The massive assisted living facility which has been under construction on Post Avenue for almost a year is expected to be completed and opened this spring, the owners of the facility have reported.

The facility, which will be known as The Bristal, will encompass about 150 living units, as well as several common living areas, and is being designed as a self-contained retirement community. The structure is being developed by Lynbrook-based Engel Burman Senior Housing, which opened an assisted living facility in East Meadow on Jan. 3, and operates two similar retirement communities in West Palm Beach, FL. The company also plans to open facilities at Roosevelt Raceway, Westbury, North Woodmere and Huntington. The Post Avenue facility will be opened by June, according to owner Steve Krieger.

The Bristal at Westbury will provide supported, independent living for senior citizens, Krieger noted during a recent tour of The Bristal at East Meadow, which the Post Avenue facility is expected to mirror. In contrast to a nursing home, which provides daily medical care, it is not a medical facility, Krieger explained. Rather, the facility provides independent, community living for residents 75 and older who can still get around on their own.

Úquot;It's like living in a big, beautiful home,Úquot; Krieger said, as he displayed the East Meadow facility. The community residence provides support for daily living and such personal care as reminders for meals, as well as a licensed practical nurse on staff to provide weekly monitoring of residents' health. It is licensed and inspected by the New York State Health Department as an enriched housing facility.

The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) defines assisted living as a combination of housing, personalized supportive services, and health care designed to respond to the individual needs of those who require help with the activities of daily living. Assisted living care, according to the ALFA, promotes maximum independence and dignity for each resident and encourages the involvement of a resident's family, neighbors, and friends. Staff is available 24 hours a day to meet both scheduled and unscheduled needs. Assisted living residences are sometimes also called residential care facilities, adult congregate living facilities, personal care homes, catered living facilities, retirement homes, homes for adults, or community residences.

The Village of Westbury is anticipating that the new development will benefit the local community, according to Thomas Savino, village clerk-treasurer. Previously, the site, located at the corner of Madison and Post avenues across from the Westbury Train Station and just north of St. Brigid's Church, was a hodge-podge of landscaping and other outdoor uses, Savino noted. Other proposed uses had included an asphalt yard and a strip mall, which, said Savino, Úquot;were going to be detrimental to the appearance that we have revitalized our downtown and our village in general.Úquot;

The clerk-treasurer added, Úquot;We hope that it's a tremendous enhancement to the appearance along Post Avenue, and it helps out the village by bringing in residents and some businesses. Plus, the construction process, we hope, has already created some jobs, and will continue to create jobs as well in the area.Úquot; Savino noted that the developer was required to get building approval from the village, Nassau County's planning board, and the local water district.

Monthly fees for residents of The Bristal range from about $3100 to $6050, depending on the size of the suite chosen. The monthly fee includes rent for the suite, which has a kitchenette and private bathroom, as well as a comprehensive living package. The package, dubbed by The Bristal as Úquot;The Supportive Independence Plan,Úquot; includes the following: all utilities, cable television, 24-Security, emergency response system, three meals served daily in a common dining room, daily housekeeping including weekly laundering, refreshments throughout the day, 24-hour staff who provide assistance with personal care, and reminders for self-administration of medication, a licensed practical nurse on staff to provide weekly monitoring of health, social programs, visiting children's activity center, fitness room, salon, as well as scheduled transportation to shopping, community activities, group outings and local doctors' appointments. Other amenities are also available at the facility, such as a cinema, library, general store, arts and crafts studio, common living rooms, computer stations with Internet access, bingo room, and a supervised common kitchen area.

According to Ellen Antonucci, marketing director for The Bristal, many local residents have expressed interest in the Westbury facility. Úquot;We've had a tremendous amount of calls for the Westbury facility,Úquot; she said, noting that she is keeping a list of those interested in becoming residents there. She plans to open a sales office at the Westbury site in February. Antonucci, who has joined the Westbury Chamber of Commerce, feels the facility's residents, too, will become a vital addition to the local community, as they will patronize shops, and get involved in volunteer activities and religious institutions. For further information about the Westbury facility, Antonucci can be reached at 542-0800.