People suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can often become easily confused, forgetting who they are, where they are and how to take care of themselves.

Avita of Stroudwater, a new assisted-living facility specializing in memory care, is set to open this fall in Westbrook on Spring Street next to the Springbrook Center, a nursing home and assisted-living facility.

“We typically do cater to a more social model. Residents are not holed up in their apartments. We encourage everyone to participate in activities and we have a full-time activities coordinator,” said Jennifer Ryan, marketing manager at Avita.

Avita specializes in early to mid-onset Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

The new facility will offer 60 apartments. Ten will be semi-private, so two people will share an apartment with separate bedrooms, said Shawn Bertram, vice president of operations.

“These type of apartments work much better for those people who are not able to pay the full rate but who still need their own private space,” said Bertram.

He said many of the programs offered at Avita will help patients continue to feel a sense of independence while participating in group activities that focus on things they’ve done their whole lives, like baking and gardening.

One of Avita’s programs is called “Memory Making Baking.” Residents mix together ingredients for baked goods, like cookies, the same way they would at home.

“We incorporate touch and smell into many of our activities. We also participate a lot with local farmers as part of our ‘Eat Fresh, Eat Local’ program. We haven’t chosen our local provider yet, but we will be looking soon to partner up with a farm in the community,” Ryan said.

Bertram said he always tells families the earlier they begin the discussion about assisted care facilities, the better, especially for those with memory problems. This allows the staff to get to know the individual’s personality, likes and dislikes to tailor a program for that person.

A refundable deposit of $100 will secure an apartment. Ryan said seven people have put a deposit on apartments so far, leaving 63 spots still available. The cost of a studio at Avita on Stroudwater starts at $5,800 per month. Ryan said Avita has applied to MaineCare and is waiting for approval.

Avita on Stroudwater will have three different “neighborhoods” named Spring, Summer and Autumn. The plan is for one neighborhood to open and as it fills up, the next neighborhood will begin accepting new tenants.

The neighborhoods are self-containing, complete with a kitchen, living area, activities room, landscaped fenced-in courtyards with meditation and work gardens, a beauty and barbershop, an Internet cafe? and laundry services.

Bertram said Avita decided to open its second location in Westbrook after a feasibility study was done in and around the greater Portland area. The first location is in Needham, Mass.

“We found the Westbrook, Portland, Scarborough areas are was being under served. This facility is part of a potentially much bigger planned senior complex. It was in everyone’s best interest to start with this and expand more down the road,” Bertram.

The facility is a joint venture of Burlington, Mass.-based Northbridge Companies and Portland-based Sandy River Co.

An artist’s rendering of what Avita of Stroudwater will look like after the building is complete in the fall.