Senior Living Facility Opens In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — A new senior living facility recently opened in Fairfield. Located at 1571 Stratfield Road, Sunrise of Fairfield offers assisted living and memory care services, according to a company news release. Sunrise Senior Living, which operates two previously established facilities in Stamford, also opened a Wilton location in late 2019.

“We’re excited to bring Connecticut seniors the high-quality care and services that we’ve provided to our residents in Stamford and across the country for more than 35 years,” Jenifer Salamino, senior vice president of operations at Sunrise Senior Living, said in the news release. “We’ve received such a warm welcome from our new neighbors in Fairfield and Wilton, and we’re looking forward to laying down roots and building relationships with more families in Fairfield County.”

Sunrise is based in McLean, Virginia, and employs about 32,000 people. As of Oct. 15, Sunrise operated more than 300 communities in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The company celebrated its two new Connecticut communities with ribbon-cutting ceremonies in November. Sunrise of Fairfield and Sunrise of Wilton can both accommodate about 100 residents. When full, the new communities were expected to generate a total of 200 local jobs.

"Location is extremely important to both seniors and their families because it directly impacts the amount of time they’re able to spend with their loved one,” April Johnson, vice president of operations for Sunrise, said in the news release. “When researching options for an aging parent, sons and daughters want a location that is close to their own home, with the ability to stop by on their way to or from work. Both of these communities are brand new, in convenient locations for those commuting to Manhattan or lower Fairfield County, with senior-friendly technology and design.”

Every 65 seconds, someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The new communities both offer Reminiscence Neighborhoods to serve individuals with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Residents in both assisted living and Reminiscence receive tailored care according to their individualized service plan and through data captured in Sunrise CareConnect, a centralized electronic health record system.

Inside the facilities, design elements support seniors’ mobility needs and promote continued independence, according to the news release. “Wayfinding” wallpaper helps residents better distinguish different corridors and find their suites. Colors were carefully selected based on knowledge of the aging eye and low vision issues that often affect seniors.

Additional features include a wellness center with a therapy room and private exam room; a movie room; a beauty salon; and Wi-Fi throughout the facility. The interior of the building also showcases artwork from local artists.

Exterior design complements the surrounding area’s architectural style. Landscaped outdoor spaces feature a walking path with benches, outdoor pavilion for activities, and multiple patios with lounge and dining seating.

The dining program serves meals that cater to the special nutritional needs of seniors. In particular, the Fortified Foods program aims to help residents maintain a healthy weight through enjoying nourishing meals, without use of dietary supplements. The communities also feature table-side dining technology, which allows staff to capture orders on a tablet at the time of service, and then view displayed preferences, doctor-prescribed restrictions, and allergies to help guide residents in their food selections.

The communities also allow for flexible and adaptable spaces to support evidence-based programming that offers residents opportunities to express, learn, engage, and grow.