Valley Health Services' (VHS) new $8 million assisted living facility in Herkimer, N.Y., provides a dignified, serene, and interactive location where residents have access to a range of amenities. Services include personal care, emergency response, nursing care, case management services, as well as physical, occupational, and speech therapies.
Designed by MorrisSwitzer Environments for Health (Burlington, Vt.), the project is located on a 220-acre site with open fields, woods, and a pond for residents to enjoy. The facility embraces its Adirondack surroundings by incorporating regional influences and Craftsman style into the exterior design. Residents and guests are welcomed by an airy lobby and reception area that leads to a central main street corridor. Dining, activities, and public spaces are organized around this corridor to create a village feel for residents. This main street area is strategically separated from the residential areas to increase resident privacy.
The 46-studio apartments are designed to be private and comfortable, with a homelike atmosphere where residents can seek sanctuary as well as accommodate visitors and family members. To encourage interaction among residents, each wing includes a light-filled corner sunroom where residents can gather to converse, enjoy board games, and relax. The interiors pay homage to the history of the area, a display of historic photographs of the previous land owners and their farm are featured in the public area. Wood salvaged from the original barn that was on the site has been incorporated into bookshelves, mantles, and furnishings.
In addition to serving the immediate needs of the area, VHS and Bassett Healthcare Network are using this project to address future needs for both Herkimer’s aging population and a geriatric nursing shortage. The facility is designed to easily expand with additional units to meet growing demand. This location also includes an on-site training center for home health aides and nursing assistant certification. VHS will work with local institutions to bring in approximately 48 students a year to train in this hands-on setting.
