Walter Reed Convalescent and Rehabilitation Center in Gloucester held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday to mark the opening of its newly-established 28-bed Memory Care Unit.

Administrator Bryant Hudgins told those present that the need to adapt to COVID-19 protocols had led to staff being more in tune with the community. Sustainability as a facility requires recognizing community needs, he said, and part of that is recognizing that memory care residents need to have a sense of home and a great quality of life.

For those reasons, Walter Reed decided to expand the space available to an entire wing of the building and to provide some additional services for its memory care residents.

“We’ll be able to provide every level of care,” said Hudgins. “Our residents won’t have to leave and find another facility in different stages of their process.”

In the unit, sunny semi-private and private rooms now line two wide hallways that meet at a spacious common area where staff can ...