Brookside Care Center

CASE STUDY

BROOKSIDE CARE CENTER

TRANSFORMING THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND CREATING A COMFORTABLE
HOME FOR RESIDENTS

MISSION: PROJECT STATS

In order to stay competitive and gain market share, Kenosha Kenosha, WI
County’s Brookside Care Center recognized the need to 125,000 sq ft
modernize their facility and model of care. Learning from market Completed: March 2018
studies that rehabilitation services are going to be their profit
center, Brookside tried for years to expand services, but never had Project Team: EUA, RTM
space within their existing building. Engineering, Pierce Engineers

SEAMLESS DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION • 2-story, 48-unit rehabilitation
center + gym
Working with the County Board through approvals, EUA aided
Brookside in expanding services with a new 48-unit, two-story • 1-story, 24-unit Assisted
rehabilitation center and converted the existing resident wing into Living CBRF
a rehabilitation gym that now acts as a connection between the
new construction and existing structure. Adding to the continuum • 118-units Skill Nursing Facility
of care is a new one-story Community Based Retirement Facility • 33-unit Memory Support
(CBRF) with 24 units, a parking lot and entrance; separating the
entity from the rehabilitation center. Assisted Living (MSAL)

A multi-phased approach allowed the team to deliver the
expansion within budget while keeping occupancy at full
functionality for residents. Wings were turned into temporary
households during construction, and new household rooms
accommodated two residents for a limited time during
construction, reducing the time frame by one year.



TRANSFORMING A BUILDING
INTO A HOME

Built in the mid-1990s, Brookside’s original nursing home emulated a
healthcare facility featuring a centralized nursing station with various
activity spaces surrounding the core. Though this clinical layout
allowed staff visibility and access to residents, it contributed to creating
a noisy environment with low privacy that ultimately was not conducive
to providing a home-like experience for residents.

In order to improve the quality of life at Brookside and truly create a
home, the central nursing station was replaced with a bistro featuring
various seating, a fireplace, food and activities. This new café setting
offers a completely different experience for residents that encouraging
both interaction and independence.

Additionally, two former corridors were transformed into decentralized
households with their own dining and programming spaces that are
smaller and more intimate. Introducing textures like tile and stone with
pops of color contributes to improving the hospitable-feel for residents.



DESIGNING FOR The biggest impact on memory care residents at Brookside Care Center
MEMORY CARE was the renovation of two wings specific to dementia residents’ and their
needs. Using evidence-based design strategies to reduce confusion and
engage memory, EUA re-imagined the two previously isolated wings and
designed them to open up the existing space to be connected, forming a
loop with a secure centralized courtyard, providing a safe outdoor space.
The therapeutic setting encourages movement and engagement between
residents and with the outdoors.
A household model of care was introduced where residents have dining
and living spaces a short walk away from the resident rooms. Memory
boxes outside of each room are filled with personal belongings, engaging
memory and helping caregivers learn more about their residents.

.

A PLACE FOR CURRENT + FUTURE CAREGIVERS
As a Center for Teaching Excellence, Brookside Care Center has a longstanding connection
with University of Wisconsin-Parkside’s nursing program and allows students to apply their
nursing education and gain practical experience at Brookside. With this partnership, a dedicated
administrative area was necessary to provide an adequate work and learning space. EUA designed
a centralized space benefitting both staff and students and is fundamental in educating the next
generation of caregivers.

333 E Chicago Street | Milwaukee, WI 53202 | 414.271.5350

milwaukee : madison : denver eua.com