Jerome Home & Arbor Rose

New Britain, CT

Faced with demand for increased memory care (MC) and rehabilitation services, and an underutilized site, Jerome Home sought an addition to provide the needed programming and improve site performance.

The 18,000 SF 2-story expansion acts as the new main entry for the entire campus and includes a 20-bed dedicated memory care (MC) residence and outpatient rehabilitation services for its residents and the greater community. Rehabilitation programming includes outpatient and rehab gyms, an occupational therapy suite, and a lymphedema room. The addition of much needed off-street parking improves conditions for staff and visitors while increasing on-street parking opportunities for the neighborhood. Extensive stormwater management lessens demand on municipal infrastructure.

The design is responsive to specific needs of MC residents and staff, incorporating current research and experience. Biophilic design concepts are used to address common issues in memory care, including comprehensive lighting design, increased connection to daylight, and the layout/planting selections of the central courtyard.

Lighting is designed to mitigate glare, contrast perception, sun-downing, and circadian rhythm disruption which are common in MC settings and typically result from decreased exposure to sunlight and over-illuminated interior environments. Increased natural light and visual connection through the building and to the exterior enhance wayfinding and reinforce a natural circadian rhythm by connecting residents more closely with natural light and the surrounding environment. More than 70% of the site plantings are native while the MC courtyard offers residents a wide variety of edible plants to forage while connecting with nature.