The Oak Cottage Santa Barbara Opening End Of March

Work crews are nearing the final stage of The Oak Cottage, a Craftsman style, 40 unit community on the 1800 block of De La Vina, serving seniors with memory impairment.

“Where we’re different … we are focused entirely on providing memory care for people that have cognitive limitations related to aging,” said Julie McGeever, Vice President of Operations for Heritage House, an assisted-living facility near Goleta and a team member with Oak Cottage.

It’s taken nearly six years but next month, seniors with Alzheimers and dementia will be among the dozens of residents who will call this facility “home.”

“We’re extremely excited,” said owner Mark Maldonado. “It’s been a long journey but we’re finally at the end.”

Maldonado and his wife purchased the property six years ago and began exploring development options with various architects. Jay Blatter, a lead architect with Hochhauser Blatter, suggested developing senior housing for locals needing memory care.

“It’s an infill project so we had to find ways to be sensitive to the neighborhood and really wanted to make a beautiful Craftsman style statement to the street,” said Blatter, who was hired on to design the project.

“We’ve had family members that have had … Alzheimers and so it is something near and dear to our hearts,” said Maldonado. “We feel it’s going to be a phenomenal addition to the community … a badly needed facility for the city of Santa Barbara.”

Blatter said the two-story, 29 thousand square foot facility is made of mostly green, non-toxic, recyclables, with special care given to details such as shelved molding at chair rail height for residents to lean on while walking through the building; A recessed “memory box” for family mementos is built into the wall at the entrance to each unit.

The interior is divided into three distinct “neighborhoods,” each with a community area for parties and get-togethers and a small spa. Some units share bathroom accomodations. Food will be prepared in the commercial grade kitchen and a staff of 42 will work in three shifts.

“It’s an environment that’s really going to foster a very personable relationship between staff, family and residents,” said Blatter. “The quality of life is really what we’re gearing all the design towards.”

The number of people living with memory impairment is sobering: one in three seniors will die from some form of the disease.

Measures were taken to provide a comforting, homey environment. Lots of natural light filters through windows on the first and second floors from the very object that helped give the property its name: A 60 year old oak tree.

“The tree was a priority for not only the community but for the owners,” said Craig Shallanberger, general contractor for the development. “It really serves to soften the building and create a nice open space in front of the property.”

A soft opening will be held March 9th; Oak Cottage will beging accepting residents on March 30th.

McGeever said resident referrals will come from a variety of resources including Visiting Nurses of Santa Barbara, Hospice of Santa Barbara and the local network of clergy and physicians.

The Oak Cottage will eventually offer hospice services.