Goodwin House Opens Senior Living Addition In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Goodwin House officially launched its new senior living community in Alexandria this week. The center will accommodate 90 residents as part of its "small house" living approach, and the building is the first of the "small house" kind in the D.C. area.

The 80,000 square foot building at 4800 Fillmore Ave caters to seniors needing memory or mobility support, short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. But residents can feel like they're living at home, because units are designed that way. The 90 residents is split into 10 houses on separate high-rise floors.

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Residents have individual bedrooms and a shared kitchen and dining area, and they have the option of bringing their own furniture. There are common rooms for residents to have visits with family. Outside, there are patios, walking areas and gardens, and the facility is within walking distance to the Schlesinger Center. The original facility also includes amenities like Wi-Fi, a pool, health club, art center and more.

There will be more than 90 care partners and 30 nurses in the units to assist residents and prepare meals in the kitchen. They are certified nursing assistants that undergo additional and extensive training to provide this individualized care.

The project has totaled nearly $50 million in the making, and it has been ten years from initial vision to the opening. The original facility opened in 1967, with a major renovation completed in 1998. Goodwin House operates another campus at Bailey's Crossroads in Fairfax County.

The new "small house" center has already taken reservations nearly to capacity. It celebrated the grand opening Wednesday with Mayor Allison Silberberg.

"This new Health Care Center is a dramatic step forward in advancing from institution-based care models to person-centric models, all in a small home environment, and it’s reflective of Goodwin House’s leadership in expanding the ways in which we honor and uplift seniors," said Kathleen Anderson, Goodwin House President and CEO, in a statement.

Images by Tisara Photography, courtesy of Goodwin House