One of our most significant decisions in life is how we’ll be cared for when we can no longer care for ourselves. This guide introduces you to some of the excellent care available within our region.
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 include 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.
Crimson Pointe Senior Living
7130 Crimson Ridge Drive, Rockford, (815) 398-7792, lifeatcrimsonpointe.com
Crimson Pointe Senior Living creates a home-like environment for the residents of this assisted living community.
Residents of Crimson Pointe are exposed to a comfortable environment that includes three meals a day and many activities through the Lifestyle 360 wellness program.
Residents can live in a studio or one-bedroom apartment and they can enjoy amenities including a large social room with a fireplace, a den with a library and large-screen TV, a beautiful courtyard with a water fountain, restaurant-style fine dining and a private dining room for special-occasion use by families, among other things.
Crimson Pointe also has other care types on the premises, including physical, speech and occupational therapy along with home health care and hospice partners.
“I strongly believe our dining, Lifestyle 360, housekeeping, medical and management staffs do a fantastic job of making our new residents and their families feel comfortable, safe and secure yet still independent in what can be a very difficult transition state for residents,” says Mike Barr, marketing director.
Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center
3470 N. Alpine Road, Rockford, (815) 877-1441, www.fairhaven.cc
The residents who call Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center home are able to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle in a fun and relaxing environment.
This private, faith-based facility includes more than 100 duplexes and nearly 90 independent living apartments. The campus also includes a supportive-care memory care area and nursing care in the health center.
Affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church, Fairhaven has been offering a lifetime of care for people 62 and up, no matter their faith.
Inside the main building, residents enjoy an engaging atmosphere that includes a family room with computers, restaurant-style dining, a gift shop and a fitness center with classes guided by a fitness instructor.
Residents can also participate in special activities including choirs, bell choirs, educational sessions and musical performances, among other events.
Pets are also welcome to visit their loved ones, and they may live with duplex residents.
First Free of Rockford provides a worship service at Fairhaven on Sunday mornings.
“The Christian focus outlined by our mission statement is shown through scheduled Bible studies, chapel services and chaplains who help keep our residents connected with their home church,” says Chris Hintzsche, assistant administrator.
Heritage Woods
4730 Squaw Prairie Road, Belvidere, (815) 544-9495, gardant.com, 202 N. Show Place Dr., Rockford, (815) 332-3700, gardant.com
Heritage Woods is more than just a community. It’s a home where residents of all incomes can 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 that give meaning and fullness to their lives.
The affordable, assisted lifestyle community is designed for seniors 65 and over who want to exercise their independence while enjoying safety and security. Licensed as supportive living, this community can serve seniors of all income levels, including those on Medicaid.
Both Heritage Woods locations offer studio and one-bedroom apartments, each with a kitchenette, spacious bathroom and shower, emergency response system and independent climate control.
You’ll also find plenty of common spaces to enjoy, including an activity room, country store, library and lounges with fireplaces, patios and a gazebo.
“You’ll rarely find a place with so much heart,” says Yvonne Peterson, director of marketing. “I’ve been here for almost 12 years and I stay because of the wonderful people who live and work here. It’s very special, and you feel it the minute you walk in the door.”
Highview in the Woodlands
1000 Falcon Point Place, Rockton, Ill., (815) 624-6700, highviewseniorliving.com
Nestled in a natural and beautiful setting, residents at Highview in the Woodlands can enjoy year-round serenity with spring blossoms, summer roses, changing leaves and snow on the pines. Highview has 36 one- or two-bedroom private apartments in the assisted living unit and 26 private bedroom and bath suites in the secure, licensed Alzheimer’s unit.
Services include nurses on site 24/7, C.N.A assistance, call lights, available therapies and weekly housekeeping and laundry. All services are directed under a dedicated staff with extensive experience in both geriatric and Alzheimer’s care. The staff is committed to making the transition for new residents a smooth and pleasant experience as they enter their new phase of life at Highview.
Highview in the Woodlands is centrally located in Rockton, Ill., a short drive for family members coming from Rockford, Belvidere or Beloit. Walk-ins are welcome weekdays and by appointment on weekends at this private, nondenominational, nonprofit facility.
“Highview has a unique legacy of ‘caring since 1904,’” says Carol Cox, CEO of Highview Retirement Home Association. “It goes beyond the limits of our walls. Our caring includes the whole person’s health and joy of life.”
Parkview Home
1234 S. Park Blvd., Freeport, (815) 232-8612, parkviewhome.org
As its name suggests, Parkview Home in Freeport provides great views of Krape Park, and it’s ideally located near Highland Community College, the YMCA, a hospital and medical clinics, a country club, dining and shopping.
But that’s just the beginning of a community that provides a continuum of care through maintenance-free homes, individual apartments, assisted living, a health care center, memory care and rehabilitation services.
This cozy community boasts plenty of home-like amenities, including a library, barber and beauty shops, outdoor terraces, sun porches, activities, transportation and delicious meals, all within a lovely landscaped neighborhood.
Other types of on-site care include restorative care, 24 hour monitoring by licensed nursing staff and licensed therapy services.
“What makes Parkview unique is our continuum of care, which allows residents to move from one level of care to another within the same community without leaving the facility,” says Chris Kempel, director of marketing and human resources. “As the resident’s needs increase and more care is required, the cost of that care increases. The lifetime care plans guarantees if a resident loses their ability to pay for their stay, they do not have to leave and they’ll be taken care of for the rest of their life.”
Willowick Assisted Living
1971 Cranston Road, Beloit, 306 Ogden Ave., Clinton, Wis., 2860 Liberty Lane, Janesville, (608) 774-2104, willowicksenior.com
Founded by a registered nurse and a health care administrator, Willowick Assisted Living is locally owned and places a premium on personal relationships with residents.
Each community is 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.
When new residents come to Willowick, they fill out a life history form, so members of the staff can develop a strategy tailored to each resident’s needs.
The communities in the nondenominational assisted living facility feature beautiful and comfortable assisted living resident suites and common spaces. Both facilities feature independent and assisted living units.
Willowick residents have access to plenty of amenities, including a salon service, a private dining room that can be reserved by residents and families, a general store for residents to buy household goods, a chapel that local clergy use to provide sermons and spiritual support, and a wellness center where residents can exercise and utilize therapy services that help with their strength and conditioning.
Staff members, including five nurses, are available 24/7.
Housekeeping, maintenance and dietary specialists are also on hand. Meals and snacks are served three times a day, with options for flexible mealtimes.