An assisted living facility for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia and memory loss is planned for a forested plot of land on River Road in Bethesda.
Artis Senior Living, founded in 2012, is proposing to build the one-floor, 40,000-square-foot facility at 8301 River Road.
The concept comes from the Bainum family, also behind Rockville-based Choice Hotels International and the Manor Care retirement home communities.
There are 25 Artis facilities in operation, planning or under construction nationwide. If approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board and the county’s Hearing Examiner, the River Road building would be the company’s first in Maryland.
The company boasts individually designed programs and “a compassionate dedication to each resident’s comfort and needs.”
According to documents filed with the Planning Department, the project is designed “from the inside out to maximize the freedom and independence of residents.”
A maximum of 18 employees will be working at any one time. The building will be divided into four sections with 72 beds around a core that includes a salon, barbershop and health center.
There will be a large community room and arts and crafts area, plus a large back porch and a central kitchen.
Building the facility would require the removal of one tree and impact six others. County planners recommended the project be approved with conditions on forest impacts and a limit to the amount of employees who can be working at the building at one time.
