WESTBROOK – A new Westbrook residential facility focused on people with memory loss is trying to make the transition less painful for everyone involved.

Only a few days before opening on Oct. 22, Avita of Stroudwater, located off of Spring Street, is undergoing finishing touches.

Staff members are working in the “main hub,” which houses the central kitchen, a private dining area for parties, a media center for movies or meetings, a hair salon and a wi-fi center complete with a coffee-making station and refrigerator for visiting family members who need to get some work done.

Avita, which means “for life,” is designed to combine the comforts of home with upscale on-site amenities, an intimate knowledge of residents and a secure setting that puts residents and visitors at ease.

“We wanted to make a place for people to thrive,” said Liz Leonard, marketing director for Avita of Stroudwater. “We get to know our residents, what their hobbies and interests are and what motivates them. There is some reason behind every behavior. The better we get to know our residents (the better) we can help their comfort levels.”

Leonard’s favorite room is the sun porch, which features high, whitewashed ceilings and overlooks gardens.

“There will be rocking chairs outside,” Leonard said. “It all has a very nice New England feel. The outside is fenced off, but we have walking paths for people to use.”

From the main hub are the three residence areas. The first one to open will be Autumn, followed by Summer.

Autumn and Summer can each accommodate 23 residents, while Spring will house 24. The studio apartments include a private bathroom and can be shared by couples. Avita also offers companion suits.

Each residence hub features a space for technology training and an activities area that encourages residents to socialize “with a purpose” and in their own routine.

Each daily task is designed with memory loss taken into consideration. A fence runs the length of the facility, to prevent residents from getting lost, and each member of the Avita of Stroudwater staff has been cross-trained to deal with memory-related issues.

Residents receive up to an hour of personal care each day to help them dress, brush their teeth or simply re-acclimate themselves.

And mealtimes have been carefully planned. Besides a small kitchen area in the residence hubs, the master kitchen is housed in the main hub and offers a choice between two meals, each produced using local and fresh products.

Meals are shipped to each residence hub, and for those who need more assistance there is a smaller dining room off of the larger dining room in each of the living areas, so there is less stimulation and more help during meal times.

Activities are planned to accommodate the needs of individual residents and include exercise classes and gardening. In addition, activities will also be based on what residents like to do, or used to enjoy doing.

Angela Mastrella, the activities director for Avita, said she hopes the programs offered at Avita will also benefit the surrounding community.

“We try to provide an opportunity for them to do the things they love and fit into the world here,” Mastrella said. “We want to restore an interest they may have lost and give them a sense of purpose. Instead of just making a craft, they can sell it at a local craft fair.”

There will also be space in the spa for a Zen garden and aromatherapy, for times when residents need to take a break from all of the activities.

Leonard said Avita hadn’t planned on opening the second resident living area until after the opening of the facility, but the first area filled up quickly and Summer already has a few potential renters looking to move in as soon as the building is furnished, in the next month.

For more information visit www.avitaofstroudwater.com or come to the open house on Thursday Oct. 17 from 5 to 7pm.

Avita of Stroudwater is designed to help people with memory loss acclimate to their new environment.