The Bristal at Lynbrook has completed a $10 million renovation, introducing the first BrainFit Gym on Long Island, a new cognitive wellness space designed to help residents strengthen memory, decision-making and overall brain health.
The assisted-living community on Freer Street, which includes 122 residential units and 165 beds, celebrated the transformation with a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 23, showcasing updated common areas, new furnishings, artwork, flooring and amenities alongside technology aimed at promoting healthy aging.
“We wanted to redesign the interior to focus on a high-level luxury environment for our seniors,” said Amy Silva-Magalhaes, chief operating officer of Ultimate Care Assisted Living Management, which oversees The Bristal. “We want our residents to know they’re here to live healthier and more active lives than previous generations. We want it to feel like a five-star hotel for our residents.”
Silva-Magalhaes said today’s seniors are looking for more than quality health care. Many want to maintain their independence while enjoying chef-prepared dining, fitness opportunities, social connections and programs that support cognitive health.
“The biggest thing seniors want is their independence and wellness,” she said. “They want lifelong wellness and beautiful surroundings.”
One of the renovation’s biggest additions is the BrainFit Gym, a dedicated space repurposed on the building’s first floor where residents participate in individualized cognitive training using technology that combines physical movement with mental exercises.
Using research-based dual-task technology, the BrainFit Gym combines interactive games with physical movement to strengthen memory, processing speed, reaction time and decision-making. Residents begin with an assessment before following personalized programs tailored to their individual cognitive needs using equipment such as the SmartFit system.
Resident Council Vice President Debrah Earley, 77, said the program has already had a positive impact.
“My sessions in the BrainFit Gym have been fun, and have helped me see how I can improve myself,” Earley said. “Cognitively and physically, I think BrainFit is a beneficial program when it comes to long-term improvement.”
“The gym is our dedicated space for cognitive wellness,” said Evan Rossi, corporate director of program innovation and engagement for Ultimate Care Assisted Living Management. “We’re investing in technology that can better different aspects of the resident experience.”
After residents complete their assessments, they participate in games and activities designed to strengthen different areas of the brain. Rossi said each resident follows a personalized program that focuses on executive function, including planning, processing speed and reaction time.
One resident told him the training improved her reaction time after she experienced several falls.
“She said she was able to react quickly and catch herself instead of falling,” Rossi said. “There’s no issue with doing crossword puzzles, but eventually you know what to expect. This technology engages different parts of the brain and helps build confidence.”
Renovations began around March with work on the parking garage before moving into the building and were completed over about four months while residents continued living there. According to David Burman, principal of B2K Development, the parent company of The Bristal and a development firm that builds all Bristal communities while also performing third-party construction, the project required careful planning to minimize disruptions.
The renovation included new stone flooring in the lobby, updated lighting and fixtures, a new bar, and refreshed gathering spaces intended to create a brighter, more welcoming atmosphere.
“When things are new, fresh and elevated, people feel better,” Burman said. “They feel better about where they live, and it’s a much better experience for them.”
Burman said the most rewarding part of the project has been seeing residents embrace their updated home.
“People are happier and more social because they live in a nice environment,” he said. “That’s our goal — to make them happy and healthy.”
The Lynbrook location is the first of The Bristal’s 16 Long Island communities to feature the BrainFit Gym, and company officials said they plan to expand the program to additional Bristal communities in the future.
