One of the most significant decisions in life is how we’ll be cared for when we can no longer care for ourselves. Explore some of our area’s top communities for senior living.
Not that long ago, “retirement home” was synonymous with “nursing home.”
Thankfully, that’s no longer true. Today’s retirement communities offer an array of living options that accommodate all senior lifestyles and phases of senior life, such as independent living, personal care, home care and skilled nursing care.
Reasons to move into a senior living community can range from a desire to eliminate the day-to-day challenges of keeping up a home, the social need to live near people the same age, or sometimes an inability to manage on one’s own. Luckily, seniors and their families have numerous resources to consult for information and advice, from the internet to local agencies.
Many retirement communities cater specifically to independent, active retirees, some as young as 55. By taking advantage of the convenience and carefree lifestyle that senior living communities offer, retirees are better able to travel and do things they enjoy.
Other retirement facilities offer assisted living for those who need help with certain day-to-day activities or skilled nursing care for those who require round-the-clock medical care.
Still others offer all three options within one community, providing guaranteed housing, social activities and increased levels of care as needs change. These communities give older adults the option to live in one location for the duration of their life, which can provide a great level of comfort to them and their families.
This diversity of senior living options is well represented in our region. In the following pages, our annual guide to senior living communities will introduce you to some of the top destinations for making the most of your retirement years.
Willowick Assisted Living
1971 Cranston Road, Beloit, Wis., 306 Ogden Ave., Clinton, Wis., 2860 Liberty Lane, Janesville, Wis., (608) 774-2104 • willowicksenior.com
Type: Private, nondenominational assisted living community. Private pay, public assistance, veterans benefits and long-term care insurance accepted.
Housing options: Each community features private assisted living resident suites and common spaces. Janesville community features independent and assisted living units.
Amenities/Services: Salon service, private dining room, activity rooms, patio/courtyard, general store, chapel, wellness center. Staff members, including 5 nurses in each community, are available 24/7. Housekeeping, maintenance and dietary specialists are on hand. Meals are served three times daily, with options for flexible mealtimes.
What sets Willowick apart: Founded by a registered nurse and a health care administrator, Willowick is locally owned and places a premium on personal relationships with residents. Each community is designed to be “just the right size” – small enough that it’s easy to make new friends but big enough to maintain a dedicated staff of caregivers focused on the well-being of each resident.
Additional info: All three locations are now open after several years of planning. Work is underway for two new memory care communities.
Crimson Pointe Senior Living
7130 Crimson Ridge Dr., Rockford, Ill. • (815) 398-7792 • lifeatcrimsonpointe.com
Type: Assisted living community managed by Five Star Senior Living.
How to schedule a visit: Contact Mike Barr at (815) 398-7792.
Housing options: Studio and one-bedroom apartments.
Amenities: Large social room with fireplace; den with library and large-screen TV; lovely courtyard with water fountain; large covered patio with tables and chairs; flower gardens; on-site convenience store; restaurant-style fine dining; private dining room for special-occasion use by families.
Other care types on premises: Physical, speech and occupational therapy; home health care and hospice partners.
What sets Crimson Pointe apart: “Crimson Pointe is a community offering a close, welcoming neighborhood feel for seniors who need some support with activities of daily living,” says Mike Barr, marketing director. “We also offer individualized medication management customized to each resident’s needs. Our community can provide rehabilitation and respite/short stays. Our Lifestyle 360 program offers a unique approach to community living that focuses on the five dimensions of wellness: intellectual, social, physical, emotional and spiritual.”
Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center
3470 N. Alpine Road, Rockford, Ill., (815) 877-1441, fairhaven.cc
Type: Private, faith-based, Continuum of Care nonprofit.
To schedule a visit: Call Chris Hintzsche at (815) 877-1441, ext. 1303, or Tom Bleed at ext. 1304.
Housing options: Duplexes, independent apartments and studios, supportive care, health center.
Amenities: Transportation for appointments, cafe, gift shop, social gathering areas, library, computer stations, life enrichment activities, Senior TV programming, emergency nurse call system in every room and personal pendants with 24/7 nursing staff, fitness center and Dakim online brain fitness program. Pets are welcome in duplexes.
Other care types on premises: A supportive-care memory care area and nursing care in the health center.
What sets Fairhaven apart: “The Christian focus outlined by our mission statement is shown through scheduled Bible studies, chapel services and chaplain who help keep our residents connected with their home church,” says Chris Hintzsche, director of marketing and resident services.
Heritage Woods
gardant.com, 4730 Squaw Prairie Road, Belvidere, Ill., (815) 544-9495; 202 N. Show Place Dr., Rockford, Ill., (815) 332-3700
Type: Illinois Supportive Living Program managed by Gardant.
To schedule a visit: Call or stop in.
Housing options: Studio and one-bedroom apartments, each with a kitchenette, spacious bathroom and shower, emergency response system and independent climate control.
Amenities: Ongoing health monitoring and nursing assessments, a range of programs and events, three meals daily, activity room, beauty/barber shop, convenience store, dining room, exercise room, TV lounge, library, multi-purpose room, lobby with fireplace, patio and 24-hour staffing by certified nursing assistants.
What sets Heritage Woods apart:
Heritage Woods is more than just a community; it’s a home where residents of all incomes enjoy the privacy of their own apartments with the benefits of a caring staff around the clock, restaurant-style meals, and plenty of social and volunteer opportunities to give meaning and fullness to their lives.
Highview in the Woodlands
1000 Falcon Point Place, Rockton, Ill., (815) 624-6700, highviewseniorliving.com
Type: Private, nondenominational, nonprofit facility.
To schedule a visit: Walk-ins welcome weekdays, by appointment on weekends.
Housing options: 36 one- or two-bedroom licensed assisted living apartments and 26 private bedroom and bath suites on our licensed Alzheimer’s unit.
Amenities: Highview is a beautiful building nestled next to a serene, wooded park with nature all around; peace and quiet is guaranteed with rose gardens, courtyards and patios. Services provided include 24/7 nurses on site, C.N.A.’s to assist, call lights, therapeutic diets, available therapies, weekly housekeeping and laundry. All services are directed under leadership with extensive experience in both geriatric and Alzheimer’s care.
What sets Highview apart: Highview in the Woodlands has been “Caring since 1904,” our unique legacy. It goes beyond the limits of the walls. It is a lifestyle. Social activities transcend the four beautiful seasons of the year. Highview takes ordinary experiences and makes them extraordinary. Our caring includes the whole person’s health and joy of life. Our caring surpasses all expectations.
Luther Center
111 W. State St., Rockford, Ill., (815) 965-0055
Located in the heart of downtown Rockford and overlooking the beautiful Rock River, Luther Center, an income-based Housing and Urban Development (HUD) subsidized building, offers residents apartment-style living options as well as an assisted living program.
“We’re in the center of the quickly growing and developing downtown Rockford area, which is a huge plus,” says Tannette Gauvreau, property manager of Luther Center. “The views that we have from the building are beautiful.”
Luther Center has 16 floors with 200 apartments. One-and two-bedroom apartments are available and 29 of the apartments are for assisted living residents.
“Rent is based on 30 percent of your adjusted gross income and applicants must meet income limits set for the building,” Gauvreau says.
The facility also has a laundry room and a bus that takes residents to their doctor appointments on designated days. Assisted living staff is available around-the-clock for residents.
Residents can also enjoy a homemade meal in the facility’s dining room.
The Luther Center kitchen staff prepares fresh meals on-site, served in the dining room.
One of the best parts about living in the Luther Center is that residents are close to everything.
“Downtown is booming with business and new development right now, so it’s a hot spot,” Gauvreau says. “There are plenty of things the residents can do because our building is in the center of it all.”