MCH Unveils Friendship Place

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, along with Monroe Community Hospital (MCH) Executive Health Director Alyssa Tallo, today celebrated the opening of Friendship Place, a newly renovated 25-bed, 17,000-square-foot memory care unit thoughtfully designed to enhance the quality of life for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease, dementia and other cognitive impairments.

“Anyone who has a loved one living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia knows the challenges that come with providing safe, dignified, high-quality care,” said County Executive Adam Bello. “But now with the opening of Friendship Place, that’s the exact kind of care that we’ll be providing in Monroe County. Alongside the leadership team at Monroe Community Hospital, we have made it a priority to ensure our neighbors living with these diseases can live in a facility where they are not only treated with respect, but also in a space that feels like home.”

The opening marks a significant milestone in MCH's ongoing commitment to providing compassionate, person-centered care through specialized environments, evidence-based practices and highly trained staff.

"Friendship Place represents our vision for the future of dementia care," said Alyssa Tallo, Executive Health Director of Monroe Community Hospital. "Every aspect of this neighborhood was intentionally designed to promote comfort, independence, dignity and safety while supporting the unique needs of residents and their families. Combined with our specialized staff training, Friendship Place creates an environment where residents can truly thrive."

Friendship Place builds on years of planning and collaboration that began with a grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, which enabled MCH to partner with internationally recognized dementia care experts to help shape the neighborhood’s physical design and provide specialized education to staff. The $2.68 million project also received support from a New York State Health Care Transformation Grant.

During a reception today, several community partners, MCH residents and staff toured and learned more about Friendship Place.

“Monroe Community Hospital is an anchor institution in the Greater Rochester community,” said Arlene Wilson, Senior Director of Programs with the Alzheimer’s Association of Rochester & the Finger Lakes. “Friendship Place is the newest component, providing a more warmly lit, welcoming physical space. The additional touches designed into this space create opportunities for connection, belonging, and meaningful engagement for individuals and families impacted by dementia.”

Designed using best practices, Friendship Place features:

• Biodynamic lighting that supports natural circadian rhythms to encourage healthy sleep patterns and improve mood.

• Thoughtfully selected colors and intuitive design elements that support wayfinding and resident independence.

• Memory boxes outside each resident's room to promote orientation and recognition of personal space.

• Open, welcoming gathering areas that encourage socialization and meaningful engagement.

• A state-of-the-art bathing suite designed to create a calming, comfortable experience.

• Additional private rooms that enhance privacy and dignity.

• Concealed staff work areas, supply storage and meal delivery systems that minimize overstimulation and create a more home-like environment.

• Design features that promote safe wandering while preserving freedom of movement within the neighborhood.

Residents also have access to MCH's enclosed patio and garden, allowing individuals to safely enjoy fresh air and outdoor recreation in an independent, protected setting.

Friendship Place reflects MCH’s nearly 200-year legacy of serving the community's most vulnerable residents, from infants through centenarians, through innovative, compassionate care.

About MCH

Monroe Community Hospital is a county-owned health care facility providing a comprehensive range of services for individuals with complex and chronic health conditions, including long-term skilled nursing care, short-term rehabilitation, hospice, memory care, and specialty care. With 566 licensed beds, MCH is one of the largest skilled nursing facilities in the nation and traces its roots to 1826. For more information about MCH, please visit www.monroehosp.org.