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.
Aging is a natural part of life, and it eventually comes with day-to-day challenges. So why do we often feel unprepared to tackle the challenges and necessary choices in our later years?
Many families work together to carefully select what’s best for their loved ones well in advance, but it’s not something most are eager to discuss or even think about.
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. 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 around-the-clock medical care.
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.
In every corner of the region, our senior communities are creating safe and inviting homes where our seniors can age comfortably with access to quality care. The senior residences provide state-of-the-art amenities and individualized plans to cater to your specific needs.
They’re also one of the many reasons why Rockford was named one of the best mid-sized cities to retire in 2019, according to SeniorAdvice.com, which helps families and caregivers find senior housing.
This guide will assist you and your loved ones in navigating the many options that are available.
If someone in your family is looking for a senior community, our Northwest Quarterly Senior Living Guide is here to help.
Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center
3470 N. Alpine Road, Rockford, (815) 877-1441, fairhaven.cc
Fairhaven’s mission statement is “to provide a comfortable lifestyle and exceptional care which enhances quality of life in a manner that glorifies God.”
More than 375 Fairhaven residents enjoy a comfortable lifestyle that provides many opportunities. The property includes more than 100 duplexes, nearly 100 independent living apartments, a supportive care center and a health center.
“We’re very committed and we never lose sight of why we’re here and who we’re here for,” says Chris Hintzsche, director of marketing and resident services at Fairhaven. “When people ask me what sets Fairhaven apart, I tell them our Christian focus, continuum of care, wonderful views from large windows letting in lots of natural light and our dining experience.”
Affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church denomination, Fairhaven offers a lifetime of care to people of all faiths age 62 and up. First Free of Rockford provides a worship service at Fairhaven on Sunday mornings in the Sjostrom Center Chapel.
“When people talk about why they’ve chosen to live at Fairhaven, our spiritual focus is among the reasons why they’re here,” Hintzsche says.
Fairhaven recently underwent an extensive common area renovation in the main independent building and in the health center building. The facility is also celebrating 50 years of service to residents and their families this year.
A hallmark of Fairhaven’s dining experience is its quality comfort foods, good chefs and helpful wait staff.
“The home-style cooking is what our residents were used to in their own homes, and so we want them to enjoy home-cooked meals here, too,” Hintzsche says.
Inside the main building, where the dining room is located, residents enjoy an engaging atmosphere that includes a family room with computers, a video chat unit, a library, restaurant-style dining, a gift shop and a fitness center with classes guided by a fitness coordinator.
Residents are invited to participate in special activities such as choirs, bell choirs and educational sessions, and to attend picnics, musical performances and other events. Pets are welcome to visit their loved ones and may live with duplex residents.
Hintzsche counsels people to visit the retirement communities they are considering, enjoy a meal there, talk to residents and ask them about their experiences.
“Fairhaven residents enjoy a loving, supportive and active community,” says Hintzsche. “They’re genuinely excited when someone new is moving here. They love to share their personal stories and to listen to the stories of others.”
Highview in the Woodlands
1000 Falcon Point Place, Rockton, Ill., (815) 624-6700, Highviewseniorliving.com
In the deepest part of our hearts, we have an innate desire to help others. Driven by this desire, people can be moved to do things that change lives. In 1904, two dynamic and determined women began a movement that resulted in Highview as it’s known today.
Highview in the Woodlands is nestled in a park-like, natural setting. Residents can enjoy spring blossoms, summer roses, changing leaves and snow on the pines. They’re able to view all the seasons in their colorful display. Nature abounds at Highview.
Highview’s interior is eclectic with antiques that enrich the environment and were given as gifts over the years to be enjoyed by all. The residents have a social life with each other and take excursions to various plays, parks, sporting events, the conservatory and great restaurants.
Although individualized care is central to what is provided in both Assisted Living and the Alzheimer’s unit at Highview, it is the overall culture that energizes everyone. Members of a trained, professional staff are there for each resident, quietly fulfilling their needs. The staff strive to make any transition a smooth and pleasant experience as each resident enters new phases of life at Highview.
The staff at Highview believe the secret to a happy life is where you are, who you’re with and what you’re doing. And while a sense of place goes far, it is the people and experiences that truly make our happy times. Highview strives to achieve this dynamic for each resident, making them feel at home, making them feel loved, and making sure they are loving what they’re doing.
The staff believe residents should continue to live with dignity and enjoy their special interests. Residents are encouraged to make new friends, go on new adventures and explore new surroundings. They should thrive at Highview.
With more than a century of experience providing for seniors, Highview in the Woodlands continues to refine its legacy of care. The experienced leadership, dedicated staff and fully-licensed facility ensures that residents will enjoy an optimum quality of life.
The facility offers 36 one- or two-bedroom private apartments on the Assisted Living side and 26 private suites in the secure Alzheimer’s unit. The staff takes great care in creating a traditional and safe environment that feels like home for all residents.
Conveniently located in Rockton, Ill., Highview is just a short drive for family members traveling from Rockford, Belvidere or Beloit.
The Highview staff encourage you to browse highviewseniorliving.com in its entirety and to call when you are ready to learn more. It would be their pleasure to answer your questions and give you a tour of the facility.
Heritage Woods
4730 Squaw Prairie Road, Belvidere, Ill., (815) 544-9495; 202 N. Show Place Dr., Rockford, (815) 332-3700
Heritage Woods is more than 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 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.”
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.”
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, a chapel, 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 for residents, 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.