ArchCare is opening a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly center in New York modeled on a neighborhood setting, complete with a movie theater, beauty salon and library.
ArchCare, the continuing care community of the Archdiocese of New York, cut the ribbon on the ArchCare Senior Life PACE Harlem Center in early October. The center will open in November.
One of the 200 in attendance at the ribbon cutting was Dr. James McDonald, New York state health commissioner, ArchCare said in a press release. McDonald said the center "will provide vital support for participants' health, well-being, and independence, helping them to age with dignity in the communities they call home."
The site combines an adult day center with a fully equipped medical clinic. It will provide the medical, social and other services seniors would otherwise receive in a nursing home but let them continue to live in their own homes or with relatives. Inside the center, participants also will find a range of familiar and engaging spaces designed to spark connection and comfort:
- A movie theater
- A full-service beauty salon
- An arts and crafts workshop
- A café and social lounge
- A library for quiet reflection
- Communal spaces for music, conversation and recreation
ArchCare said the center's design reflects research in eldercare showing that sensory-rich environments with spaces for leisure, creativity and social interaction can improve quality of life, reduce isolation, and enhance well-being among older adults.
"We set out to design a space that honors the whole person, not just their medical needs, but their social, emotional, spiritual, and cultural lives," said Scott LaRue, president and CEO of ArchCare. "It's about dignity through design, and care delivered in a space that feels joyful, familiar, and full of possibility."