NewBridge on the Charles

Aesthetically and in every other way, this facility, which offers a continuum from independent living to memory care and short-term rehab, is gorgeous beyond belief. While here, you feel like you’re away on vacation—with its wood setting, complete with a three-mile path for residents and visitors to use.

The common areas inside are very beautiful, with unique artwork everywhere. There’s a library, restaurant, a dining room that’s like an upscale restaurant, a sitting room to read in and even resources such as eye doctors, geriatricians and other consultants on staff.

The rooms in the assisted living portion are spacious apartments that include nice touches such as granite counter tops and bathrooms outfitted with many thoughtful safety features. The most expensive independent homes look like rustic cabins from the outside.

The quality of the food served in the common dining room gets mixed reviews from the residents, but there are many options available daily.

There is also a restaurant and pool onsite—and scheduled outings are offered, with van transportation when needed.

The whole philosophy of housing and care at New Bridge is geared to elders—and there is a real drive to keep people as independent as possible for as long as possible. The staff is very involved and concerned about residents’ safety and care, and the administrative staff really know the residents who live there. They also work well with agencies and families. In the few cases in which there was a problem with residents or family members, the staff showed compassion and flexibility in working out a solution.

Anyone would love to live there, but a barrier for many is the expense--private pay, with an initial payment of $10,000 upfront.

This is a relatively new development of Hebrew SeniorLife, a big company in the Boston area with lots of facilities. It's a CCRC, but you don't have to live there to move into skilled nursing or assisted living. They also do a lot of rehab in the skilled nursing unit. I've had relatives at NewBridge, and I know some of the staff well.

It's right off the highway, convenient by car. But it's not within walking distance to shops or businesses. It a big campus--162 acres--and you drive quite a long way before getting to the buildings.

The building are a mix: cottages, an apartment building, another large building, and a Jewish day school (inter-generational programming is one of their goals). There's a strong Jewish content to everything there: food, atmosphere, programming, culture.

The staff is very skilled in assisted living, very experienced, attentive, and caring. They have high quality programming. There's also lots of sharing of resources with the different levels of care. But I'd like to see a better staff-to-patient ratio in skilled nursing. Patients can wait a long time for help. I rate the assisted living a 4 but the skilled nursing just a 3.

Food in assisted living is good, not great. And the activities put a lot of emphasis on inter-generational concerts, lectures, art exhibits...that kind of thing.