Rochester Hills Long-term Care Facility Invests $1 Million in Renovation

A long-term care facility in Rochester Hills is undergoing an estimated $1 million in renovations designed to bring more services to its temporary residents. 

, owned by a subsidiary of Trinity Health System, is going through changes at 873 W. Avon Rd., near . The redesign will enhance the wellness and rehabilitation offerings of the facility, said Jacqueline Trost, spokeswoman for Trinity Senior Living Communities. 

Construction began late last year on a new rehabilitation and wellness center, including a therapy gym. A new spa room will also be added to the facility.

Each sanctuary room will ultmately include a "nourish and hearth" area similar to a full kitchen, dining room and living room.

The sanctuary’s rehabilitation facility currently has capacity for 66 guests/residents; that number will stay the same after the renovation is complete.

Bellbrook is what is known as a continuing care retirement community; it includes independent and assisted living apartments, long-term care, rehabilitation and memory care. The entire community has about 250 residents.

All of the beds in the rehab and nursing care areas are dually certified to accept private pay, Medicare or Medicaid, said Becky Lund, Sanctuary at Bellbrook's executive director. 

“What we have done is repurposed the space that we have there and looked at what is needed to better serve our rehabilitation residents,” Lund said. 

An existing dining room is being transformed into the new rehab and wellness center. Also, nursing stations are being eliminated because, thanks to wireless technology, nurses are reachable anywhere in the building.

“The trends in our industry have shifted quite a ways from what the traditional long-term care facility has had over the years,” Lund said. 

The goal of the additions is to make it easier for residents to rehabilitate and allow them to get back to a normal life, living in their own houses or apartments, said Kelly Gasior, vice president of strategic planning and marketing.

Residents come to Sanctuary at Bellbrook from throughout Oakland and Macomb counties. The facility was first built in 1988.