By Marilyn Hawkes
If someone you know is thinking about making the move to a senior living community, tell them to check out The Palazzo, a warm and welcoming rental community that offers a full continuum of care from independent and assisted living to skilled nursing and memory care.
The Palazzo is implementing a $5 million renovation that will touch almost every corner of the buildings and grounds. When new owners took over last May, they replaced the roof, refreshed the stucco and painted the exterior to give the building a fresh look, according to The Palazzo’s marketing director, Mark Aronauer.
Now in the works, the independent living apartments are getting new carpet and paint as well as the most up-to-date kitchen appliances, cabinets and granite countertops. The apartments will be expanded and prospective residents can choose from one or two bedroom options. The assisted living quarters will also be refreshed and will get a new activity room and updated nursing stations.
The renovation also includes painting community hallways, installing ADA-approved hardwood laminate flooring and LED lighting.
But the biggest changes are taking place in the common areas, Aronauer says. The lobby and Main Street, a place where residents congregate, is getting a complete makeover and that includes knocking down a couple of walls and raising ceilings to open up space and bring in more natural light. Also on deck: a grill, gelato shop and bar where residents and their guests can order a burger, eat a sundae or grab a drink.
The Palazzo’s outdoor grass courtyard area will also be updated. New additions include adding shuffleboard and bocce ball courts, a putting green and several gazebos so residents can sit with their children and grandchildren and enjoy the peaceful setting, read a book or practice yoga.
The Palazzo offers a full complement of activities for its residents from coffee gatherings and bingo games to musical performances and current event discussions. They also sponsor off-property movie, dining and museum outings.
Jewish Family & Children’s Services operates a senior center on the premises and provides enriching activities for the community as well as for Palazzo residents.
As the Baby Boomer generation ages, senior living communities are adapting to a different mindset, one that includes a desire for more spacious living quarters and an emphasis on physical activities, Aronauer says.
When seniors move into The Palazzo, whether they’re from the World War II generation or the Baby Boomer cohort, they can look forward to a full continuum of care if they need it down the road, Aronauer says. “Our community is very personalized on all levels.”
