Tavares state-of-the-art assisted-living, memory-care facility Osprey Lodge to hold open house

 

October 16, 2012|

By Ludmilla Lelis, Orlando Sentinel

 

TAVARES — Tom Hofmeister kept one question in mind during construction of the $30 million Osprey Lodge, a new assisted-living and memory-care facility on Lake Frances.  "Can't we do this better?" co-founder Hofmeister asked.

 

The longtime builder researched known problems at existing elder-care facilities and used different room designs and construction solutions to overcome those problems.

 

Osprey Lodge, which has 76 assisted-living units and 48 units for dementia and Alzheimer's patients, will hold a grand opening 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

 

Tavares officials hailed the opening of the new facilityas an anchor for its "Medical Village," across U.S. 441 from Florida Hospital Waterman. A four-building medical office complex is being built and a surgical center building is about 70-percent complete, city economic development director Bill Neron said.

 

The city also helped Hofmeister's company in 2010 get $23.5 million in conduit bonds, which uses the city's ability to sell tax-exempt bonds but keeps the company responsible for the debt. Tavares also waived $346,575 in impact fees. That assistance was crucial in getting Osprey Lodge built, Hofmeister said.

 

When the Osprey Lodge project was launched three years ago, Hofmeister wanted to improve the building design to better suit the needs of its intended residents.  He spoke with seniors living in different facilities and with caregivers about what improvements they'd recommend.  That led to changes, such as chairs in the dining area that use two wheels, making it easier to seat residents, a special loft over the main living area, and the installation of enlarged showers for the memory-care wing, he said.

 

The décor is that of a Colorado winter lodge, with autumn colors and rustic wooden designs throughout. Hofmeister found out that as people age, their vision tends to yellow, so the typical blues of a nursing homecan appear grey.

But the reds, oranges, and browns work better for aging eyes, making for a homey appearance.

 

Residents also have access to an art room, a meeting room for club gatherings, an outdoor patio facing Lake Frances, and comfy common areas.

The memory-care wing, specifically designed for dementia and Alzheimer's patients, incorporates several design improvements over other facilities, he said. Residents have secured gardens for their walks.

 

The décor is simpler, not too busy or jarring, and the common areas have other old comforts, like mailboxes or desks for retired professionals.

 

Thanks to technology, the caregivers have motion sensors and wired lights to keep track of residents in their rooms at night.