Pennybyrn at Maryfield
High Point, NC
Established in 1947, Pennybyrn at Maryfield started as 125-bed nursing facility with 29 cottages and was renovated into a full continuing care retirement community. The expansion included new 20 cottages, 131 independent living apartments, a community center with three dining options, a wellness center with an indoor pool, a clinic and rehabilitation center, and a meditation chapel.
Pennybyrn then transformed its institutional nursing home into the first culture change household of its kind in the state of North Carolina. The renovation reconfigured the building to create six households, each home to 19-22 residents. The households are organized around an indoor town square, which provides gathering space, a café, and other activity areas. Each household has its own front door maintaining the privacy of home. Common spaces within the households include a parlor with a fireplace, a living room with an entertainment center, dining area, an outdoor patio and garden area. Bedrooms are located at the rear of each household, so visitors never walk past a resident's private space unless invited.