Main Street-style assisted living communities — those with amenities like restaurants, salons and shopping — are becoming a popular new model for senior living, according to recent news from Senior Housing.
Learn more about how these models are changing traditional assisted living communities today.
Living on Main Street
You can now begin your day at a salon, do some shopping in the afternoon, then end the day out at a restaurant — all within an assisted living community.
These types of senior living communities, referred to as “Main Streets,” are “emerging as central design components in senior living,” according to an article in Senior Housing News. They feature amenities that include everything from cafes to retail space and wine bars that are adjacent to assisted living apartments.
This type of senior living is meant “to encourage a real community feel,” that’s become important to many seniors moving into assisted living communities.
A Main Street in Portland, Oregon, which will open within the year, is focusing on bringing their residents energy and vitality by creating a downtown within their community. According to the article, “The first thing you’ll see is the plant and nursery store. Then on the corner you see a restaurant, health and wellness spa.” The downtown area also has lighting fixtures and a variety of areas to sit around Main Street, to “draw both residents and those outside the community in.”
“It’ll be just like a real town,” the article says.
Main Street Memory Care
These Main Street assisted living communities also often include memory care neighborhoods, which have been shown to be helpful to residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia who are seeking familiarity and a sense of home.
These neighborhoods are distinguished by level of memory care aid needed, and “reflect the needs of those with memory impairments” by being located close to Main Street, where the public atmosphere stimulates residents.
One Main Street is even said to include a hobby shop, movie theater and sweet shop, which not only promotes a community experience, but encourages interaction with Alzheimer’s residents.
“It’s a place to go that still feels like home, and their families can join them,” the article reports.
Searching for Main Street Assisted Living
AssistedLiving.com has more than 200 Senior Living Advisors who have knowledge of communities in their area, and can send you a list of Main Street communities that meet your family’s needs.
Contact us to get started, and make sure to let your Advisor know that you’re looking for a Main Street community like Freedom Pointe at the Villages, which offers residents amenities like a cafe, library, pool and spa.
