A grand opening celebration occurred earlier this month at Westwood Inn Senior Living in Macomb Township. The facility includes rooms for independent living, assisted living and memory care.
Photo by Alex Szwarc
Senior living facility opens in Macomb Township
By: Alex Szwarc | Macomb Township Chronicle | Published October 28, 2021
Westwood Inn co-owner Dan Myers, with microphone, said he was aiming for the senior living community to have more of an upscale feel. Construction of the facility began in 2019.
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — As Macomb Township's population grows, so does the need for senior living care.
A grand opening ribbon cutting was held Oct. 13 at Westwood Inn Senior Living in Macomb Township.
The facility is on 23 Mile Road, east of Romeo Plank Road, next to the Macomb Township Public Safety building, which opened in September.
Westwood is a licensed Home for the Aged and is a community that includes independent living, assisted living and memory care.
Westwood Inn co-owner Dan Myers said the land was purchased in 2009.
"We negotiated with the township to get it rezoned because it was originally residential," he said. "We've been working on design since 2015."
Construction of the facility began in 2019 on the eight acres.
Myers said this is the first Westwood Inn in Macomb County.
"We have other business interests, Michigan Production Machining, down the road and own a real estate development in the surrounding area," he said.
Myers said that he was aiming for the senior living community to have more of an upscale feel.
"We think we've assembled the premiere staff in the tri-county region," he said. "We have people with experience from several different facilities. The level of care we are able to provide is second to none."
Once fully staffed, about 75 people will be employed at the facility. Myers said it has 147 licenses for folks to reside at the facility. About 30 people were living there in mid-October.
U.S. Census Bureau data released in August reveals that, in Macomb Township, 12.8% of the population is over the age of 65.
Fellow owner Kevin West said the manufacturing facility came to Macomb Township in 1989 and watched the township flourish.
"We have three manufacturing plants in the township," he said. "We saw a big need for something like this in the community and wanted to bring a high-end assisted memory care and independent living to the area, and here we are."
West added that the facility's model is "like you never left home."
"It's a place for families to feel comfortable, and they are invited at any time so their family members can be part of the community," he said. "We try to base all our activities to make sure the members of the community are staying busy."
West said the vision behind the facility was to bring something plush, vibrant and alive to the community.
"There was a big need for it," he said. "When we started this process on our first go-around, we scratched the plans and didn't see the vision. We brought on another team, started the process over again and built it to where it is today."
When asked what excites him most about being at this point of the development, Myers said it's seeing the residents move in, being in a brand-new and welcoming environment.
For West, he indicated it's terrific seeing the community being built from the ground up.
"When I come here and see them mingling and eating together, making new friends, it's a good feeling," West said.
Macomb Township Supervisor Frank Viviano said the township has experienced a large population boom over the last three decades.
"The population that started that boom is still in need of facilities like this," he said. "It's beautiful here, and I already told the owners that I'm picking out a room."
The supervisor said that any time a project of this size is completed, there's a certain sense of accomplishment.
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said it's exciting to see the growth of Macomb County.
"The last census data had Macomb County as one of the fastest growing counties in Michigan, and Macomb Township happens to be one of the largest growing townships," he said. "To see this facility and what the township is doing with the fire and police station, and seeing a facility like this taking care of our seniors is near and dear to my heart."
Crime briefs of the year
Former Macomb Township trustee, retired police captain appointed to commission
Macomb rec center seeks employees
Site plan approved for housing development, senior living in Macomb Township
Students receive donated computers thanks to local foundation
Local summit examines cyber threats and attacks
Attorneys for former prosecutor again seek sentencing adjournment