The Best Independent Living Communities in Hampden County, MA

"I've only been living here in Connect55+ East Windsor for a month now. I signed up with them at least three years ago, before they even built it. There are a couple of things I really liked about it. One was that there was a washer and dryer in the apartment. They had crafts and stuff. They had numerous activities going on, and they had garages. I was able to move all of my stuff over to the garage. It's brand new and very clean."

"Stonebrook Village at Windsor Locks was beautiful. It looked brand new. They had everything we could ask for. We would have gone there if they were closer. It was our first pick. The person who gave us the tour was awesome, very friendly, and very knowledgeable. We did not see the rooms though. We saw the whole activity room, where they eat, and the different places that they have, like where they get their hair done and where they get their nails done. Everything is like one big open room where they have a living room and a dining room, and the activities are all kind of in the same huge room with the residents' rooms off on the side. They had an activities director, and they had arts and crafts, bingo, trivia, music, and trips."

"Since moving into Cedarbrook Village, my mom is doing so much better than when she was living alone. The caring, attentive staff and warm community have made all the difference. She's thriving with the social interaction and enjoys the many wonderful activities offered. The place is beautiful and very well maintained. It truly feels like she has a new lease on life, and we couldn’t be more grateful."

"Brookdale South Windsor was nice. We liked it. It's really nice inside. However, the rooms were a little smaller than the place we chose. Everyone was very friendly when we were there. The building seemed so much bigger from the inside."

"Evergreen Crossings Retirement Community was lovely. We visited my father-in-law and he gave us a tour. We had a meal. Everything was positive. It was pleasant. He was clean. All the staff was very helpful, caring and considerate, professional and friendly. I saw nothing wrong. I had a prime rib. The chef was excellent. He had a two-bedroom and it was well-sized. The place was clean and it was warm. I didn't see the activities other than the meal. However, the price was going up considerably."

"We have decided on White Oaks in Manchester for me and my wife because it's close to us and our family. The staff seems to be very nice and they take care of the meals and everything. There's plenty of rooms and they are clean. The dining area looked very nice. They have social distancing. They don't have a pool, but I believe they have a gym and a pool table and lots of things to do. The place looks good and it has an elevator. They seem to be very caring and polite."

"Hoffman SummerWood Community was overall really good. We sampled some of the pastries that they offer, which were good. They had a life-alert pendant that comes standard with your rent. As long as you're within a certain radius of the facility, you have that available to you and you don't have to pay anything extra. They pretty much have the same things as the other places. The staff during the tour was very good. They had a great menu that they offered for lunch and dinner."

Connect55+ Manchester is a modern 55+ active adult community located at 140 Spencer Street in Manchester, Connecticut, offering independent living and senior apartment-style residences designed for comfort, convenience, and connection. Situated just outside Hartford, the community provides a vibrant, maintenance-free lifestyle where residents can enjoy independence while being part of a welcoming and socially engaging environment. The community features a newly constructed, three-story apartment-style building with approximately 128 units, offering spacious one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Residences include modern kitchens, in-unit washers and dryers, air conditioning, and private living spaces designed for ease and comfort. The building also includes elevator access, controlled entry, and thoughtfully designed common areas that encourage social interaction and convenience. Residents at Connect55+ Manchester enjoy a wide range of amenities and services that support an active, maintenance-free lifestyle. These include a fitness center, game room, walking and biking trails, and comfortable community lounges. On-site management and maintenance services provide added convenience, while social events, classes, and wellness programs encourage residents to stay active, engaged, and connected. A key special feature of the community is its focus on active adult living and social engagement. Designed specifically for residents aged 55 and older, the community fosters connection through organized activities, hobby groups, and shared spaces that promote interaction and a strong sense of belonging. The pet-friendly environment and beautifully landscaped grounds further enhance the lifestyle experience. Located in Manchester, residents benefit from proximity to a variety of nearby attractions and conveniences, including shopping centers such as Spencer Street Plaza and The Shoppes at Buckland Hills, as well as local dining and entertainment options. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy nearby parks like Wickham Park, while cultural attractions such as the Connecticut Science Center and local museums are just a short drive away. The community's location also offers easy access to Hartford and major highways, making travel and outings convenient. Additional highlights of Connect55+ Manchester include its pet-friendly policies, maintenance-free living, and strong emphasis on community and connection. With thoughtfully designed residences and engaging programming, the community offers an ideal setting for active adults seeking both independence and social opportunity. Overall, Connect55+ Manchester provides a modern and engaging senior living experience where residents can enjoy a carefree lifestyle, meaningful connections, and the comforts of a well-appointed home in a convenient Connecticut location.

"Brookside is lovely. The people there are very attentive, very welcoming, and very caring. They were making sure they had all the information that they needed to see that my brother is well taken care of. I was very impressed with them. Right now he's independent, but if he should need additional care, they would let us know. I'm very pleased with them. They've made a very good impression, I have to say. I mean, he's not there yet; but from everything we've seen, what they've done, and how attentive they were, it was very good. They have a gym (a workout room, I guess you call it), and a community area. They have dining for the residents. Once covid gets all squared away, you can bring family in to dine and even have a party there if you wanted to. They have little areas where residents can play cards. They have a bistro where they do special little dinners and things. There's a TV in that area and the bistro area. They don't have a washer and dryer in each unit, but each floor has a washer and dryer and everything is preset for them (so they don't have to decide which cycle). You just press a button, and it's already loaded with detergent and whatever they need. The staff even went out of her way. The VA needed a special form or something, and she offered to go over there, pick it up, and drop it off to them so we wouldn't have to make an extra trip. It was very nice of her. They went out of their way to introduce us to the chef, and he even gave us something to take home with us. We enjoyed a meal there with my brother while we were discussing everything. The food was delicious. They try to accommodate you, what you like, or don't like. My brother likes soups. He made a point of having soup there for him when we had lunch there."

"We will be moving into Avery Heights. The feeling we got walking in the front door was that it was an active, friendly place. Everybody was upbeat and walking around with smiles on. The staff was very friendly, outgoing, helpful, and very happy to be there doing programs with the actual residents. We had lunch with them, and it was okay. Everything was well kept. Everything looked like it had been maintained well. They have a fairly new pool on the ground floor and there are lots of other group activity rooms. There are plenty of places for people to be. I was very impressed with the rooms. We saw an older room that had not been through the rehab process yet. It has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. There's plenty of square footage and a very nice balcony looking over a beautiful garden. There's great lighting in the room. It's a lovely space."

"The staff at Brookdale Chatfield seemed very supportive. The residents there seemed very happy with what the staff was doing for them. The organization is one where you pay on a monthly basis as opposed to buying in. The rooms seemed small. They had different sizes from very small efficiencies up to 2-bedroom units, and if we were going to move there, we would probably look at one of the 2-bedroom units. The community itself looks like it’s been around for maybe twenty years, but they have done a good job of maintaining it so that everything looks fresh and good. The kitchen facilities were up to date. The stove and the refrigerator were all new. Any time anybody moved in, they completely renovated that particular unit -- put in new carpeting and repainted -- so when you moved in, the unit itself looked very new. We were quite impressed with everything. "

"It was right on the lake. It was a very nice atmosphere and you had a choice of foods. You don't have to have one meal every day. You have a choice and they cater to your diet needs. The apartments were very spacious and very nice. The one bedroom that we saw had a lot of sunshine coming in the windows. It was very nice and very clean. Then they had a two-bedroom apartment that was spacious and huge, but the one-bedroom was big enough for us. The staff was very nice and very professional. They have a beauty salon, a library, and a communal PC. They also have special rooms that if you do have an event, you could use that room or if you have a family that would come over to eat with you. They gave us lunch and it was good."

"We toured Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing. The things I liked best about them were the apartments themselves. They were very spacious and very well-designed with lots of storage. The common areas were very clean and very well decorated. They put lots of thought into different activities that the residents could do. The thing I liked least was probably the cost and the structure of the way they charge. They have a very large buy-in cost up front and then also a fairly high monthly cost. So that just really put them out of our price range."

"I simply cannot say enough positive things about their marketing manager Tracey M. Who moved heaven on earth to help us in placing my Father. I was so pleased with all this facility had to offer, but most impressed with Tracy . !!!!!!!!"