Aesthetics catch up to the marketplace
At Shalom Park, it’s all about the quality of care, but the physical environment in which that care is given is also important.
Shalom Park, which has its roots on Denver’s West Side as the Beth Israel Home for the Aged, moved to its sparkling new campus in southwest Aurora in 1992. It was described as “state-of-the-art” at the time — and it was. The new “Beth Israel Nursing Home at Shalom Park,” was designed to be home-like and non-institutional, providing privacy for its residents, easy access to the outdoors and soothing views of the mountains.
Combined with compassionate care and innovative programming, Shalom Park’s nursing home building fulfilled the institution’s mission of caring for the Jewish — and non-Jewish — elderly.
Over the ensuing three decades, new nursing homes and senior living communities emerged with aesthetics and amenities that resembled luxury hotels, and Shalom Park’s leadership, headed by President & CEO Marc Penner, said that the physical facilities at Shalom Park needed to be consistent with the marketplace.
“We are taking care of a different resident today and tomorrow than we were in 1992,” Penner says.
A capital campaign for a major renovation of the nursing home was launched just before COVID hit five years ago, but was put on hold because of the pandemic which virtually cut off all visitors to Shalom Park.
Finally, in late 2023, renovation work began, and the capital campaign resumed in early 2024. The project is nearly complete, wrapping up with final details like signage, accessories and outdoor improvements, according to Penner.
The capital campaign has raised 70% of the $4 million goal with $1.2 million left to raise, as of March, 2025.
An obvious component of the renovation has been the removal of the hospital-style nurses’ stations that were in the center of each “neighborhood.”
At Shalom Park, each of the three floors, providing different levels of care, are called “neighborhoods”: Terrace, first floor; Mountainview, second floor, and Penthouse, third floor. The residents of each neighborhood chose the names.
Those nurses’ stations have been replaced with smaller desks that are low enough for elders in wheelchairs to approach easily and talk to the nursing staff at eye level. These new nurses’ stations are unobtrusive and tucked away, allowing for more free-flowing traffic in the corridors and commons spaces in the neighborhoods.
The elders (Shalom Park’s term for residents) in each neighborhood chose new paint colors and paint colors, giving each neighborhood a distinctive vibe. The philosophy is that Shalom Park is the elders’ home, not an institution where they are simply clients, and as such, they should be able to determine the aesthetics of their home.
Penner says the architect found space to add beds, taking the count from 135 to 144, with plans to add even more.
“Every room is occupied 100% every day and there is a long waiting list,” says Penner.
The new rooms are designed as suites — bedrooms with a shared bathroom. These are suitable for husbands and wives, or friends who want to room together.
Each neighborhood has its own dining room, all of which have been redecorated. Table are spaced far from each other to allow wheelchairs to easily move around and pull up to the tables. The dining rooms are on the outside walls of the building and offer wide open views of the mountains.
An unexpected new amenity is the Rose and Julie Pluss Sports Lounge, where elders can enjoy the big game on a large-screen TV or play games themselves.
The large room includes an indoor basketball arcade, skee-ball, shuffleboard, a poker table, blackjack, cornhole, darts.
The walls are decorated with framed sports collectors’ jerseys.
Penner is proud of the consistent care the elders receive at Shalom Park.
Shalom Park’s new look is immediately apparent upon entering the building through the main lobby which received a makeover with new carpet and paint.
Toward the back of the lobby to the left is the Beth Israel Hospital and Home for the Aging Archives Room, an interesting little museum with artifacts from the institution that cared for the community’s elders for 69 years at 16th Ave. and Meade St. on Denver’s West Side. The space is a quiet nook with seating.
Across the lobby from the Archives Room is the entrance to Shalom’s community room and synagogue, which were also renovated.
All the nursing staff are hired by and are employees of Shalom Park; none come from staffing agencies.
Nurses’ aides are assigned the same elders every day. This gives the elders a sense of consistency and affords them personalized care.
Penner says having a clean, smell-free physical environment at Shalom Park contributes to job retention.
“If we take unbelievable care of our staff, they will take amazing care of our elders. This is done through compensation, wellness, parties, recognition, whatever we can do.”
This derives from the Eden Alternative philosophy of community management, which means no bureaucracy.
Penner has an open-door policy. Staff members do not have to go through any gatekeepers to meet with him. All meetings take place in a learning circle with no head of the table or intimidating formality.
“Let’s work together” is the motto, says Penner.
To that end, Penner invites interested community members to “come see the new Shalom Park.”
© IJN 2025