Waveny LifeCare Network Breaks Ground on New Rehabilitation Centerand Launches $15+ Million “Build the Future of Care” Campaign

A.P. Construction has broken ground on the new 41,000-square-foot short-term, inpatient rehabilitation facility that will allow Waveny to serve more than 400 additional rehabilitation patients annually—while launching its public “Build the Future of Care” fundraising campaign to raise more than $15 million in philanthropic support.

The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by healthcare industry leaders, elected officials, donors, and community stakeholders, marks the beginning of a transformational healthcare investment designed to address growing regional demand for inpatient rehabilitation services, critical healthcare workforce shortages, and to strengthen financial safety nets for older adults in the community.

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The new two-story rehabilitation facility will feature 30 private patient rooms, expanded inpatient and outpatient therapy services, dedicated education and training spaces, an interfaith chapel, and thoughtfully designed environments that support healing and recovery. Once completed in Spring 2028, the facility will more than double Waveny’s private-room rehabilitation capacity and continue serving individuals age 16 and older recovering from illness, injury, or surgery.

Currently serving approximately 400 rehabilitation patients annually, Waveny’s Care Center operates at more than 90 percent occupancy and can accept only a small percentage of hospital referrals for short-term rehabilitation, reflecting a broader challenge facing healthcare systems nationwide as people live longer and hospitals discharge patients sooner.

“This project is about meeting a growing and urgent community need,” said Russ Barksdale, President and CEO of Waveny LifeCare Network. “Every day, patients and families are searching for high-quality, 5-Star, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation care close to home. Our new rehabilitation center will expand access to exceptional recovery services, strengthen care coordination with regional hospitals, and help more individuals return safely and confidently to their homes and communities. At the same time, this campaign reinforces our nonprofit mission to provide compassionate care and support for individuals at every stage of life.”

The “Build the Future of Care” campaign is anchored by Waveny’s Build. Care. Protect. framework: expanding rehabilitation capacity through the new facility, strengthening Waveny’s Kathleen M. Fruin RN Certified Nursing Aide School to prepare the next generation of caregivers, and helping ensure continued care for residents who outlive their financial resources.

The campaign comes as Connecticut and the nation face a growing shortage of healthcare workers driven by an aging population and increasing demand for post-acute and long-term care services. Waveny’s tuition-free, “earn-as-you-learn” nursing aide school provides 400 hours of training—four times the state requirement—and prepares approximately 50 new caregivers annually.

“Our community has an opportunity to make a lasting investment in the future of healthcare,” said Kathleen Corbet, committee chair of Waveny’s fundraising campaign. “This campaign is about far more than constructing a building. It is about ensuring that older adults and families throughout our region have access to compassionate, high-quality care, developing the caregivers our healthcare system urgently needs, and preserving Waveny’s longstanding commitment to caring for those who depend on us most.”

“This expansion is going to change the nature of Waveny. This new building is going to take Waveny to another level—not only in patient care, but in the environment where patients can thrive,” said George Bauer, campaign supporter.

Designed in collaboration with Waveny’s clinical teams, the new center will incorporate adaptable patient rooms, modern rehabilitation technology, telemedicine capabilities, and spaces that support family participation in recovery and healing.

Waveny’s new rehabilitation facility was designed by Amenta Emma. The landscape architect is Wesley Stout Associates and the A.P. Construction is serving as the construction manager. Financing was provided by M&T Bank. Ashforth’s Marketing Department managed the groundbreaking event, public relations, and graphic design services.

For more than 50 years, Waveny LifeCare Network has served the community as a trusted nonprofit provider of independent living, assisted living, memory care, short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing, home care, hospice, and outpatient therapy services. With consistent 5-Star CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) quality ratings and longstanding partnerships with regional hospitals, Waveny has earned a reputation for exceptional clinical care and compassionate service.

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