Two Communities, One Purpose: Senior Living Built Around What Matters Most
JES Holdings is a private real estate development, construction, and property management firm founded in 1984, with offices in Columbia and Clayton (St. Louis), Missouri. Operating under the JES Prime Senior Living brand, the company develops, builds, and manages senior living communities where residents can live actively, receive thoughtful care, and remain connected to the people and places that matter most to them.
JES Holdings operates two communities in Missouri. The Village of Bedford Walk in Columbia offers independent and active adult living for adults 55 and older, with a partnership with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Missouri that gives residents access to free university courses and cultural programming. Cross Creek at Lee's Summit near Kansas City provides assisted living and memory care shaped by the Five Pillars of Brain Health. View both communities on Senior Care Finder to review listings, read current ratings, and connect with either community directly.
Company at a Glance
- Headquarters: Columbia and Clayton (St. Louis), Missouri; offices also in Atlanta, Georgia
- Founded / Experience: Founded 1984; more than 40 years in real estate development and property management
- Current Leadership: Jeff Smith, Founder and CEO; Walker Smith, President
- Portfolio Size: 2 senior living communities in Missouri (as of November 2026)
- States/Markets Served: Missouri
- Care and Lifestyle Options: Independent living, active adult living (55+), assisted living, memory care
- Official Website: jesholdings.com
Senior Living and Care Options
JES Holdings offers two distinct senior living experiences across its Missouri portfolio, each designed for a different stage of later life. At The Village of Bedford Walk in Columbia, the focus is on active adults who are ready to simplify their daily routines while remaining engaged with their community. Independent living and 55+ active adult living are available, with services that remove the burdens of home maintenance and free residents to pursue learning, social connection, and recreation.
Cross Creek at Lee's Summit serves residents who need a higher level of support. Assisted living at Cross Creek provides help with daily activities including bathing, dressing, medication management, and meals, with care plans tailored to each resident. Memory care is available for residents living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, with staff trained specifically in dementia-informed support and a structured daily program built around the Five Pillars of Brain Health. Services and care levels vary by community; families are encouraged to contact the community directly to confirm current availability.
What Makes JES Holdings Different?
Why Was JES Holdings Founded, and What Drives It Today?
The story behind JES Holdings is personal. Founder Jeff Smith watched his mother navigate Alzheimer's disease and was dissatisfied with the care options available to her family. That experience shaped the company's direction: rather than building generic senior housing, JES Holdings set out to create communities with a genuine commitment to the well-being of older adults, particularly those living with memory conditions. Cross Creek at Lee's Summit was developed directly from that motivation. Smith is a fifth-generation Boone County, Missouri, resident whose ties to the region run deep, and the company's work in Missouri reflects a local operator's accountability rather than a national chain's distance.
What Does It Mean That JES Holdings Develops, Builds, and Manages Its Own Communities?
JES Holdings is an integrated operation: the same firm that designs and develops a community also builds it and manages it after opening. This continuity matters because the developer has long-term accountability for the decisions made during construction. Details that affect resident comfort, operational efficiency, and maintenance costs, such as floor plan layout, material selection, and building systems, are the responsibility of the same team that will operate the property for years to come. Founded in 1984, JES Holdings brings more than 40 years of experience in real estate development and property management to each project.
What Is the Five Pillars of Brain Health Program at Cross Creek?
Cross Creek at Lee's Summit organizes daily life around a framework called the Five Pillars of Brain Health: Move, Discover, Relax, Nourish, and Connect. Each pillar corresponds to a dimension of well-being that research links to cognitive health. Movement activities support physical health and circulation. Discovery programming engages curiosity and learning. Relaxation practices address stress and sleep. Nourishment focuses on diet and hydration. Social connection addresses isolation, which is a documented risk factor for cognitive decline. The Five Pillars structure guides activity programming, dining, and staff interactions throughout the day, giving residents and families a clear framework for understanding how care is delivered.
What Is the OLLI Partnership at The Village of Bedford Walk?
The Village of Bedford Walk in Columbia participates in a partnership with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Missouri. OLLI is a national lifelong learning program operating at more than 120 universities across the United States, designed specifically for adults aged 50 and older. Through this partnership, Bedford Walk residents have access to free university courses, lectures, and cultural programming on campus, giving residents a direct connection to the academic and intellectual life of one of Missouri's flagship universities. This kind of ongoing intellectual engagement is associated with positive outcomes for both mental fitness and social well-being.
Life at a JES Holdings Community
Life at a JES Holdings community varies meaningfully between the two properties, reflecting the different needs of each community's residents. At The Village of Bedford Walk, the lifestyle is centered on independence and engagement. Residents are free from home maintenance while remaining active through learning programs, social events, and access to the University of Missouri campus via the OLLI partnership. Amenities and services may include restaurant-style dining, housekeeping, transportation, and community gathering spaces, though specific offerings should be confirmed directly with the community.
At Cross Creek at Lee's Summit, daily life is shaped by the Five Pillars of Brain Health framework, which structures programming around movement, discovery, relaxation, nourishment, and social connection. Staff are trained in memory-informed care practices, and the environment is designed to be navigable and calming for residents living with cognitive conditions. Families considering Cross Creek are encouraged to schedule a visit to see the environment and meet the care team, since the quality of staffing and day-to-day programming is as important as any amenity list when evaluating memory care.
What Residents and Families Say
Public reviews for JES Holdings communities reflect the company's small portfolio, so feedback comes from a limited number of reviewers rather than a broad sample. The Village of Bedford Walk carries a rating of 4.70 on Senior Care Finder as of November 2026. Cross Creek at Lee's Summit holds a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Google based on 23 reviews checked in November 2026, with reviewers frequently noting the attentiveness of the care team, the cleanliness of the community, and the quality of activities for residents living with memory conditions.
As with any senior living community, individual experience can vary depending on staffing, timing, and specific resident needs. Families researching either community are encouraged to read recent reviews on Senior Care Finder and Google, ask about staff-to-resident ratios and staff tenure during a visit, and speak directly with staff and, where possible, with current residents or family members.
Leadership
Jeff Smith, Founder and CEO. Smith founded JES Holdings in 1984 and has led the company through more than four decades of real estate development and property management in Missouri. A fifth-generation Boone County, Missouri, resident, Smith developed Cross Creek at Lee's Summit in response to his family's personal experience with Alzheimer's disease and his conviction that memory care communities could be meaningfully better.
Walker Smith, President. Walker Smith joined JES Holdings after a career in commercial real estate finance that included roles at Rialto Capital Management, the Kroenke Group, and Planigrupo. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Babson College, where he graduated summa cum laude.
See the full leadership team for the complete and most current roster.
Recent News, Growth, and Recognition
JES Holdings Develops Cross Creek at Lee's Summit, a Memory Care and Assisted Living Community Near Kansas City
JES Holdings developed Cross Creek at Lee's Summit in Lee's Summit, Missouri, to serve residents living with Alzheimer's disease and other memory conditions alongside those needing assisted living support. The community reflects the personal commitment of founder Jeff Smith, whose family's experience with Alzheimer's disease shaped the company's direction. Daily life at Cross Creek is organized around the Five Pillars of Brain Health, a structured framework addressing movement, discovery, relaxation, nourishment, and social connection.
Visit Cross Creek at Lee's Summit
Frequently Asked Questions
What is JES Holdings?
JES Holdings is a private real estate development, construction, and property management firm based in Missouri, founded in 1984. The company develops and manages senior living communities in Missouri under the JES Prime Senior Living brand, with a focus on active adult and independent living as well as assisted living and memory care.
Where is JES Holdings headquartered?
JES Holdings operates from offices in Columbia and Clayton (St. Louis), Missouri, with an additional office in Atlanta, Georgia. The company's senior living communities are both located in Missouri.
Who owns and operates JES Holdings?
JES Holdings is a privately held company. Jeff Smith is the founder and CEO, and Walker Smith serves as President. The company has operated under the same ownership and management structure since its founding in 1984.
How many communities does JES Holdings operate?
JES Holdings operates two senior living communities in Missouri as of November 2026: The Village of Bedford Walk in Columbia and Cross Creek at Lee's Summit in Lee's Summit.
Where are JES Holdings communities located?
JES Holdings communities are located in Missouri. The Village of Bedford Walk is in Columbia, Missouri, near the University of Missouri campus. Cross Creek at Lee's Summit is in Lee's Summit, Missouri, in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
What types of care and living options does JES Holdings offer?
JES Holdings offers independent living and active adult living (55+) at The Village of Bedford Walk, and assisted living and memory care at Cross Creek at Lee's Summit. Care types, services, and availability differ between the two communities.
Does JES Holdings offer memory care?
Yes. Cross Creek at Lee's Summit offers memory care for residents living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Care is organized around the Five Pillars of Brain Health: Move, Discover, Relax, Nourish, and Connect. Families can contact Cross Creek directly to learn about current availability and the intake process.
How can families find and schedule a tour at a JES Holdings community?
Families can browse listings and read current reviews for The Village of Bedford Walk and Cross Creek at Lee's Summit on Senior Care Finder. Each listing includes current contact information, ratings, and the option to connect directly with the community. Scheduling a tour is the best way to evaluate staffing, programming, and environment for a specific resident's needs.
Explore JES Holdings Communities
JES Holdings operates two senior living communities in Missouri, each serving a different stage of later life. Whether you are looking for an active adult or independent living community near the University of Missouri, or a memory care and assisted living community in the Kansas City area, Senior Care Finder can help you compare options and connect with the right team.
Visit the JES Holdings community directory on Senior Care Finder to view current listings for The Village of Bedford Walk and Cross Creek at Lee's Summit. Services, pricing, availability, staffing, and resident experience vary by community and change over time, so reviewing each community's current page and scheduling a visit will give families the most accurate and up-to-date information.
JES Holdings 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 November 2026.
