CJE SeniorLife, in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago/Jewish United Fund, recently announced: Karmel, the first Jewish-sponsored continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in the Chicago area, with plans to open in 2012.  The full continuum of care community, to be located on the present Weinberg Community for Senior Living property in Deerfield, Illinois that will embrace all levels of care on a single campus: independent living, assisted living, dementia care and skilled nursing.  The new community will add 219 independent living residences in a contemporary seven-story building and a skilled nursing center with 40 state-of-the-art private rooms to complement the existing Weinberg assisted living and dementia care residences, both of which will undergo major renovations. The campus will also expand its current Adult Day Services North program for community members with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

“We are overjoyed at the positive feedback from hundreds of older adults who have attended preliminary informational sessions held in the past year throughout the community,” said CJE SeniorLife President/CEO Mark D. Weiner. “The desire for a campus that provides a full spectrum of care, built upon Jewish values and traditions, has been overwhelming.”

Designed by the architectural firm Perkins Eastman, the Karmel campus will be an outstanding example of “green architecture,” utilizing sustainable materials in construction and interior design. Karmel will strive for LEED-certification, meaning the building meets national benchmarks for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” while also promoting a “green” operational philosophy, incorporating water efficiency, re-use of materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, recycling, waste management, high efficiency lighting, and use of local products and vendors.