Northwest Austin Edition | April 2023

BUSINESS FEATURE Town Square Northwest Austin Vintage town takes seniors back in time T ucked into the Plaza 183 shopping center lies a portal back through time for the

BY GRACE DICKENS

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE

Town Square features 13 unique areas for seniors to spend time in throughout the day.

CHUMLEY’S GARAGE

A 1950s Cadillac CITY HALL Oce space, veterans memorial walls CRAFT CORNER Guided craft lessons HILDA’S GARDEN SHOP Indoor-outdoor space for gardening GLENNER PARK Indoor recreation space with turf oors HEALTH CLUB Chairs for seated yoga, various low- impact exercises LIBRARY Books, pictures, word puzzles LITTLE BLUE HOUSE Replicated family living room with couch, music and TV PET SHOP Area for relaxation RECREATION CENTER Pool table, Skee-Ball, board games ROSIE’S DINER Area for continental breakfast and catered lunch SPINNER’S MUSIC Room to listen to 1950s music and play instruments STARLITE THEATER Room for screenings of old Hollywood lms 10 11 12 13 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

said. “When they come here, they can be very helpful for us and nd some independence being here with other members in their age group.” The facility partners with Senior Helpers of Round Rock for its sta and always has a nurse on sta. Town Square is open ve days a week and oers full-day sessions only. While seniors can join for a single day a week, Rollins recommends starting with three to ve days so seniors can get into a routine. Rollins decided to open the facility in 2022 and enlisted the help of her sisters Reodica and Elinore Han, who serves as the activity director and a co-owner. The three recognized the need for senior care in the area after their father had a major stroke and required constant care. “A couple of years ago, we needed something exactly like this for our dad, and there [weren’t] many options,” Reodica said. “In [Filipino] culture, we really try to keep our parents at home.” After their father’s death 2021, Rollins said she set her mind to creating more innovative options for senior care. “You can stay home and save money longer so that if you ever need to put them in assisted living, you have [money available],” Rollins said. Town Square Northwest Austin will host an open house from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on May 31 for the community to learn more about the facility.

elderly in Northwest Austin with old-timey shops, classic tunes and a 1950s Cadillac. Town Square Northwest Austin is an adult day care center that provides care for senior individuals. The facility specializes in assisting those with cognitive degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, but is open to all seniors, owner Emily Rollins said. With its focus on memory recall, Town Square invests heavily in reminiscence therapy, Rollins said. The reminiscence approach presents seniors with objects, movies and activities they engaged with in their formative years to recall memories. “Those memories are so ingrained that it helps you even today,” Rollins said. “You might not necessarily be able to articulate it, but you could feel it as well as be able to recall some things.” After entering through the transi- tion room, which allows seniors to travel back to the past, seniors spend their day on a variety of activities laid out hourly by the center’s sta. Morn- ings begin with a continental break- fast and the Pledge of Allegiance, and throughout the day, seniors can move through the facility’s 13 special areas. “It’s just a great place for our senior community to have purpose,” Center Director and co-owner Elisa Reodica

From left: Elisa Reodica, Emily Rollins and Elinore Han are the owners of Town Square Northwest Austin.

COURTESY TOWN SQUARE NORTHWEST AUSTIN

Chumley’s Garage features a fully restored 1950s Cadillac.

GRACE DICKENSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Glenner Lawn is located in the middle of the shopping center.

GRACE DICKENSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Town Square 13450 Research Blvd., Ste. 106, Austin 512-375-4328 www.townsquare.net Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Sat.-Sun.

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NORTHWEST AUSTIN EDITION • MAY 2023