Tucked into the Plaza 183 shopping center lies a portal back through time for the 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 transition 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 staff. Mornings begin with a continental breakfast 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 said. “When they come here, they can be very helpful for us and find some independence being here with other members in their age group.”
The facility partners with Senior Helpers of Round Rock for its staff and always has a nurse on staff. Town Square is open five days a week and offers full-day sessions only. While seniors can join for a single day a week, Rollins recommends starting with three to five days so seniors can get into a routine. As of June, the facility is also now accepting Veterans Administration Benefits.
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.
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.
