Can the assisted-living residents come over and play with us, too?

BRIDGEWAY POINTE DIRECTOR MICHAEL SCOTT hopes to see an adjacent child-care center where young and old can share books, talk and a love of life.

With his Bridgeway Pointe assisted-living facility open and exceeding growth projections, Michael Scott is looking to expand the project.

Bridgeway Pointe is a nonprofit facility physically connected to the Drake Center rehabilitation hospital in Hartwell. Its residents include seniors and younger people with chronic illnesses who need long-term care, as well as people recovering from injuries.

Scott, a 19-year veteran of the nursing home industry, has been the heart of the Bridgeway project since January 2000, as its executive director. He developed the facility's operating plan, created the pricing schedule, hired each of the 35 employees and screened every potential resident.

"This is a family we're building," he said. "People need to know who I am, and likewise we need to build those relationships up front."

On July 1, Scott opened the doors to Bridgeway and welcomed its first two residents. Since then, 27 more people have moved in, bringing Bridgeway to about 25 percent of its capacity. If the pace continues, Scott will have Bridgeway full by January 2002 -- six months ahead of schedule.

Now that the basics are in place, Scott is free to start …