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In addition to fresh coats of paint, the Landing's lobby carpeting was pulled up and flooring put down to make it easier for those using walkers and wheelchairs.
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Bathtubs were switched out for showers with benches to make them easier to use.

Landing at Laurel Lake Celebrates Renovations

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
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The stovetops were removed from some of the kitchenettes as safety measures. 
LEE, Mass. — The Landing at Laurel Lake has made renovations to its assisted living building to better help residents continue living with some independence.
 
Some of the changes include carpet removal, shifting tubs to walk-ins, and taking out some stovetops. 
 
The Landing hosted an open house last Thursday for the community to come in and see the renovations.
 
"It's really bringing people in to see the renovations so they know that we have something really cool in our community," said Executive Director Matthew Pinto, a dementia specialist who was hired about six months ago.
 
"The importance of the new renovations is to modernize some things to make it simpler for them. Like the rooms, we are trying to do away with the transitions in the rooms for people that have wheelchairs."
 
Residents sometimes had trouble with the carpeting if using a walker or wheelchair, it's easier for some to walk into their shower, and the stovetops would sometimes be left on. 
 
Pinto said the residents had a hand in the renovations, like helping choose paint colors and what they would like the facility change, which will help future residents with their stays.
 
"All the renovations had one thing in mind, how the residents can feel part of what's going on so really they were part of the decision making," he said.
 
The Landing at 600 Laurel St. has 53 units, 13 of which are special care. It houses a memory care unit that assists individuals with Alzheimer's and other dementia-related illnesses. It works in conjunction with adjancent Lee Healthcare, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center. 
 
Both for-profit facilities are owned by Next Step Healthcare, which operates more than a dozen assisted, skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers in the eastern part of the state.  
 
This isn't the last of the renovations, said Pinto, the facility is also looking to add a spa area and salon/barbershop for residents to enjoy.
 

Tags: assisted living,   

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Berkshire Special Olympics Returns to Monument Mountain

iBerkshires.com Sports
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. – Hundreds of athletes of all ages converged at Monument Mountain Regional High School Wednesday for the 45th annual Berkshire County Special Olympics meet.
 
Runners, jumpers and throwers from throughout the county put themselves to the test and were recognized for their accomplishments.
 
As always, one of the highlights of the day was the banner parade, when Special Olympians from various teams make their way around the track to be honored by the fans in attendance.
 
This year, the newly-created Lee High School/Monument Mountain Unified Sports team had the honor of leading the athletes behind a contingent of local law enforcement officers.
 
Unified Sports, an initiative of Special Olympics and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, allows students with intellectual disabilities to compete in basketball in the winter and track in the summer alongside peers without disabilities while representing their schools.
 
Coaches varsity student-athletes from around South County participated in Wednesday’s event, helping to coordinate competition on two sides of the track and throughout the infield.
 
This year’s meet was dedicated to the memory of longtime Special Olympian Michele Adler, who competed for the Berkshire County-based Red Raiders team for more than 20 years and represented Massachusetts as a bowler at the 2010 USA Games.
 
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