Memory care facility under construction in Arlington Heights
Construction is underway on Autumn Leaves, a new memory care facility in Arlington Heights that officials said will be open to patients by early 2015.
Autumn Leaves specializes in housing for people living with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. The Arlington Heights location will house about 50 residents when the 30,000-square-foot, $12 million building opens on Arlington Heights Road just north of Golf Road.
“We selected Arlington Heights because there is a great need for memory care in the area,” said Kay Adkins, director of development for LaSalle Group, which owns Autumn Leaves. “The community has a rich history, and our location is in an area that's currently being revitalized. The neighbors and the village have been very supportive, and we look forward to helping families with our expert care.”
The live-in facility will be one of many senior care facilities already in the Arlington Heights area, but developers said it is the only one solely focused on memory care issues.
Autumn Leaves has 36 locations across the country, including facilities in Crystal Lake, Vernon Hills and Orland Park.
According to the LaSalle Group, the facility will feature a state-of-the-art Vigil System, a motion sensor program in each resident's private room that allows them to live independently, while also subtly alerting staff members if they're needed, and gathering information that serves to improve the resident's comfort level.
Staff completes rigorous training to help them understand behavioral, communicative, and cognitive changes residents will experience, the company states in a news release.
“In addition to ensuring that our residents are safe, engaged in activities, and receive quality care, we will provide educational services to the surrounding community. We will offer free programs to the public including seminars, speakers, and monthly Alzheimer's support groups,” Adkins said. “We pride ourselves in providing compassionate care in a calm, safe, and engaging environment.”
The facility is being constructed on land that had been zoned for offices, but vacant for some time. Village officials approved a zoning change allowing for the facility.