The memory care facility will be located in a community called Mueller, which is located in Austin, Texas. Mueller is a designed community in the northeast-central portion of the city. Every aspect of the site, is inspired by the friendly and vibrant urban environment of Austin. Mueller is full of outdoor recreation, live music, restaurants, parks, and retail stores. The community is only a few miles from Austin’s university and the downtown. The overall village combines residential housing, mixed-use development, restaurants, and green spaces. Mueller’s total population is 5,396 and its median age is 32 (Austin, 2019).
USM Field Trip / Castle Hills Graffiti Wall - Austin Texas
There are some senior living facilities in the area including memory care and active adult apartments. Poets Walk Round Rock is one of the closest memory care communities in the area of Mueller. Some other senior communities in the area include Wildflower Terrace, Arden Courts of Austin, Ledgestone Senior Living, Tech Ridge Oaks, Legacy Oaks, Pecan Ridge Memory Care, and Pavilion at Great Hills (Find & Compare Options in Your Area, 2019).
The median income for Mueller’s residents is $53,881.00 which is relatively good. However, the median cost for memory care in Texas depending on the location is around $61,300 which is $1,300 higher than the national average cost. The community also offers many other types of senior living communities that fit different budgets (Mueller Demographics, 2019).
Austin’s memory care communities provide the standard amenities such as beauty and barber salon, fitness area, and assistance for different activities including the Activities of Daily Living (ADL). However, more senior living communities should be placed for the upcoming senior generation (baby boomers) which will be a large generation inhabiting these types of facilities in the near future (Find & Compare Options in Your Area, 2019).
Site
Elk Grove. Carlton Senior Living. (2019).
Mueller is an urban village that is currently under development. It has been successfully growing economically and it is envisioned as a sustainable community. The main streets that define the village are the I-35, East 51st Street, Manor Road, and Airport Boulevard. The community is home to parks, retail shops, and residential areas. Many attractions and business bring many tourists every day.
For several years, with the support of the surrounding neighborhoods, Mueller’s planning and development have been possible. Mueller is home to 5 main apparel stores, 15 restaurant and coffee shops, and approximately 18 other renamed facilities that offer banking services, dental assistance, and beauty salons (Regional Retail District, 2019).
More Demographics
Mueller Demographics (2019).
Mueller Demographics (2019).
Mueller Demographics (2019).
Mueller Demographics (2019).
Weather/climate, views, and surroundings.
69.4°F is the average temperature in Austin with an average annual precipitation of 34.25in. This means that the weather in Austin is warm and humid most of the year. Summers in Austin are hot and oppressive with temperatures that frequently rise to 90°F and winters are relatively mild and short. During the winter, Austin gets very windy but rarely hits temperatures below 30°F. May and September are the months when the heaviest rains occur in Austin; on some occasion’s thunderstorms bring flash flooding (WeatherSpark, 2019).
WeatherSpark (2019).
WeatherSpark (2019).
Regional Character
Austin’s architectural style is mostly modern. This is because Mueller is a relatively a new community. It is the largest neighborhood in the world to become Stage 3 LEED-certified (Austin, 2019). Therefore, most of the buildings in the area apply green and LEED principles. H-E-B, for example, is a modern LEED-certified building. The building earned points for its innovative technology and design. Definitely, the city prioritizes natural and outdoor areas; multiple tranquil walkways and waterfalls make up this active and beautiful city (Regional Retail District, 2019).
H-E-B Austin, Texas
Important Events
In 2004, the Master Development Agreement was adopted by the City Council. Four years later, many commercial buildings started opening their doors giving an extra boost for the economy and commerce to grow. Wildflower Terrace was the first senior living community opened in Mueller’s area. It opened in 2012 offering apartments and amenities that include one- and two-bedroom apartments, walk-in closets, and, striking designer Finishes. In 2016, Mueller was recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council as the world’s largest and Texas’ first LEED-ND, Stage 3 Gold neighborhood (History Mueller, 2019). Many construction projects are currently taking place, complementing Muller’s active urban environment (History Mueller, 2019).
Goals
1. To provide spaces that create a sense of belonging.
-Residential design features.
-Memory boxes.
2. To provide spaces where seniors can enjoy social and physical activities.
-Provide exercise areas.
-Living Spaces.
3. To create meaningful relationships with neighbors and staff.
-Colors and wayfinding system.
- Create an inclusive environment with flexible spaces.
4. To create a healthy environment that encourages independence.
-Provide natural lighting.
-Outdoor environments that encourage walking.
Concept Statement
The Home to Remember | Memory Care Community will be located in the community of Mueller. It will provide memory care services for residents with Alzheimer's and dementia. For the design, lighting, colors, and textures will be considered and managed to avoid creating spaces that overstimulate seniors. Seniors with dementia respond in a different way towards design elements.
Therefore, the community will not create environments that are too large to avoid seniors feeling anxious, stressed, or confused. Also, environments that encourage socialization and interaction will be incorporated. Shared dining kitchen areas, outdoor views, and other spaces will promote exercise, walking, and exposure to natural light. To avoid overstimulation, neutral colors will be used.
Light grays, blues, and greens, with soft surfaces, will be the main theme of the community. The overall design will be modern, but it will still feel homey and comfortable. Lastly, Home to Remember will be equipped with quiet, small, and intimate areas, where residents could minimize or stop their mental disease progression.
Sources
Austin | About. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.muelleraustin.com/about/austin/
Find & Compare Options in Your Area. (2019.). Retrieved from https://list.aplaceformom.com/
History | About. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.muelleraustin.com/about/history/
Lonestarsocial. (2013, May 30). Austin, Texas Mueller Development. Retrieved from https://austinportfoliorealestate.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/austin-texas-mueller-development/#more-35
Mueller Demographics. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.point2homes.com/US/Neighborhood/TX/Austin/Mueller-Demographics.html#IncomeFinancial
Regional Retail District | Retail. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.muelleraustin.com/retail/regional/
WeatherSpark.com. (2019). Retrieved from https://weatherspark.com/y/8004/Average-Weather-in-Austin-Texas-United-States-Year-Round