CRL Senior Living Communities held a groundbreaking in mid-September for a new $20 million Alzheimer’s/memory care and assisted living residence in Morton Grove, Ill.

CRL Senior Living Communities has broken ground on an Alzheimer’s/memory care and assisted living facility in Morton Grove, Ill., a northern suburb of Chicago. North Grove Manor will offer 84 large private and semiprivate suites with a total of 112 beds.

Scheduled to open in the fall of 2011, the $20 million facility will offer a host of amenities designed to improve the well being of residents, including private bathrooms with walk-in showers, activity stations, outdoor walking paths and sensory gardens.

The four-story facility will encompass 74,000 sq. ft. The floor designated for memory care will feature access to an enclosed outdoor courtyard and tall, circular hallways that enable residents to safely explore their surroundings. Staff members will be specially trained in managing the psychological and safety needs of Alzheimer’s patients and other residents with dementia.

“As an organization, we have a long record of helping seniors — including those suffering from memory loss — lead fuller, more meaningful lives,” stated CRL president Ari Weinberger in a news release. “The well being and dignity of each individual is at the heart of everything we do, from our social activities to our nutritional programs.”

With offices in Neenah, Wis., and Chicago, Ill., CRL specializes in operating and managing senior care residences. The private company currently owns and operates 14 communities in Wisconsin, including residences in Neenah, Oshkosh, Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls, Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, Kenosha, Greenfield, Green Bay, De Forest, and two facilities in McHenry, Ill.