Brightview assisted living center already signing up tenants
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| Construction under way on a 100-unit assisted living community on Gallows Road. |
The new Brightview Woodburn assisted living center under
construction at 3450 Gallows Road isn’t expected to be completed until next summer,
but a welcome center is open and 18 units have already been reserved.
The community is for people who can no longer mange on their
own, but it’s designed to look and feel like a residence, not a medical facility,
says sales director Joanna Banks.
own, but it’s designed to look and feel like a residence, not a medical facility,
says sales director Joanna Banks.
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| A rendering of the building. |
It has a pub, hair/nail salon, library/computer room, arts
and crafts areas, and living room with fireplace. There are also lots of outings
for residents. And while there are nurses on site, they won’t be wearing scrubs
or pushing medicine carts downs the halls.
and crafts areas, and living room with fireplace. There are also lots of outings
for residents. And while there are nurses on site, they won’t be wearing scrubs
or pushing medicine carts downs the halls.
The four-story building has 100 apartments, including 30 in
a special area called Wellspring for those with memory impairments.
a special area called Wellspring for those with memory impairments.
Although Brightview is aimed at the elderly, there is no age
limit. Other Brightview communities have residents with disabilities in their
20s and 30s. There are 35 Brightview residences, all on the East Coast.
limit. Other Brightview communities have residents with disabilities in their
20s and 30s. There are 35 Brightview residences, all on the East Coast.
One of the people who already signed a lease at Brightview
Woodburn is 92; the rest are in their 70s and 80s, Banks says.
Woodburn is 92; the rest are in their 70s and 80s, Banks says.
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| A rendering of the first floor lobby. The interior designer, Aumen Asner Inc., uses a mid-century modern theme. |
Monthly rents include three meals a day, snacks, all utilities
except a landline phone, transportation, outings, once-a-week housekeeping
services, once-a-week laundry, Wi-Fi, basic cable, social hours with wine and
beer, and up to five hours of “personalized care.” [Editor’s note: Rental amounts have been removed from an earlier version of this article at the request of Brightview Senior Living.]
except a landline phone, transportation, outings, once-a-week housekeeping
services, once-a-week laundry, Wi-Fi, basic cable, social hours with wine and
beer, and up to five hours of “personalized care.” [Editor’s note: Rental amounts have been removed from an earlier version of this article at the request of Brightview Senior Living.]
Tenants can break their lease any time, as long as they give
30 days’ notice, Banks says. Residents are allowed to have pets up to 25 pounds
as long as they are able to take care of them. Eventually, Banks hopes the
community will develop partnerships with Woodburn Elementary School and the
Holmes Run Pool, both of which are across the street.
30 days’ notice, Banks says. Residents are allowed to have pets up to 25 pounds
as long as they are able to take care of them. Eventually, Banks hopes the
community will develop partnerships with Woodburn Elementary School and the
Holmes Run Pool, both of which are across the street.
Personalized care is all about meeting the needs of
individual residents, she says. One person might need help taking a shower or
organizing her medications, for example, while someone else might feel isolated
and need assistance with socialization.
individual residents, she says. One person might need help taking a shower or
organizing her medications, for example, while someone else might feel isolated
and need assistance with socialization.
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| The design for an open area on the terrace level. [Aumen Asner Inc.] |
Brightview will have a “vibrant living director” in charge
of developing a calendar of events based on residents’ preferences. Activities
could range from bingo games, movies, and lectures at Brightview to trips to
stores, church, or shows at Wolftrap or the Kennedy Center. Once a week, there’s
a “lunch bunch” outing to a restaurant. Any extra costs associated with those
trips, except for transportation, will appear on residents’ monthly bills.
of developing a calendar of events based on residents’ preferences. Activities
could range from bingo games, movies, and lectures at Brightview to trips to
stores, church, or shows at Wolftrap or the Kennedy Center. Once a week, there’s
a “lunch bunch” outing to a restaurant. Any extra costs associated with those
trips, except for transportation, will appear on residents’ monthly bills.
Having a range of social activities is good for one’s
health, Banks says, noting that “people isolated at home just watching TV all
day have a much greater chance of getting dementia.”
health, Banks says, noting that “people isolated at home just watching TV all
day have a much greater chance of getting dementia.”
Brightview offers “a multidimensional approach to living”
known as SPICE, which aims to meet residents’ spiritual, physical,
intellectual, cultural, and emotional needs, she says. Brightview has a partnership with the Bayada home health
care company to offer “SPICE in Motion” consisting of exercise classes and
speech, physical, and occupational therapy.
known as SPICE, which aims to meet residents’ spiritual, physical,
intellectual, cultural, and emotional needs, she says. Brightview has a partnership with the Bayada home health
care company to offer “SPICE in Motion” consisting of exercise classes and
speech, physical, and occupational therapy.
She acknowledges it can be really tough to give up one’s
home and belongings and move into assisted living, so the folks at Brightview
call it “right sizing” instead of downsizing, and they host a three-month
welcoming process to introduce new residents to the community.
home and belongings and move into assisted living, so the folks at Brightview
call it “right sizing” instead of downsizing, and they host a three-month
welcoming process to introduce new residents to the community.
Brightview will have a staff of 95 and is in the process of
hiring nurses, caregivers, housekeepers, and concierges. People interested in a
job can apply online.
hiring nurses, caregivers, housekeepers, and concierges. People interested in a
job can apply online.
Seems like a lovely facility, but what a raw deal for the surrounding neighbors to have this awkwardly plopped into their neighborhood. 95 staff and 100 apartments? Yikes.
How do their rates compare with other assisted living options in the area?
anonymous at 2:24 – I tried to rally the neighbors, and no one really wanted to oppose it. We fought and fought the church down the street, and lost obviously. I think folks were thinking other developments could have been worse. Now, I'm thinking of checking them out for me in a few years.
I can only wish someone would build a nice facility like that in Mason instead of the crap we get like the DMV.
According to the Mason boundary map, it is in Mason.
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/maps/images/maps/bosdist/bos_maps/mason_district_map.pdf
Well then they should move that damn DMV into the basement of Brightview Woodburn so the elderly don't have to get killed navigating in and out of Barcroft Plaza.
Nice!
Rates seem higher than some, but in line with the all-inclusive modern facility & services provided. Many elderly do not drive, or drive only rarely, and more people should visit than actually do, so traffic generated should be minimal. Also, the facility will likely have a minibus to transport residents, often in non-rush hours, so this will provide very efficient, non-disruptive transport. Who wouldn't welcome quiet people who don't get out that much to the neighborhood? Residents will be high-end consumers contributing taxes to fund the district. Win-win.
Good points. Thank you.