Hartford Business Journal

10 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | AUGUST 21, 2023 Maley Hunt, chief operating officer, and Michael Smith, president and CEO, pose in front of ongoing construction at LiveWell's dementia care campus in Southington. PHOTO | MICHELLE TUCCITTO SULLO Redefining Dementia Care LiveWell bets $50M campus renovation will pave way for future of dementia care disease progression, Smith said. "People can benefit from some social connection," he said. "We give people resources so they can live at home." The project will allow LiveWell, which employs about 220 workers, to reach more people with dementia, both on and off campus, by expanding its adult day and home care capacity. That will improve its long-term finan- cial profile, Smith said. In fiscal 2021, ending Sept. 30, LiveWell reported nearly $22 million in revenue and $3.8 million in net income, according to its latest avail- able 990 tax form. Early decisions The state Department of Social Services has partnered with Mercer Government Human Services Consulting to better understand the future need and support for long-term healthcare services in Connecticut. Mercer has projected an increased demand for home care and communi- ty-based services, with an estimated need for 6,000 fewer nursing home beds in Connecticut by 2040. While the desire to live in institu- tional semi-private skilled nursing care is expected to continue to decline, dementia is becoming more common, notes Smith. As of 2020, there were roughly 55 million people worldwide with dementia, a number expected to grow to 78 million by 2030, according to London-based Alzheimer's Disease International. LiveWell's leadership said it aims to engage people with early impairment so they can make decisions about their future, as opposed to family members doing so when they are further along in their disease. Future-minded makeover Construction at the LiveWell campus started in 2022. The work is being done in phases, with the entire project on track to be finished by mid-2024. Before the project began, LiveWell offered 120 skilled nursing beds and 13 assisted living units. Once finished, this ratio will change dramatically to 76 skilled nursing beds and 65 assisted living units. The project also will increase campus capacity from 133 to 141 residents. The Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority in 2022 approved an $81.6 million bond package for LiveWell, with the bulk going toward the project's construc- tion and operation. The project includes a new 20,000-square-foot Center for Resil- ient Living, plus new homes. The last phase involves renovations to the original facility. The center will expand Live- Well's home and community-based services, which target both its resi- dents and nonresidents. The center's services aim to help slow down dementia's progression and give people hope, via in-person, virtual and hybrid programming. "Managing blood pressure, CT NURSING HOME FACILITY OCCUPANCY RATES BY COUNTY 2019 2020 2021 2022 HARTFORD 89% 75% 78% 82% NEW HAVEN 87% 74% 79% 86% MIDDLESEX 84% 75% 74% 77% Source: Connecticut Annual Nursing Facility Census By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo msullo@hartfordbusiness.com W hile many elder care facilities are struggling financially or even closing, dementia-focused LiveWell is in the midst of a massive $50 million expansion and renovation project at its campus in the Plantsville section of Southington. It's a major project in an industry that has faced many challenges — from financial woes to staffing shortages. Earlier this year, the Hughes Health and Rehabilitation Center in West Hartford announced it would close, citing factors such as higher costs, the trend toward home and commu- nity-based services, and declining occupancy and state assistance. But LiveWell sees its project as an investment to ensure its long- term financial viability and growth, by responding to future trends in health care and giving people what they want. "The places I do see that are closing haven't adapted to the changing expectations of clients," said Michael Smith, LiveWell's president and CEO. "You can't continue in (traditional) settings and expect to be vibrant in the future." LiveWell, a not-for-profit care provider that formed in 1990, was formerly known as the Alzheimer's Resource Center of Connecticut Inc. It is solely focused on providing services for people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Its 8-acre campus features nursing, assisted living and adult day facilities at 1261 South Main St. To align with changing customer preferences, LiveWell's expan- sion involves transitioning to more assisted living beds as opposed to nursing home beds. It is also providing more community services, to help support those with dementia who aim to stay at home as long as possible. People with dementia who still live at home run the risk of being isolated, which can be detrimental to

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