The Best Continuing Care Retirement Communities Communities in New Castle County, DE

"Kendal-Crosslands Communities offers a continuum of care which is a plus for me when I need more help. It's a Quaker community, and I find the Quaker values a very comfortable environment. It's physically attractive, but they're low-key not into fancy chandeliers. They say it's spooky but outside, the grounds are attractive. The staff has always been pleasant and helpful. I like the way they stay in touch with prospects like me, they don't overdo it or keep bugging me. On the other hand, they check in now and then with a phone message or an email. It's a balanced marketing approach, I just found them to be professional and dignified but friendly and responsive. The facility itself is not brand new, maybe parts of it are, but the facility as a whole has been there for a while. So it's not as spiffy as some of the newer places. Their activities are pretty much typical of those places. They make arrangements so that you can go into the city for concerts, plays, and visits to museums. They also have onsite facilities for sport and fitness, movies, and bridge."

"Maris Grove was very nice but it was a purchase program where you had to buy the apartment. It was not on lease and you had to put a lot of money on it. The environment was great and it was clean. I would have no problem if the payment was reasonable like a monthly fee. We were well-informed during our visit. "

"The Granite Farms Estates was very nice, very open, and had very large areas for people to meet. I have a friend there, so I saw what it was like too. She was in the memory care and she was alone by herself but her room was too small. The hallways and other areas were big though. I also had lunch with her and the food was good. The facility was just a rectangular-shaped building so it was not as attractive as the other facilities we looked at, but it's less than a mile away from the nearest hospital."

"We went to Friends Village at Woodstown, and it was very nice. It was expensive, but it was absolutely beautiful. Cleanliness was impeccable, and there's a very high level of individuality (you're able to individualize your rooms). The staff was very, very nice and very professional."

"Overall, the quality of the care provided was excellent. Staff were very welcoming to families and very friendly and familiar to residents. The residents were also provided with a well filled activities schedule, though admittedly, there were many repeat events. At one point my grandfather had to be confined to a special section of the assisted living facility because he was trying to escape, more or less. The way in which residents were treated with regards to the door, given that they really did need to be secured in order to ensure their safety, was respectable. Staff joked lightly about the subject with the residents, and did everything in their effort to make it seem as if they were not being held against their will. There came a point where my grandfather could no longer eat solid foods, and at that point it was imperative that he receive a special diet of pureed foods. This facility was able to accommodate him, indeed, going above and beyond to add some culinary zest to the puree. When he got to the point where he could not manage his own hygiene, the nurses managed to make him presentable, and respected his dignity in the process. The ambiance varied drastically from building to building. In the final building where he received the highest levels of care, I found it quite uncomfortable. Indeed, it was very obvious that this was the sort of place that people would never leave from alive. Despite efforts to provide a sun exposure through a skylight, in this particular area it was not sufficient. You could also tell that the staff were suffering from malaise in this particular building as well. Perhaps it cannot be avoided in such a place. I do feel very fortunate that the ambiance was my only complaint. He was well treated and cared for when we could not be there for him. "

"I've visited a number of facilities and Riddle Village was the one I liked most. I liked it because it was a continuous care facility, it had a very nice and cheery atmosphere, there were lots of amenities, the food was really nice, it was close to the hospital, and residents can decorate their own place when they move in. Both of my parents-in-law liked it. They had a pool, a gym, different classes, art, Bingo, and they took trips to the casinos. They could pretty much do anything there and they had transportation if they needed to go to doctors. Continuous care was probably its best feature because residents don't have to go anywhere else if they got sick or needed more care. They can stay right there in that facility. "

"I was very impressed with Lima Estates. It was lovely, and if I ever decide to do anything, I might consider this facility. It’s right down the road where I live now, so it’s very convenient for me. It was very lovely. Everybody was wonderful. They invited me for a meal when I was there, and it was delicious. "

"The admissions staff was extremely accomodating when my parents both needed rehab after being simultaneously hospitalized. They located a room they could share, and the staff was extremely pleasant and helpful, doing all they could to welcome them. The rehab staff people were extremely helpful and personable, encouraging them to work harder than I would have thought possible. After three weeks my parents were able to return home quite successfully. "

"Our mother moved to WHV over 14 yeas ago and our family has found the facility, staff, and grounds to be everything advertised. Until a few months ago she spent the last 3years in the assisted living (personal care) section of the healthcare facility. The staff is attentive and caring, and we appreciate the fact that they regularly kept us advised of any changes, events, etc. whether they were critical in nature or not. During that time our mother spent a few temporary periods in the skilled nursing section while recovering from various events. She is now a permanent resident in the skilled nursing section, and we are extremely pleased with the care she is receiving and the caring nature of the staff, from her nurses and aides to the administrative personnel and the people who coordinate and lead the various activities. This is so important to us, as we visit often but do not live close by. "

"My father moved to Arbour Square in West Chester. I think they're doing a very good job on trying to make him comfortable and ease into the community. The food is fine. They have lots of options in terms of activities, like cocktail hours. They have social talk (or coffee talk) and movies. His room is clean, and the amenities are very nice. They have a games area outside with a firepit. They have a patio and a second patio by the lunch area. They have many outside activities with a few options."

"Ware Presbyterian Village's individual cottages were very well laid out and the maintenance was very nice. The landscaping outside was very nice and the people we met were very friendly. It seemed like they have a lot of activities, but the one thing they lack is a swimming pool."

"The food was good, and the people were nice at Simpson Meadows. It would have been a very attractive place for me to live. The apartments were very nice. There were many choices. It was clean and in a good location too. It is near a Wegmans grocery store and the movies. The person who accommodated me was very knowledgeable. They had a luncheon for interested people and a lecture on current events. They have lectures, movies, and a fitness room. They also have a bus that takes the residents to places."

"Dunwoody, as the locals call it, is an upscale and exclusive assisted living facility. I recently went there to visit my family's oldest living neighbor. He is still very active and I'm glad he is at Dunwoody because they offer many activities both within the facility and out in the community. The staff seems very committed to their jobs and he seems happy and well adjusted.We're glad he has the ability to be independent while still having top notch medical care and support within the village. He is currently shopping at the local supermarket and preparing his own meals but should he need another procedure, he can always join the group in the facility's dining hall. I would highly recommend this experience for any senior who would like to be part of the community provided they have the financial means. Dunwoody is not inexpensive but it is very good care. "

Makemie at Whiteland is the newest senior living option in the Delaware Valley. Makemie features spacious new apartment and villa homes, as well as assisted living and nursing care all on the campus. We are accepting reservations now and wil be open in 2012.