Bridges by EPOCH at Westwood is now open

Bridges® by EPOCH at Westwood, a state-of-the-art memory care assisted living community, is now open. The community is a joint collaboration between EPOCH Senior Living, a provider of senior housing and care since 1997, and National Development, a real estate and investment firm with senior housing expertise. The community, which welcomed its first residents on Aug. 18, is EOEA certified and received its Certificate of Occupancy in July.

Located at 140 University Ave. in Westwood, adjacent to University Station, the community addresses the growing need for memory care services amongst seniors. According to the latest figures from the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.1 million older Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, or approximately one in nine older Americans, and the number is growing. In addition, there are approximately 200,000 Americans younger than 65 living with early-onset Alzheimer’s.

Bridges® by EPOCH at Westwood includes 64 suites with four different floor plans and is designed exclusively for residents with memory impairment. The community features soothing lighting, decor and colors, tall ceilings, wide spaces and plenty of windows for natural light, as well as an enclosed, beautifully landscaped courtyard. A two-story community, Bridges® by EPOCH at Westwood also features a partially covered, furnished, open-air deck on the second story for use and enjoyment by residents. The secure design allows residents to live in a caring home environment, while family members can be assured that their loved one’s safety is a priority.

EPOCH’s Bridges® program was created more than 16 years ago and is the foundation for the stand-alone Bridges® by EPOCH communities. The Bridges® philosophy centers on the involvement of family members, an individualized approach to care and an active life-enrichment program that fosters engagement and mental stimulation for people with memory loss.

The architect for Bridges® by EPOCH at Westwood is CBT of Boston and the interior design was developed by architectural firm JSA Inc. of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The general contractor for the community is Cranshaw Construction of Newton, Massachusetts. “We’re grateful to everyone involved for their work on the community and for helping to keep us on schedule,” Kristen Kenney, executive director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Westwood, said.

Bridges® by EPOCH at Westwood joins the existing communities Bridges® by EPOCH at Hingham, Bridges® by EPOCH at Westford and Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee, all of Massachusetts. An additional Bridges® by EPOCH community will open in 2015 in Trumbull, Connecticut. Bridges® by EPOCH has also expanded to New Hampshire, where construction is underway on Bridges® by EPOCH at Nashua.

In addition to providing memory care assisted living, Bridges® by EPOCH at Westwood is a resource for the greater community and offers free educational presentations and support groups each month on topics related to dementia and caregiving. For more information, contact Bernadette Clougher, director of community relations, at 781-251-6630.