The Clare Bridge facilities incorporate physical plan adaptations designed to meet the special needs of those individuals with dementia and memory impairment. Adaptive security systems such as enclosed outdoor courtyards, a natural indoor walking path and an electronic alarm system provide safety and security. Color coded wall coverings and visual cues such as memory boxes placed outside resident's rooms, have been incorporated to increase orientation and to assist the memory impaired elderly in navigating their environment independently. In recognition of the need to decrease stress and agitation in residents, the atmosphere is residential, uncluttered, and utilizes soft lighting, colors and textures.

The facilities are bilaterally symmetrical in the sense that each wing is a mirror image of the other, separated by a common area core which contains support services such as administrative offices, food preparation areas, employee lounges, supply/storage and physical plan mechanical areas.

The entrance to the residence opens into a "Town Square" two-story space. This space is reminiscent of a village square setting with two-story building facades from yesteryear. Included in this area are a sweet shop, barber and beauty services, reception and administration areas. From the "Town Square" there are two hallways that enter each of the resident wings.

Resident rooms are clustered in "family neighborhoods" with nearby small-scale household activity areas. These areas are purposely decentralized and the building is designed to maximize the residents' independence and functional skills for as long as possible. The common areas of each wing consist of a livnig room, dining areas, a wandering path around a central courtyard, den and refreshment center. In addition to the interior common area elements of the residence, there are also two outdoor secured areas for resident activity. The first area is an interior open-air courtyard which brings natural light to the interior core spaces and provides the residents with an outdoor destination area for resident activity. In addition to the interior courtyard, each wing has a screened-in porch leading to an enclosed outdoor area which is also equipped with gardening and patio space. The enclosed outdoor area is secured by a fenced enclosure.