Benchmark Senior Living founder and CEO Tom Grape and Benchmark Alexandria executive director Doug Buttner, center, prepare to cut the ribbon at the grand opening celebration of Benchmark Alexandria May 2.
Benchmark Senior Living celebrated the opening of its new Alexandria facility May 2 as residents, family members and members of the senior care community joined together to mark the completion of the West End project.
Located on the former site of a Five Guys restaurant, the Alexandria facility is the 66th Benchmark Senior Living facility and first in the mid-
Benchmark Senior Living of Alexandria is located at 3440 Berkeley Street in the city’s West End.
“You’ve heard the saying ‘It takes a village’ – Benchmark has brought that village here,” said Doug Buttner, senior executive director of Benchmark Senior Living Alexandria. “A critical key to aging well is making meaningful connections and I believe we have the most successful team of senior living in Alexandria.”
Benchmark Senior Living was founded in 1997 by the company’s Chairman and CEO Tom Grape, who was on hand for the celebration.
“We take great pride in caring for our residents and our families,” Grape said. “Our purpose statement is to transform lives through human connection and we live by three values – Call to Care, Better Together, and Be the Benchmark. This guides our mission of not only providing world-class care, but doing so in a way that keeps Benchmark focused on who and what matters most: our residents, their families and our associates.”
Benchmark Senior Living in Alexandria is comprised of 115 apartments, including specifically designed memory care units for residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The facility has the ability to serve residents from those living independently to those needing 24/7 care.
“This is a wonderful location,” said John McBride, one of the first residents to move into the new Benchmark facility. “The food is great and the employees here go above and beyond.”
“A critical key to aging well is making meaningful connections.”
— Benchmark senior executive director Doug Buttner
Amenities at Benchmark include chef-prepared meals, a fitness center, rec rooms, massage room, wellness center, and rooftop deck. The West ALX location includes a Harris Teeter grocery store and Silver Diner.
Benchmark Senior Living, based in Waltham, Mass., is home to more than 6,700 residents throughout its communities and has been named one of the top places to work list by the Boston Globe for 16 years.
“We are proud of this distinction,” Grape said. “We work very hard to be an employer of choice.”
Benchmark offers senior living throughout the Northeast, including independent living, assisted living, mind and memory care, continuing care retirement communities and respite care options in more than 66 communities across eight states.
“We looked in several states before deciding on Benchmark here in Alexandria,” said Meg Hargreaves, who relocated her father Bob from Long Island. This is an exceptional facility and perfect for his needs.”
Benchmark Senior Living at Alexandria is located at 3440 Berkeley Street. For more information, call 571-946-5035 or visit www.benchmarkseniorliving.com.