A groundbreaking ceremony was held Oct. 18 for the Cottages at UnityPoint Way on the northeast side of Cedar Rapids.
The facility, with an estimated cost of $25 million, is a joint project by UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids and Western Home Services in Cedar Falls. It will comprise a new, innovative memory care community that deploys a specialized care model called the “household model of care.”
The new facility will offer those with memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease a secure, homelike setting with personalized care plans to improve quality of life through clinical care, cognitive engagement and daily living activities.
The “household model of care” creates a real community within a space so individuals recognize their surroundings as home, according to a news release. This includes personal choice, and natural rhythms of the day to ensure a state of well-being.
The project includes three memory/dementia care cottages with 16 to 20 units each, and all individuals will have their own personal bedroom and bathroom providing safeguards for infection control.
Western Home Communities owns and operates senior living communities around Iowa and has a flagship campus in Cedar Falls where the Cottage model originated. The Cottage design won “Design Innovation of the Year” at the International Dementia Conference in Birmingham, UK in 2015.
The site, located at 8405 Council St. NE in Cedar Rapids, is adjacent to St. Luke’s Transitional Care Center, a short-stay, skilled nursing facility for those recovering from an injury, surgery or serious illness.
“We are pleased to bring a specialized memory care alternative to our community,” said Michelle Niermann, president and CEO, UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids, in the release. “With an anticipated growth of 18.3% in the 65-plus age demographic in the Cedar Rapids area, this community will provide much needed memory/dementia care housing and by partnering with Western Home Services, who is a leader in senior living communities, we are excited to bring a new level of memory/dementia care into our community.”
The Cottages at UnityPoint Way is expected to open in late 2022.
