United HomeCare, a non-profit home health and community care organization, wanted to make a statement when it broke into the assisted living market in early 2016.
Its new 89,000-square-foot community, The Residences of United HomeCare in Miami, features 122 studio and one-bedroom apartments, terrazzo flooring, modern furniture, and all the amenities residents expect today, including a fitness center, library, activities room, and on-site chef.
But it didn’t stop there. In the lobby and first-floor lounge, Maria Torre, executive director of The Residences of United HomeCare, curated a collection of contemporary Caribbean artwork by Cuban artists with South Florida ties. “I wanted to open up with a wow factor,” she says.
The 18 pieces, on consignment for six months, feature the work of six contemporary artists, including Sergio Payares, Segundo Planes, Maximo Caminero, Angel Delgado, and Tomás Esson.
Raul Mas, business development executive for United HomeCare, says research tying art to a positive effect on seniors and delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease was one of the driving factors in deciding to put so much time and effort into the art program for the new community. He says it’s been well received by residents and families and is even drawing in outside community members.
As United HomeCare looks to open additional sites, Mas says it will continue its art focus. “We decided it will be a signature part of being with us,” he says.
Anne DiNardo is senior editor of Healthcare Design. She can be reached at [email protected].
