Senior-Living Community Executive Chef Performs Cooking Classes for Residents and Community.
Peoria, AZ, February, 2010 — Executive Chef Jay Begin has been cooking for 7 years. He brings his culinary talents to Casa del Rio residents and members of the community each month with his “What’s For Dinner” cooking class.

Chef Jay has provided ‘spice and variety’ for the past year and a half to a growing base of appreciative fans. Residents have marveled at his methods of cooking and use of spices that are so pleasing to the pallet.

“Residents and the public alike enjoy this FREE class on the fourth Tuesday of every month. The cooking class began about 18 months ago and attendance has quadrupled since then”, said Vice President of Senior Living Services for Plaza Companies, Gail Chase.

“We are proud of Chef Jay; combining his talents of cooking and teaching for the enjoyment of residents and the community”, says Chase.

Casa del Rio opened its’ doors in 1986 and marked the beginning of The Plaza Companies Senior Living portfolio. Casa del Rio continues to be managed by The Plaza Companies and is the Premier Senior Living Community in the West Valley and Sun Cities area.

For more information on Casa del Rio, visit www.casadelrioaz.com
Carla Rosson may be reached at 623.974.4700 or crosson@casadelrioaz.com

The Plaza Companies is one of the oldest, largest and most respected full-service real estate companies in Arizona. The Firm has built a reputation based on the successful development and management of properties in some of the most dynamic industries in the world - health care, senior living and research and biotechnology.

Senior Living Center Polled Residents in 48 Different Service Areas

PEORIA, Arizona (January 13, 2010) — Casa del Rio, a Plaza Companies Senior Living Development, earned a 98 percent satisfaction rating in a recent survey of more than 100 of its residents.

The survey tested 48 different areas of service, including availability of managers, food quality, service in the dining room, interior common areas, safety and security, transportation, maintenance and landscaping, housekeeping, and billing.

The resident survey was conducted in December and January at the community, which has a 20-year track record as one of the finest senior living developments in the Northwest Valley and Arizona.

Carla Rosson, Marketing Manager at Casa del Rio, said that the survey results were gratifying for her and her staff because of all the hard work put in to making the resident experience enjoyable.

“High satisfaction is dependent on top quality personnel, creativity, planning, understanding who the resident is and what the resident wants, and adapting programs and schedules to match consumer preferences,” she said.

The goal of Casa del Rio is to provide a warm family like atmosphere while providing superior service to the residents who live there. Its Resident Council and Hospitality committee performs such services as meeting with new residents, introducing them to their neighbors, and dining with them during the first few days of living in their new home.

Casa del Rio provides its residents with free maintenance service, a free visit to its in-house Beauty and Barber, and bountiful welcome baskets for all new residents. Residents also contribute to a fund that awards scholarships to qualified individuals promoting higher education to those who otherwise would not have the financial means to attend college.

Many of Casa del Rio’s residents had positive comments to add as part of the survey.

“Casa has a warm family atmosphere and a caring attitude by the staff. I also appreciate the way the apartments are maintained,” said resident Gloria Skinner.

“What I like best about Casa is the quality of the food, the manner in which it is served, and the various activities. I like everything that happens at Casa,” said Helen Bakos, another Casa del Rio resident.

Casa del Rio is located at 12751 Plaza del Rio Boulevard in Peoria. It was developed and is owned by Peoria-based Plaza Companies, and is part of the Plaza del Rio campus. It opened in 1986 and still has the original owners and management company that it did the day it opened, as well as many long-tenured employees and even residents who have lived there for more than 15 years. For more information on the facility, visit www.casadelrioaz.com.

Plaza Companies, based in Peoria, Arizona, is an award-winning leader in the development and management of medical office properties, technology and bioscience facilities, and senior housing communities. Founded in 1982, Plaza Companies is a full-service firm with a portfolio of approximately 5 million square feet valued at more than $1 billion. For more information about Plaza Companies, visit www.theplazaco.com.