Construction crews broke ground last month on a $5.7 million memory care community in Cherry Valley, a 16-suite small-home facility designed for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Construction began in October, and the goal is to welcome the first residents in fall of 2027. The project, called Palmstone Memory Care, sits at 1918 S. Bell School Road.
The development is the vision of Rockford natives Greg Vass and Michael Kromm, longtime business partners who also co-founded SolidLine Media, according to Rock River Current. As MyStateline reports, the pair launched construction of the facility with the stated aim of providing specialized memory care in a small-home setting rather than a traditional institutional model.
For Vass, the project is personal. Rock River Current reports that Palmstone was inspired by the monthslong search he made for a place that could care for his mother, Lynne, after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's several years ago. MyStateline reports that Vass said Palmstone's design reflects the importance of residents feeling known and at home, while Kromm said opening the facility in the Rockford area is personally significant because both founders grew up there.
What Residents and Families Can Expect
The current plan calls for 16 private suites and baths, along with a private chef who prepares meals and 24/7 care for residents, per Rock River Current's reporting. MyStateline notes that caregivers are expected to work with a limited number of residents at a time, a structure meant to echo the small-home model central to the project. Palmstone uses the motto “Small Homes. Big Heart,” according to MyStateline, framing itself as a more home-like alternative for people and families affected by dementia.
The facility is expected to employ 18 skilled health care workers, as well as additional culinary staff, the Rock River Current report states. MyStateline similarly reports that the project is expected to create 18 health care jobs along with several food service and culinary operations positions.
Groundbreaking and Future Expansion Plans
A ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled for November 24 at 11 a.m., according to MyStateline's reporting, a detail that aligns with Rock River Current's account that a ceremonial groundbreaking will take place on Nov. 24. Vass said future plans include building three additional 16-suite homes on the nearly 9-acre site, with all four homes intended to operate with independent staff, the outlet reports.
Palmstone's own terms of use note that the services, staffing, pricing, features and dates described reflect current plans and may change, according to Palmstone Memory Care. The company states it will be licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health before opening, though that licensing step has not been independently confirmed.
A Growing Need for Dementia Care
The project arrives amid a broader national conversation about dementia care capacity. The Alzheimer's Association estimated that 6.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association International Conference. A 2023 study backed by the organization found the highest prevalence of Alzheimer's in the eastern and southeastern regions of the U.S. and released prevalence estimates for all 3,142 U.S. counties.
For now, Palmstone remains a single small home under construction, with its founders betting that a smaller, more personal setting can meet a need that Vass encountered firsthand while searching for care for his own mother.
