New Wing for Dementia Opens

Maplewood at Newtown, a residential facility for seniors, has added a 15-unit wing for the care of elderly people experiencing early stage dementia or other memory impairment. 

The facility celebrated the opening of its new wing with a ribbon cutting Thursday, Feb. 17.

“I offer my congratulations to Maplewood for providing new services for a population in need,” said First Selectman Pat Llodra, who was among the three dozen guests and staff members in attendance. "Maplewood has taken a bankrupt facility and turned it around. We will help them in any way we can.”

Maplewood owner Gregory Smith, CEO of Hunter Smith Realty Corp., said he took over the decade-old Homestead at Newtown facility last May and renamed it Maplewood at Newtown.

He said he has since invested about $2 million in exterior and interior renovations, including the new 15 unit wing and an improved kitchen.

“We’ve brought this property out of bankruptcy,” he said. “This project has turned out fantastic.”

In addition to the new early stage dementia wing, which will be ready for occupancy in March, the $16 million facility includes 65 units of general assisted living for seniors and 20 secure units for elderly experiencing advanced dementia such as memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease, he said.

“We already have facilities in Danbury and Orange, but we will be adding a new one in Norwalk,” Smith said. “Our goal is to have 10 care facilities for the elderly in Fairfield County, another 10 in Westchester County and one in New York City. Newtown will have the biggest one.”

Taking an overview, Smith said the facilities stress mental and physical fitness along with nutrition and social activities for residents at all levels of care in a home-like setting. Residents may use computers with special programming designed to enhance their mental acuity, he added.

The owner said he has benefited from his experience as a hotel owner and investor in deciding how his elder care facilities should be made comfortable and home-like for their residents.

Also, he is a member of the Board Directors of the Alzheimer’s Foundation, which allows him to learn about the latest methods of assisting and caring for people experiencing dementia as a factor of aging.

“About 50 percent of our residents may experience some level of memory impairment,” he said.

Laura Shortt, marketing director, said the Newtown facility had about 34 percent occupancy when Maplewood took it over. But, at present, more than 50 percent of the units are rented, and more senior citizens express interest in moving in each month, she said.

Costs for living in the units begin at about $5,000 per month and rise according to the nursing and other services requested or needed, Robert Newcomer, executive director, said.

Bonnie Loglisci, also involved with marketing the facility, showed off a furnished unit in the new wing. The unit includes a living room, bedroom and bathroom, as comfortable as one would find in a private home, she said.

Editor's note: The new wing at Maplewood at Newtown is intended for people with early stage dementia or other memory impairment. The headline of an earlier version of this article mischaracterized the client base it is intended to serve.