even Jill Levredge, administrator for the 
past five years, was first a DBE volunteer 
here. Her mother was a DBE volunteer, 
too. 

According to the British Home website, 
“Their vision of a place where elderly 
people could be cared for in a warm 
and kind environment continues to this 
day.” This is clearly evident everywhere. 
All the areas are geared to feel homelike, 
including the assisted living cottage, 
with elegant furnishings, carpeting 
and hardwood-style floors favored over 
laminated flooring, granite counters and 
modern kitchens in process, and easy 
to use walk-in showers in the private 
baths. A hair salon is staffed regularly. A 
podiatrist comes onsite once a month and a CNA 
is onsite 24/7. 

Every room opens to the interior common areas, 
and also to the outside, allowing easy inside to 
outside access. Everything is on one level, easy 
for those with walkers, and a covered walkway 
protects residents from the elements when 
walking to and from the communal buildings. 

DBE ensures that the home is kept meticulously 
maintained, free from odors and regularly 
updated. Though traditional, elegant furnishings 
are throughout the cottages; their current 
fundraising has allowed them to modernize 
the kitchens and baths. Painting and building 
care is always ongoing, so the place always looks 
manicured.

A unique feature at the British home helps ensure 
that a move here is the right choice. After a 
potential resident applies, they are welcomed for 
a two week, complimentary trial stay, to see if 
they are comfortable making this monumental 
move. Another caring feature is for those in the 
independent living cottages. If a cold or other 
illness doesn’t respond quickly to rest and in- 
room attention from staff, they are invited to move 
to a respite room, to receive closer monitoring 
during an illness. “Our primary concern is to 
prevent pneumonia,” Levredge comments, “and 
this respite system works very well.”

The Sierra Madre home has been open since 1931 
and the grounds were expanded up to Ramona 
Avenue in 1934. Two community events are 
offered every year, for neighbors and friends, 
including the Faire on the first Saturday in 
June, with Scottish and Irish dancer, all kinds 
of English dishes, including Cornish pasties and 
English tea. The Ingathering Tea is a full tea with a 
buffet of English treats, scones sausage rolls, pork 
pies, Christmas cakes and shortbreads… all fresh 
baked, on the first Sunday of November. So watch 
for these DBE fundraising events in the future!

The British Home in California, Ltd., is located 
at 647 Manzanita Avenue, Sierra Madre. If 
you’re interested in a tour or more information, 
contact Jill Levredge at 626-355-7240 or info@
BritishHome-CA.us. You can also visit their 
website at www.BritishHome-CA.us. The British 
Home is also a licensed, continuing care retirement 
community, as defined by the CA Department of 
Social Services. License #1915501668; Certificate 
of authority: #064. 


According to a recent survey conducted by the National 
Association of REALTORS®, close to one third of existing home 
sales were either foreclosures or short sales (meaning sales in 
which the lender agreed to allow the home to sell for less than 
the amount outstanding on the mortgage). Indeed, it seems for 
now that these "distressed properties" have become the new 
"traditional" sales transaction.

This is why it is so important to seek the representation of a 
specially trained and qualified real estate professional. Sellers 
particularly need assistance in navigating these complex short 
sale transactions, and buyers need guidance if they are to take 
advantage of these delicate opportunities.

Obviously, real estate agents are among the biggest advocates for

homeownership, and we strongly believe that any home lost to 
foreclosure is one too many. Regrettably, some circumstances 
arise where homeowners are simply unable to maintain their 
mortgage payments, and risk going into default. In those cases, a 
trusted agent's specialized knowledge can help secure a short sale 
and keep the sellers out of the grueling foreclosure process.

Aside from staying current on national and local laws that apply 
to short sales and foreclosures, realty professionals are trained 
in qualifying sellers for assistance, negotiating with lenders, 
protecting buyers, and limiting risk. Now more than ever, it 
makes sense for both sellers and buyers to seek professional 
representation.

Luther Tsinoglou has just been named the top producing sales agent 
in Dickson Podley Realtor's Sierra Madre office for 2009, making 
the top 10% at the company overall. Luther has been licensed and 
practicing real estate since 1992. He specializes in residential and 
income property in Southern California. Luther can be reached at 
his direct line (626) 695-8650 or at luther@tsinoglou.com. 

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