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In addition to fresh coats of paint, the Landing's lobby carpeting was pulled up and flooring put down to make it easier for those using walkers and wheelchairs.
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Bathtubs were switched out for showers with benches to make them easier to use.

Landing at Laurel Lake Celebrates Renovations

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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The stovetops were removed from some of the kitchenettes as safety measures. 
LEE, Mass. — The Landing at Laurel Lake has made renovations to its assisted living building to better help residents continue living with some independence.
 
Some of the changes include carpet removal, shifting tubs to walk-ins, and taking out some stovetops. 
 
The Landing hosted an open house last Thursday for the community to come in and see the renovations.
 
"It's really bringing people in to see the renovations so they know that we have something really cool in our community," said Executive Director Matthew Pinto, a dementia specialist who was hired about six months ago.
 
"The importance of the new renovations is to modernize some things to make it simpler for them. Like the rooms, we are trying to do away with the transitions in the rooms for people that have wheelchairs."
 
Residents sometimes had trouble with the carpeting if using a walker or wheelchair, it's easier for some to walk into their shower, and the stovetops would sometimes be left on. 
 
Pinto said the residents had a hand in the renovations, like helping choose paint colors and what they would like the facility change, which will help future residents with their stays.
 
"All the renovations had one thing in mind, how the residents can feel part of what's going on so really they were part of the decision making," he said.
 
The Landing at 600 Laurel St. has 53 units, 13 of which are special care. It houses a memory care unit that assists individuals with Alzheimer's and other dementia-related illnesses. It works in conjunction with adjancent Lee Healthcare, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center. 
 
Both for-profit facilities are owned by Next Step Healthcare, which operates more than a dozen assisted, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers in the eastern part of the state.  
 
This isn't the last of the renovations, said Pinto, the facility is also looking to add a spa area and salon/barbershop for residents to enjoy.
 

Tags: assisted living,   

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New Universally Accessible Sheffield Trail To Be Highlighted on Guided Walk

SHEFFIELD, Mass. — The Sheffield Land Trust will hold its annual Fall Property Walk on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 1 pm at its Ashley Falls Woods property off Rte 7A in Ashley Falls.  
 
The guided walk will highlight the completion of the first phase of upgrading a section of trail to be universally accessible.  Signage and other improvements will follow in subsequent phases.
 
Join guides Elia Delmolino and Neal Chamberlain to experience this new recreational opportunity.
 
Neal Chamberlain is the long-time Land Trust volunteer who guides the maintenance of the trails, and Elia DelMolino is from Greenagers, whose youth work crews have been busy this summer and fall in transforming 0.3 miles of the existing trail into an ADA-compliant accessible trail. The trail of compacted stone dust wanders through mowed meadows and forest, with a new bridge and boardwalk crossing the stream and wet areas.
 
The Land Trust thanked Greenagers, for making this trail accessible and the Berkshire Environmental Endowment, Eagle Fund, Fields Pond Foundation, and MassTrails for the grants that helped fund the work.
 
Before the walk, enjoy seasonal refreshments. Please wear good walking shoes and warm clothing.
 
This event is free, open to the public and family friendly.
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