WESTON, MA  Nauset Construction completes the construction of a 13-unit memory care neighborhood for Westport, Connecticut, -based operator Maplewood Senior Living. The project involved repositioning 13 assisted living units at the Maplewood at Weston senior living community into memory care units on the first floor of an occupied community. The transformation of the units represents a shift in thinking among senior care providers that allows residents to "age in place" in their adopted retirement communities as they progress along the continuum of care.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, by 2025, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease is estimated to reach 7.1 million - a 40 percent increase from the 5.1 million age 65 and older affected in 2015. Alzheimer's is just one of many cognitive challenges faced by this generation.

"By converting one floor of our existing assisted living apartments into dedicated memory care units, we offer our current and future residents the opportunity to effectively age in place and maintain the stability of a familiar location and environment," said Thomas Gaston, Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Development of Maplewood Senior Living. "This has proven to be a great source of comfort for residents and their families as they transition to the next level of care as needed."

In converting the units, Nauset executed selective demolition of the existing apartments to accommodate a sophisticated palate of new finishes. In addition to reconfiguring the rooms, each received new mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and fire suppression systems. The architectural team of Chelsea, Massachusetts, was responsible for the design of the new memory care neighborhood, which also included the construction of a community kitchen and multiple common spaces to provide a welcoming, easy to navigate and safe environment for residents and visitors.

"This is the type of project where our extensive experience working in occupied senior living and medical environments really pays dividends," said Anthony Papantonis, President of Nauset Construction. "Nauset's employees have developed the necessary communication strategies and management systems for delivering high quality construction while ensuring that operations and daily routines continue with minimal disruptions to residents and staff."