Renovations, celebration and a new facility name have all recently taken place at the Nansemond Commons Assisted Living Center, formerly known as Hillcrest Retirement Center on West Constance Road.

Renovations to the commons area, as well as the individual rooms, have been going on since last October, said Felita Creekmore, licensed practical nurse and programs coordinator at the assisted living center.

“We’ve completely remodeled the inside,” she said. The renovations being made to the 1980s building are three-quarters of the way done.

Along with the cosmetic changes, the center added to the atmosphere by holding a number of activities and information sessions last week in commemoration of National Assisted Living Week.

“This was our first year doing it,” Creekmore said of the celebration. The theme of the week was “Nourishing Life: Mind, Body and Spirit.”

On Monday, free blood pressure checks were provided by home health companies and were made available to the community. The staff of the center got the chance to participate in trivia rounds on Tuesday and Thursday, and prizes donated by the home health companies were awarded. On Wednesday, Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia came to answer any questions the general public had regarding Medicare. Finally, the week finished off with an appreciation cookout on Friday. This was open to the general public, residents, staff, volunteers and visitors, Creekmore said.

The assisted living center is different from the nursing home located next door, Creekmore said. Assisted living allows guests the privacy of living in their own apartments. Some of the residents can still drive themselves around and make the majority of their own decisions, Creekmore said, but many need help with meals, medications and cleaning.

Nursing homes however, provide the services needed for short-term rehabilitation and long-term around-the-clock assistance.

Along with other events the community puts on throughout the year, the center plans to start hosting quarterly educational nights for the residents and their families to learn about dementia and other conditions affecting the elderly, Creekmore said.