Good Samaritan Society Water Valley Memory Care and Assisted Living Facility

Good Samaritan Society Water Valley Expansion

Designing for Comfort at Every Stage

PROJECT OVERVIEW

A Single Facility, Two Levels of Care

The Good Samaritan Society sought to expand Water Valley Senior Living Resort in northern Colorado with two new housing options in one state-of-the-art facility. A two-story, 40-bed assisted living community connects with a one-story, 16-bed licensed memory care community, together comprising 56,690 square feet. Residents, families, and providers all came to the process with distinct priorities – hominess and comfort on one side, high-quality care and operational standards on the other – and the design team used Evidence-Based Design principles to meet both, addressing scale, wayfinding, lighting, materials, and safety throughout.

ASSISTED LIVING

Designed for Independence and Connection

The assisted living community is organized as two neighborhoods that share a common chapel, multi-purpose activity room, dining room, fitness area, and salon, along with dedicated activity and support spaces for each neighborhood. The goal throughout was to preserve as much independence as possible while meeting each resident's appropriate care level. Because mobility needs vary, the design includes stairs between floors, with riser height, depth, and color and texture contrast carefully considered for safety.

To design with genuine empathy, the architects wore special glasses that simulate common eye diseases, experiencing firsthand the challenges of diminished sight. That exercise shaped decisions throughout the building: clearly distinguishable transitions in flooring, falls-conscious materials like carpet and luxury vinyl planking, and consistently adequate lighting, including well-lit pathways to restrooms. Even small details, like color and texture contrast on stair risers, were considered through this same lens of firsthand understanding. It's a small detail with an outsized impact on how safe and confident residents feel moving through their own home.

MEMORY CARE

Sensory-Rich Spaces That Support Wayfinding

Residents in the memory care wing require a greater level of nursing support, making visibility and quick access to residents essential – a need met with a centrally located nursing station. Because cognitively soothing environments have been shown to lessen confusion and disorientation, the design team layered in sensory cues throughout: kitchenettes that fill the space with the scent of baking, memory boxes at each resident's door to aid orientation, and plentiful glazing that keeps residents connected to the changing seasons. Outdoor access was treated with the same care, using safe pathway materials and non-toxic plantings, while artwork featuring local landmarks and nostalgic imagery reinforces wayfinding throughout the facility.

RESULT

Care, Comfort, and Security in One Home

The completed expansion complements the decade-old senior living resort with dedicated outreach to a more vulnerable senior population, offering care, comfort, and security in equal measure. The project also achieved the guidelines for the Quality Initiative Recognition program through the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living – a reflection of the thoughtful, evidence-based approach carried through every stage of design.