Expanding upon the care it would deliver to its senior residents, the community at Mirabelle (Miami, Florida) opened a new memory care neighborhood in November 2021. Architecture firm Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates (Coral Gables, Florida) and Sagestone Design (Atlanta, Georgia) worked alongside Current Builders (Pompano Beach, Florida) to convert an existing floor in the independent living space into these specialized units for those with dementia and memory loss.
The opening of the memory care neighborhood allows Mirabelle to serve seniors in several phases of their retirement years, with independent living, assisted living, and connected living that is designed for residents who need extra help with the tasks of daily living but who aren’t yet ready for the memory care community.
Mirabelle’s Memory Care Neighborhood Offers Bright, Open Reflection Spaces
The neighborhood is spread across 15,075 square feet on the eighth floor of the Mirabelle community, comprising luxury apartments and living spaces, as well as several amenities. Included are a dining area, living area, engagement area and ‘namaste room’ for quiet reflection. Easy-access bathrooms, showers and spacious closets allow residents to remain as independent as possible, while oversized windows with neutral coverings create a bright and airy environment.
The large windows and abundant natural light in these units pair well with the neutral wall color and flooring. Wide plank floors spread from the units and common areas to help reduce trip hazards while highlighting soothing blue, gray and tan furniture throughout the neighborhood. Additional plush chairs with a mid-century feel create seating areas that are highlighted by oversized art.
Purpose-built gathering spaces such as these help the residents remain active and engaged with the staff. The outdoor patio features bright coral and yellow upholstery on washed gray furniture, glass walls alternating between opaque and translucent—a stylistic element that also provides light and visibility for workers. There are also staff offices located throughout the floor.
This project originally appeared on our sister site Environments for Aging.