| Cooperative Effort Leads To Innovative Senior Housing Design |
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June 13, 2007, 02:24 PM By Jon Karroll A unique partnership between C-U The Springs and a local real estate developer is breaking new ground in the area of senior living. It's called "The Palisades at Broadmoor Park," located in the Southwest part of Colorado Springs. What makes it different is design input contributed by UCCS in the areas of gerontology, nursing and health sciences. Doctor Sara Qualls at UCCS helped spearhead the design effort. "If you're going to try to create a culture in which people can thrive regardless of their ability level, you've got to have several cultures built in to one place, and yet it can't be chaotic,” says Qualls. Colorado Springs real estate developer Dunn and Associates approached UCCS in the spring of 2004 with the idea of creating a new and innovative design in senior housing. Toby Gannett, Vice President of Palisades, says getting the frontline research that's going on in gerontology directly into the building has been a really exciting experience. "Our goal is to provide as much help as they may need but no more than that so they can live as independently as possible,” says Gannett. The basic layout includes guest cottages, four-plex patio homes, an independent living building and an Alzheimer's memory unit. When it opens in the summer of 2008, the Palisades will have room for one hundred people. The UCCS involvement doesn't end with the design phase. The Beth El College of Nursing will run a primary care clinic, and faculty and students will help design a variety of wellness programs. |