Nonna's Place
Boutique residential assisted living is now in Brecksville.
Perched atop a wooded hill, the stately brick ranch home that is Luca and Michelle Ianiro’s Nonna’s Place feels more like an elegant family residence than a traditional senior care facility—and that’s exactly how it was planned. (Photography: Adrienne Rose)
Inspired by family and shaped by years of caring for others, Luca and Michelle Ianiro are bringing their unique vision of boutique residential assisted living to Brecksville with Nonna’s Place.
Perched atop a wooded hill, the stately brick ranch home feels more like an elegant family residence than a traditional senior care facility—and that’s exactly how they planned it.
“My own nonna lived in her house until she was 100 years old,” says Luca. “She moved to the United States from Italy when she was 50 years old and remained in her own home until the end. She had a full, beautiful life and was an inspiration to us all.”
That experience became part of the inspiration for Nonna’s Place, where the Ianiros hope to create the next-best thing to remaining at home.
The seven-suite residence can welcome a maximum of eight residents. Each private suite is luxuriously appointed and offers views of the surrounding green space. Universal design features, wide doorways, zero-entry showers and open gathering spaces make the home comfortable and accessible, while the expansive kitchen serves as the heart of the home, which was specially designed and built for personalized assisted living and dementia care.
Looking out the back windows, you’ll notice birdhouses dotting the lawn and even a bird cam to offer a glimpse of the outside activity.
“Our goal was to create a space where people can settle in, share stories and spend time with their families,” says Michelle. “We look forward to getting to know people—what they like, where they came from and what they care about.”
All About Their “Why”
Michelle and Luca have ideal backgrounds to operate a senior home. His is in corporate America and hers lies in nursing. Over the years, this registered nurse and board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner has worked in critical care, cardiology, neurology and oncology, as well as end-of-life care. She developed a particular interest in the psychological needs of aging adults. Her work also brought her into local assisted living facilities.
“I’ve been in almost every senior care place in the Cleveland area,” says Michelle. “These experiences are what led me to ask, how can there be a better way for people to thrive in a loving, non-institutional home setting?”
After two decades in the corporate world, Luca found himself looking for something more meaningful. When the Brecksville home became available, the pieces fell into place, and the couple feel it was meant to be.
The duo are combining their backgrounds with a deeply personal philosophy: Care should feel individualized, respectful and genuinely compassionate.
Residents receive 24/7 assistance with the activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, toileting and getting in and out of bed if needed. Three meals and abundant snacks are prepared daily, medications are managed, and the Ianiros coordinate with outside medical professionals when needed, including physicians, physical therapists, hospice, palliative care, wound care and speech therapy providers.
Michelle’s passion for caring for others was shaped in part by her mother, Joan, a retired nurse and caregiver whose example has been a lifelong source of inspiration.
“She has spent much of her life caring for others and is an inspiration to us,” she says.
In keeping with a going-the-extra-mile approach to care, residents will enjoy a slate of curated activities, such as chair yoga, music and pet therapy, as well as live musical entertainment, all designed to bring people together.
Luca is even planning on throwing Sunday dinners, prepared Italian style, of course, where residents and their families can gather.
Residents at Nonna’s Place pay privately. With limited availability, Nonna’s Place is currently welcoming new residents. The Ianiros are also hiring compassionate caregivers. Apply online.
Nonna’s Place Assisted Living
7972 Brecksville Road, Brecksville
Home-Cooked Goodness at Every Meal
At Nonna’s Place, mealtimes aren’t dictated by a clock—they’re guided by appetite and comfort.
That means homemade pasta, sauces simmered slowly with care and plenty of family traditions, like lasagna, which is prepared by Luca’s mom Silvana.
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