Sunrise Senior Living Franklin Lakes Opens Doors of New Community
November 17, 2021
Sunrise Senior Living is now welcoming residents to its newest community located in the heart of Bergen County, New Jersey. The newly constructed community offers 51 industry-leading assisted living and 37 memory care suites designed with programming to serve seniors with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Located just 30 minutes from New York City in the beautiful residential borough of Franklin Lakes, the community sits on nearly five acres within easy reach of the shops and restaurants of Franklin Lakes Town Square. Just minutes from the Franklin Lakes Nature Preserve, nearby medical support includes The Valley Hospital and Hackensack University Medical Center. In addition, the intersection of Route 208 and I-287 allows for easy excursions to area cultural attractions and the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley. Lakes, mature trees, a variety of parks and nature reserves, and a small downtown surround the community, providing a great escape from city life.
The building’s floor plan was concepted by Moseley Architects to preserve crucial wetlands and provide the optimum layout for resident comfort and safety. The design also allows for a secure, enclosed courtyard to provide memory care residents with safe access to the outdoors.
The building’s façade was designed to blend into the surrounding residential neighborhood of Dutch Colonial and American Colonial styles. It was especially inspired by local historical icon “Storm House” (built 1840) that featured a stone base, variable siding, and metal roof accents. As height constraints were required to balance the community with the neighborhood, the design also features a crop roof with protruding dormers and undulating ceiling lines as a unique resident room feature.
“Protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the individual resident is the most important design aspect in any assisted living community. This design offers a safe and welcoming environment for each resident by providing ample daylight in all regularly occupied spaces as well as meeting the stringent oversight of New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs,” said Chris Rea of Moseley Architects. “The building’s unique circulation pattern also connects to outdoor amenities and offers the resident varied opportunities to exercise and socialize on a daily basis. Architecturally, the design addresses the human scale in the context of the surrounding neighborhood and adopts similar features & treatments on the main facades.”
The interior design scheme pulls inspiration from local landscapes and nature. Fabrics feature botanical patterns and a mix of traditional and modern styles in furniture, artwork, drapery, and accessories. Accessory and artwork pieces promote the “idea of collectibles” – things you collect throughout your lifetime. As residents often must give up personal items when downsizing and moving into this next stage of their life, the “collectibles concept” provides a cozy home-like environment that brings comfort and familiarity. Jewel-like tones such as emerald, navy, teal, pink, and gold promote a rich, bold, and enchanting environment. The art collection features many local artists and Bergen County archived images incorporating nature and landscapes.
Beautifully designed residences with large windows allow for ample natural light, along with inspiring views of the forested surroundings throughout the changing seasons. Bright, airy spaces and elegant, senior-friendly design prevail throughout the community, with features such as art by local artists, cozy seating, and beautifully landscaped outdoor spaces – including a walking path with benches as well as patios for lounging and dining. Wi-fi connectivity helps residents keep in touch with family and friends. Assisted Living neighborhood corridors display art themes such as local landscapes, gardens, and equestrian images to provide wayfinding for residents and team members while tying into the theme. Reminiscence neighborhoods focus on color-themed artwork to coordinate with colored wall coverings.
Each day at Sunrise of Franklin Lakes will be filled with opportunities for engaging activities in a variety of adaptable and comfortable spaces. Large, open common spaces invite spontaneity for games, puzzles, and socializing. The community offers a full calendar of engaging, programmed activities to stimulate mind, body, and spirit. An expansive outdoor terrace and a wellness room and spa add to the health and well-being of our residents.
In addition to an emergency response system, the Sunrise CareConnect electronic health record system and private Wellness Center embody the resident-centered approach to care and service. Highly personalized assisted living and memory care services are offered on two floors, with thoughtful touches like “way-finding wallpaper” in distinct colors chosen specifically to help aging eyes navigate the environment.
The Sunrise Signature Dining program brings residents three delicious meals served daily, prepared by a team of culinary experts in accordance with each resident’s tastes and dietary needs. In-house chefs utilize fresh herbs and seasonal ingredients on menus offering a variety of options, and tailored meals for individual tastes and dietary restrictions.
“A great deal of thought went into the design and function of the new Sunrise of Franklin Lakes in order to make it feel like home in every conceivable way,” said Margaret Quinn, Executive Director for Sunrise of Franklin Lakes. “We are immensely proud of our team of highly qualified and passionate individuals. They are a huge part of us being named ‘Best Places to Work’ by Fortune Magazine.”
Sunrise has been championing the quality of life for seniors for nearly 40 years and developing new communities for residents to call home is a well-honed program involving thoughtful design, programming, and top-level care. In addition, new Sunrise communities provide 80-100 new jobs, positively impacting the local business community.