SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Sunrise Senior Living welcomed residents to its newest community, Sunrise of Pleasanton, CA. The 19th Sunrise community in San Francisco’s Bay Area, it offers assisted living as well as evidence-based memory care programming and services for seniors with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, including support in the early to moderate stages of memory loss.
The Public Policy Institute of California projects the state’s senior population will approximately double over the next two decades, growing by nearly 4 million people by 2030, when the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age.
“Increasingly, people are looking for high-quality assisted living and memory care services, and we are excited to offer northern California families a new senior community in Pleasanton that supports the overall wellness needs of older adults,” said Jeff Slichta, senior vice president of Operations for Sunrise. “Ask me about the biggest difference in Sunrise, and I will tell you it’s our team members, who are dedicated, compassionate, and trained to provide the best personalized care. Residents and families are thrilled with their new home.”
“This state-of-the-art community helps meet current and future demand for senior care, as families explore options to continue to age in place within the geographic areas and charming neighborhoods of which they are familiar,” said Chris Winkle, chief executive officer for Sunrise. “We are committed to providing the Sunrise Experience of tailored care and programming, in addition to becoming part of the fabric that is the Tri-Valley community.”
The two-story, 63,800-square-foot community located at 5700 Pleasant Hill Road provides a personalized approach to care for up to 103 residents, with easy access to several nearby health care facilities, including ValleyCare Medical Center. The 83-unit building allows flexible and adaptable spaces to support Sunrise’s range of meaningful programming and activities that enrich the lifestyles of each assisted living and Reminiscence resident.
The new community offers a Reminiscence Neighborhood that serves individuals with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, as well as a Terrace Club Neighborhood, providing tailored programming to assist residents in the early to moderate stages of memory loss. The Terrace Club Neighborhood includes a brain fitness space outfitted with a computer and tables, allowing for games specially designed to enhance social engagement and boost brain fitness. The area may be used to support individual or small group activities. In addition, a large interior courtyard with potting benches, garden areas, and seating provides secure space for memory care residents to independently come, go, and explore an outdoor environment. Assisted living residents may also directly access a courtyard area by the bistro and dining rooms, which includes a large pergola with an outdoor countertop for residents to enjoy meals and events.
Sunrise of Pleasanton is designed to complement the local area’s visual style and regionally specific landscaping. Inside the building are design elements to support seniors’ mobility needs and promote continued independence. For example, “wayfinding” wallpaper helps residents better distinguish different corridors and find their suites. Colors were carefully selected based on what is known about the aging eye and low vision issues that often affect seniors. Decorative elements feature local artist prints, along with images of area landmarks. Residents may also enjoy theater and library spaces on the second floor near the activity and dining rooms.
Additional features include Wi-Fi throughout the community for residents and families to stay connected; an electronic health record system, Sunrise CareConnect, to help ensure that residents receive the personalized care they need; a dining program that offers delicious, well-balanced, home-cooked meals that support the unique nutritional needs of seniors; and, community pets to offer comfort and companionship. The community expects to create approximately 100 local jobs.
Sunrise recently demonstrated its capabilities as a premier senior living provider in October during the height of the California wildfires. While preparing for opening, Sunrise of Pleasanton temporarily housed residents from Sunrise Villa Sonoma, who evacuated on October 9 and stayed at Pleasanton until October 27. Throughout the three weeks, dedicated Sunrise team members helped ensure the ongoing comfort of Sunrise Villa Sonoma residents at Sunrise’s Pleasanton community, just as they also began to welcome first-time residents.
“We are incredibly proud of our team members for their unwavering commitment to the safety and comfort of our residents. They showed compassion and poise – putting residents first – even as many of them were personally impacted by these natural disasters,” added Slichta.