The Hannah B. Griffith Shaw Home for the Aged breaks ground on a new skilled nursing and rehabilitation addition

The Hannah B. Griffith Shaw Home for the Aged, Inc. recently celebrated the groundbreaking of a new skilled nursing and rehabilitation addition on April 27th. The expansion project is being led by the architectural firm of David H. Dunlap & Associates, and construction managers, Columbia Construction Co. Moving away from the traditional medical care model of design, the new addition is designed to reflect the national movement of culture change in long term care settings and will be home to four new 10 bed skilled units and one 12 bed skilled memory unit. The new units or "neighborhoods" are designed to provide residents with a home like environment, offering private bedrooms and baths, a living room, dining room, and kitchen. Nursing care will be more mobile, and will be incorporated into the home life of each resident. Utility and service areas, a necessity to any skilled setting, have been designed to be separate from the living areas within the neighborhoods. Resident rooms are equipped with ceiling tracks as well as cable and WiFi/wireless access. The facility's existing skilled unit will be renovated into a new 15 bed short term rehabilitation unit, including a new nursing station and piped in medical gases. A new physical therapy and rehabilitation center will be the focal point and main component of the connecting structure at the first floor level. The first floor level expansion also includes a new main entry and lobby, bakery/cafe, and recreation lounge. The second floor connecting space will include a new multi-purpose/community room and beauty salon. Both floors add additional administrative space. The new ground level will be partial and provide additional storage space, as well as a new service and delivery operations area. The existing ground level will be partially renovated to include a new central laundry, IT central, and expanded food storage. New outdoor spaces include a private courtyard with walking paths directly off the memory unit and rehabilitation courtyard and terrace adjacent to the new shot term unit. The project is targeted to meet LEED Silver Certification, helping to mitigate effects on the environment. The groundbreaking of this new addition further exemplifies the Hannah B. Griffith Shaw Home's commitment to the continuum of care and a community-based setting that thrives. In November of 1940, Arthur Rotch, then state commissioner of Public Welfare was quoted as saying about the Hannah B. Griffith Shaw Home; "It is the finest home for the aged in the state." We expect a similar quote upon the completion of our new addition." Drawing on over 85 years of experience, Columbia Construction provides construction management services throughout New England. Its primary goal is to serve as a construction partner to clients and to provide them with innovative solutions. Columbia's work is focused within the healthcare, senior living, hospitality, corporate, commercial, life sciences, and academic market sectors. Hannah B. Griffith Shaw Home is a residential care and skilled nursing facility. Founded by the late Hannah Bartlett Griffith Shaw, the home opened its doors in 1941 as a non-profit corporation. Rooted in the traditions of home, the facility focuses on resident choice as being fundamental to resident care. Resident participation, coupled with family members and the professional interdisciplinary team yield some of the most positive outcomes in long term care. Rated twice by US News & World Reports in the top 25 facilities in the nation and three times by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health customer satisfaction surveys as number two in the state, Hannah B. Griffith Shaw Home should be considered as a potential home to place a loved one. Architects David H. Dunlap Associates have achieved leadership in the design, planning, and operations of health care facilities in the New England area. For over thirty years, we have evolved with advancements in architectural and building technologies, medical and social sciences, and a variety of patient care delivery models. "Our philosophy is focused on pragmatic planning strategies, designing with intent, and a comprehension of how our buildings will impact the functional, social, and environmental needs of its inhabitants. We are exceptionally pleased to be involved with the pioneering of culture change and innovations to residential care. We would like to acknowledge the staff and residents at The Hannah B. Griffith Shaw Home for the Aged for their vision," said David Dunlap