Options for Care
Red Rock’ s living options include independent living, assisted living, memory care, and care suites. Ebenezer’ s model is to not have these segregated from each other, and so the whole community was designed to flow together. Resident Arlene Freeman said she’ s enjoyed going to the sing-alongs that have been held in the memory care wing, and executive director Jackie Juan recalled that at the one-year anniversary party, approximately 150 people attended and used the entire building.
“ We can host great parties, but families can still have their private areas for smaller parties if they need it. The commons spaces are very universal for residents and families, so that’ s awesome,” Juan said.
Independent: Just like renting an apartment, except that residents also have the ability to add on housekeeping, meal, and laundry packages.
Assisted living: Residents have a pendant to call for assistance if needed, and can decide on how many hours of care per week they’ ll need. Includes housekeeping, meals, and laundry services.
Memory care: A secure environment for those with dementia. Includes 24-hour assistance, housekeeping, meals, and laundry service.
Care suites: Offers privacy and a home-like environment for patients outside the community who are recovering from surgery. Less expensive than a hospital room and more comfortable than a shared room at a nursing home, these have been extremely popular at Red Rock. This part of the building has its own dining room, but Juan says just about everyone comes down to eat together in the main dining room.
4│TRENDS
Turning a Facility into a Home
The building’ s wide, short hallways lead to cozy common rooms stocked with puzzles, games, and other activities, and plenty of comfortable chairs and convenient tables let residents relax and chat. There are often birthday parties or even baby showers being held in the several side rooms. Natural light streams in everywhere, and there’ s a large bank of windows on the second floor overlooking the grounds and the bustling city beyond. Juan says this is her favorite part of the building.
“ That broad line of windows makes it very bright, and the theater is right there, along with the puzzle room. It’ s so open, and there are tons of sitting areas and little tables. And the pub is beautiful,” she said.
Freeman said she especially enjoys the common areas.
“ You know, you don’ t want to be in your room all the time. So I like to sit in the room where they rehabilitate people. Or I can go sit outside and read. And every day before lunch I come and sit in this room with this book,” she said.
“ Obviously, lots of things are working,” noted Jill Nokleby Kaiser, the housing development director of Ebenezer.“ People like that it’ s comfortable and open in the common areas; they like the decks outside.”
She echoed what Freeman and her niece thought of it:“ It’ s not so large that it looks imposing; there’ s a lot that’ s cozy in the building.”
Though the layout and furnishings look as though they were the natural choice, quite a bit of thought and care went into everything from deciding the width of the hallways right down to choosing the items in an activity center in the Memory Care wing. Frisbie, designer Dan Burnam, and interior designer Anne Peterson brought their experience and research to the table, while still keeping Ebenezer management involved.
“ The big role that architects play is translating what an operator needs the building to be,” Nokleby Kaiser explained.“ I look to the architect to say,‘ I hear what you’ re saying, and this is what we can do to get you
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