Environments for Aging - Fall 2024 - 40

The second and third floors are home to Orchard
Inn, the assisted living and memory care
households, with half the units overlooking
Wexford Drive and half looking out onto quieter
terraces. Each floor is divided into two neighborhoods
of 10, with separate dining and living
rooms, kitchens, spas, and laundry. A rehabilitation
gym, large gathering space, and outdoor
terrace are shared by each floor's residents. " Putting
people who need a higher level of care in
the heart of the community works for multiple
reasons, " Saad says. For one, siting assisted living
and memory care atop The Baldwin's main
indoor activity spaces makes sense operationally,
with direct access to the community's central
kitchen and service elevators.
But beyond the practical sense, Saad says, " A
lot of times, assisted living or memory care are
put off to the side, out of sight. But these residents
are the ones who need to be the most integrated.
They often have limited mobility, and they need
more socialization. "
Orchard Inn's central location also makes it
easy for residents to get out and enjoy the rest of
the community when family members visit. At
the same time, the small-home model and room
orientations offer safety, security, and sensory
connection to the outside world-especially important
for residents who aren't able to come and
go on their own. " Just like everyone else at The
Baldwin, memory care residents have the option
to experience the urban center or to go outside
on the terrace with views of the green space and
trees, " Saad says. " We wanted them to have both. "
Out and about
Across the street from the primary building is
the wellness center with an enclosed pool and
hot tub, fitness center, physical therapy rooms,
and a yoga studio. Large windows here overlook
40 | fall 2024
the reflecting pool, which is surrounded by a
walking path and well-spaced benches. Next
door to the wellness center and moving north
along Wexford Drive, retail storefronts include a
spa/salon, health clinic, and small market.
These storefronts constitute the first floor of
one of the independent living buildings, which
each have four floors of apartments. Another
building for independent living residents sits directly
across the street (connected to the primary
building) and more units are situated on the other
side of the entrance road and reflecting pool,
roughly perpendicular to the primary building.
Encouraging movement, community, and
chance encounters with neighbors of all abilities-as
well as with other Woodmont Commons
denizens-the campus features plenty of green
spaces, gardens, and paved paths. It's also possible
to cover all the interiors on foot without going
outside, thanks to a temperature-controlled skywalk
that traverses Wexford Drive between the
primary building and the wellness center. (New
England weather demands its due.)
The world beyond
The rest of Woodmont Commons continues its
phased growth plan, as the developers add residential
housing and fill out the tenant roster
for its planned retail (100,000 square feet) and
restaurant spaces (the community already has a
603 Brewery & Beer Hall, plus space for multiple
restaurants). Rotering notes that a new medical
building will be coming on board, as well, close
enough for Baldwin residents to walk to. " There's
so much potential, " she says. " We're thinking
about all kinds of ways to incentivize and enable
our residents to engage with the new businesses
coming in.
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Environments for Aging - Fall 2024

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