Building an assisted living facility (ALF) in South Florida is a complicated endeavor that requires a distinct level of expertise. In our vast experience, we’ve found that the lowest bidder on projects like this is not always the best choice, as most exceed the proposed costs by more than 20%. Like we said, building an assisted living facility in South Florida is a complicated endeavor.

At Seacoast Construction, we anticipate those costs while managing the architect’s details, the engineer’s plans, and the current and future residents’ needs. Here are a few other ALF-related lessons we’ve learned along the way:

• Prepare for future growth. We ask our clients a lot of questions to achieve the right mix of rooms, suites, and activity areas. We also determine whether the project should be designed to meet targeted residents’ needs on day one or allow for aging in place.
• Ensure safety and security. We understand zoning and use requirements, the timelines on zoning and permits, the necessary inspections, as well as ever-modernizing industry trends.
• We consider site development issues early, from grading, paving, storm water management, and utilities.

And, finally, on projects where residents are already in place, we take extreme care with several issues:

• We pay attention to the details. Little considerations matter in sensitive, occupied environments, like choosing paint that leaves no fumes, working when residents are busy with activities, and sealing off construction areas to mitigate the spread of dust and noise.
• We respect that infection control is integral. Senior care facilities share many characteristics to a traditional hospital, and we take those seriously. At Seacoast Construction, we tightly manage our network of sub-contractors to limit potential hazards and infection spreads.
• We never leave our equipment unattended, including open ladders and tools. In areas where caution is necessary, we mark them with bright tape, cones, and even temporary walls.
• We communicate. Establishing residents’ trust and maintaining their safety throughout the project is important to us, so we regularly monitor foot traffic near construction zones and use the opportunity to engage in any questions or concerns residents may have.

At Seacoast Construction, we know that with careful planning and budgeting, team-focused collaboration, and sensitivity to the well-being of the facility’s residents, assisted living facility builds can go smoothly.