New retirement and assisted-living homes for seniors have popped up in vacant fields all over the Treasure Valley - more than current demand can fill, an industry leader says.

There are 8,413 licensed beds in assisted-living facilities across the state now, a 36 percent increase since 2005, according to the state Department of Health and Welfare. Retirement homes for people who don't need assisted living also are booming.

"It's an explosion over the last five years," said Robert Vande Merwe, executive director of the Idaho Health Care Association - Idaho Center for Assisted Living, a lobbying group for residential-care and skilled-nursing homes and intermediate-care homes for intellectually disabled people.

Ironically, the downturn in the economy has spurred even more interest, at least by individual entrepreneurs. Health and Welfare says it is getting inquiries from people considering changing their professions and turning their homes or rental properties into assisted-care homes.

Read the complete story at idahostatesman.com