Silver Birch Living

Mission-Driven Affordable Assisted Living for Medicaid-Eligible Seniors

Silver Birch Living is a mission-driven operator of affordable assisted living communities designed to serve Medicaid-eligible seniors, with its first ground-up communities built in 2017. The company is a partner company to Vermilion Development, a Chicago-based real estate development and investment firm founded in 1992. Senior Care Finder's directory lists 12 communities across Arizona, Indiana, and Ohio, offering assisted living, memory care, respite care, and income-restricted affordable housing. Silver Birch is currently the largest owner and operator of affordable assisted living communities in Indiana, with multiple additional communities under construction in Ohio.

Visit the official Silver Birch Living website, or explore Silver Birch Living communities on Senior Care Finder to compare current listings.

Company at a Glance

●       Founded: 2017, with its first ground-up assisted living developments; Silver Birch operates as a partner company to Vermilion Development, a Chicago-based real estate development firm founded in 1992

●       Current leadership: Jo Ellen Bleavins, President and Chief Executive Officer

●       Portfolio size: 12 communities, per Senior Care Finder's directory: 2 in Arizona, 9 in Indiana, and 1 in Ohio (Silver Birch of Mansfield, which held its grand opening in June 2026, the company's first Ohio community). Several additional Ohio communities (Amherst, Canton, and Columbus) are currently under construction

●       States served: Arizona, Indiana, and Ohio

●       Care and lifestyle options: Assisted living, memory care, respite care, and income-restricted affordable housing, with services varying by community

●       Official website: silverbirchliving.com

Senior Living and Care Options

Silver Birch Living's core mission centers on affordable assisted living, generally including:

●       Assisted living

●       Memory care (select communities)

●       Respite care (select communities)

●       Income-restricted, Medicaid-eligible affordable housing

Silver Birch's Indiana and Arizona communities are ground-up developments built starting in 2017, generally in the 100- to 120-unit range with studio and one-bedroom apartments. The company's newest community, Silver Birch of Mansfield in Ohio, follows a similar model, financed in part to expand Medicaid-funded assisted living access under a 2023 Ohio law. Families should confirm current care levels, Medicaid eligibility requirements, and availability directly on the Senior Care Finder listing for the specific community they are considering.

What Makes Silver Birch Living Different?

A Mission-Driven Focus on Medicaid-Eligible Affordable Assisted Living

Rather than serving only private-pay residents, Silver Birch Living is explicitly designed to serve Medicaid-eligible seniors, with CEO Jo Ellen Bleavins and Vermilion Development CEO David Cocagne describing the company's mission as ensuring older adults can live with dignity and independence regardless of financial resources. For state Medicaid programs, assisted living can cost roughly half as much as comparable nursing home care, according to the company.

Born From a Real Estate Development Partnership

Silver Birch Living operates as a partner company to Vermilion Development, a Chicago-based real estate development and investment firm founded in 1992 with more than $1 billion in total capitalization across its projects. This structure, pairing a dedicated senior care operator with an experienced affordable-housing developer, is a differentiator supporting the company's ability to finance and construct new ground-up communities.

The Largest Owner and Operator of Affordable Assisted Living in Indiana

According to CEO Jo Ellen Bleavins, Silver Birch Living is the largest owner and operator of affordable assisted living communities in Indiana, with nine properties in the state as of 2024. This concentrated market position is a differentiator reflecting the company's focused, replicable approach to a specific underserved segment of senior housing.

Active Policy Advocacy Shaping State Medicaid Law

Silver Birch Living and Vermilion Development spent eight years advocating with the Ohio General Assembly, contributing to the passage of Ohio House Bill 33 in 2023, which expanded the state's supply of Medicaid-funded affordable assisted living. This kind of direct, sustained policy advocacy is a differentiator from operators that only respond to existing regulatory environments rather than helping shape them.

Rapid, Financed Growth Into a New State

Silver Birch opened its first Ohio community, Silver Birch of Mansfield, in June 2026, financed through a public-private partnership with the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. Multiple additional Ohio communities, including Silver Birch Amherst, Silver Birch Canton, and Silver Birch Columbus, are currently under construction, with Vermilion Development targeting 17 affordable assisted living communities across 4 states.

Signature Programs and Services

Silver Birch Living does not describe a distinctly named, company-wide clinical program beyond its standard assisted living, memory care, and respite care offerings; its primary differentiator is its Medicaid-eligible affordable housing model itself rather than a separate branded clinical program.

Life at a Silver Birch Living Community

Life at a Silver Birch Living community may include restaurant-style dining, a full activity calendar, transportation to local retail destinations and community events, medication management, and assistance with daily activities. Typical amenities include private apartments with a kitchenette, bedroom, bathroom, and emergency alert system, along with laundry rooms, a barber/beauty shop, library, and fitness/physical therapy center.

Families evaluating any Silver Birch Living community should ask specifically about current Medicaid eligibility requirements, current staffing levels, and which levels of care (memory care or respite care) are available at that specific location, since not every community offers every service.

What Residents and Families Say

Silver Birch Living does not publish a single portfolio-wide review rating, and Senior Care Finder's own listings show ratings that vary by individual community, generally in the high 3-star to high 4-star range among the Premium listings reviewed during this research. Recurring themes in publicly available feedback include a supportive, community-oriented atmosphere, though experience can vary by community and time period. Families are encouraged to review recent, community-specific feedback for the location they are considering.

Leadership

Jo Ellen Bleavins is President and Chief Executive Officer of Silver Birch Living. She has led the company's affordable assisted living growth strategy, including its expansion into Ohio, and has advocated directly with state legislators on Medicaid reimbursement policy for assisted living. David Cocagne is CEO of Vermilion Development, Silver Birch's affiliated real estate development partner.

Visit the official Silver Birch Living website for more on the company's current communities and leadership.

Recent News, Growth, and Recognition

Silver Birch Opens First Ohio Community in Mansfield

In June 2026, Silver Birch of Mansfield held its grand opening, marking the company's first Ohio location and the first Ohio development for Chicago-based Vermilion Development. The 120-unit, three-story community offers studio and one-bedroom apartments and employs approximately 40 to 45 staff.

Read independent coverage from the Richland Source.

Silver Birch Breaks Ground on First Ohio Development

In April 2025, Silver Birch and Vermilion Development broke ground on the Mansfield, Ohio community, a milestone described by Vermilion Development CEO David Cocagne as culminating eight years of advocacy work with the Ohio General Assembly.

Read independent coverage from Senior Housing News or the Richland Source.

Silver Birch Readies Broader Ohio Growth Strategy

In August 2024, CEO Jo Ellen Bleavins told Senior Housing News that Silver Birch, already the largest owner and operator of affordable assisted living in Indiana with nine properties, was preparing to develop 8 to 10 more communities in Ohio over the following few years, pending favorable construction costs and interest rates.

Read independent coverage from Senior Housing News.

Construction Begins on Silver Birch Columbus, Third Ohio Community

In May 2026, The Douglas Company broke ground on Silver Birch Columbus, the third Silver Birch community under construction for Vermilion Development in Ohio, following earlier groundbreakings for Silver Birch Amherst and Silver Birch Canton.

Read the construction partner's announcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Silver Birch Living? Silver Birch Living is a mission-driven operator of affordable assisted living communities for Medicaid-eligible seniors, operating 12 communities across Arizona, Indiana, and Ohio.

Who owns Silver Birch Living? Silver Birch Living operates as a partner company to Vermilion Development, a Chicago-based real estate development firm. Jo Ellen Bleavins serves as President and CEO of Silver Birch Living.

How many communities does Silver Birch Living operate? Senior Care Finder's directory lists 12 communities: 2 in Arizona, 9 in Indiana, and 1 in Ohio, with several more Ohio communities currently under construction.

Does Silver Birch Living accept Medicaid? Yes. Silver Birch Living is specifically designed to serve Medicaid-eligible seniors, and the company has advocated for expanded Medicaid funding for assisted living in states including Ohio.

What care options does Silver Birch Living offer? Depending on the community, Silver Birch Living offers assisted living, memory care, and respite care, all within an income-restricted, affordable housing model.

Is Silver Birch Living expanding? Yes. Silver Birch opened its first Ohio community in Mansfield in June 2026, and additional Ohio communities (Amherst, Canton, and Columbus) are currently under construction.

What do reviews say about Silver Birch Living? Recurring themes include a supportive, community-oriented atmosphere, though experience can vary by community. Families should review recent, community-specific feedback for the location they are considering.

How much does a Silver Birch Living community cost? Silver Birch Living communities are designed around Medicaid eligibility and affordable housing requirements; specific costs and eligibility criteria vary by community. Families should contact the specific community directly for current details.

How can families find a Silver Birch Living community? Families can browse Silver Birch Living communities through Senior Care Finder's listings or through the company's own website.

Explore Silver Birch Living Communities

Comparing individual Silver Birch Living communities is the best way to understand what a specific location offers and current Medicaid eligibility requirements. Explore Silver Birch Living communities on Senior Care Finder for current listings, ratings, and details for locations near you.

Services, pricing, eligibility requirements, and resident experience can vary meaningfully from one Silver Birch Living community to the next.

Silver Birch Living is a paid Senior Care Finder partner. Partner status does not replace the need for families to independently evaluate individual communities, services, pricing, licensing information, and recent reviews.

Company information, leadership details, programs, recognition, and news were reviewed using publicly available sources. Information last reviewed August 2026.