Laurel Heights

Laurel Heights, located at 1515 Brevard Road in Laurel Park, NC, closed its doors after once serving as a small community for seniors, with room for up to 21 residents in fully furnished rooms or one-bedroom apartments, each with a kitchenette and cable TV. The community offered a range of living options over the years, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, respite care, and skilled nursing care, so residents could get help with everyday things like bathing, dressing, and taking their medicines, or could live more independently if they wished. Residents had 24-hour supervision with a full-time nurse, an emergency call system, and around-the-clock staff for safety and support, and could enjoy prepared meals in shared dining rooms, with special diets like diabetes accommodated, plus cleaning and linen services. The place focused on building close relationships among the staff, residents, and families, and aimed to give every person plenty of attention in a warm, home-like setting, so everybody felt part of a small community. Residents joined scheduled activities, joined in on community and resident-run events, used outdoor spaces like gardens or walking paths, and had beauty salon services and a mental wellness program. The community also arranged transportation for doctor visits and encouraged social time in both indoor and outdoor gathering areas, and even had a dedicated program called the Life Enhancement Program for those with Alzheimer's and dementia. WiFi and telephone service made it easy for seniors to keep in contact, and all outdoor and recreational areas let folks get fresh air or enjoy a movie night outside. Laurel Heights belonged to the Sunshine Retirement Living group, which ran similar facilities across the country, and has since closed. Back in early 2021, a plan was proposed for a "Home for the Aged" project that might bring new construction to the old Laurel Heights location, with up to 133 residential units, but for now, the original facility remains closed.