Independent Living Communities in Asbury Park, NJ

"I toured the Heritage of Clara Barton, and I liked the location. The lobby was very nice and expansive. I liked that they had a separate laundry room, a very nice common area, a stove, and a refrigerator. The staff was very nice, and she made me feel very welcome. I liked the size of the kitchen, but I thought the living room and the bedroom were small."

"I toured the New Nautilus Hotel. When I looked around the room it was so great, the balcony, but the only thing I wish they had working was the pool because they have a pool, but there's no water in it. That was the only thing missing, but the atmosphere and the rooms were nice. Everything was nice about the place. It's right in front of the beach. The staff was very friendly, the front desk personnel, and the security."

"Comstock Court does the best they can here, but this building is infested with roaches, rats, and everything else and it's just too overwhelming. There's a call bell when you need help. I pulled it one night when I fell on the side of the bed and I was on the floor for 3 hours. Thank God my daughter came over to see me. She was the one who helped me up. There's a backyard where you can barbecue or whatnot and a room that you could entertain in your company if you'd like. There are people that come into the pantry to bring food that is sometimes unworthy of them, but they also bring good stuff from the food bank. I got a one-bedroom and it's OK. I'm on the second floor and I get a nice view of the backyard of my neighbors. They are friendly neighbors."

"Heritage Village at Ocean is very scenic. When you come down the street leading to here, which is called Hidden Meadows Drive, both sides have trees and shrubs, no houses, no buildings. It's really nice and secluded. The apartments are very nice, and it's very quiet. I got a one-bedroom, and it's big. I got my own washer and dryer inside the apartment. I'm on the third floor, and they've got elevators. Everything is closed with this pandemic. They had a clubhouse and things to do, but you can't use them right now. I like it because it's very clean, very quiet, and the rent is in the area I want to spend. I've only seen a couple of people working here. There's no food service."

"We're going to Seabrook Retirement Community. It's very well-maintained and very professional. There were lots of people moving around and doing different things. The apartments looked great. The staff were all very professional. The food was excellent. With regards to activities, you name it, they offer it. They have health programs and entertainment. They offer everything."

"I toured Brightview Eatontown a year ago. They were very helpful and very informative. I thought there was too much alcohol being served. There were snacks around. Maybe that was supposed to be helpful, but if you were diabetic, that would be a problem. A lot of people can't self-limit themselves. I thought the residents' rooms were very small, and that may be because they want people to be encouraged to leave their rooms. I just thought there was not enough room. I would feel claustrophobic. The place is very clean. They have a patio, but they don't have a pool to my knowledge. The patio was spacious. People were out there, and they were having an event."

"My mom stayed at The Arbors at Spring Lake for respite. She needs minimal care so it was just for meals and some socialization because she could handle her medications. She said they were very responsive to her needs. It's a lovely program that included exercise, wonderful meals, and a very caring staff. I sat with her during a meal there and it was very good. They had bingo, a chair yoga class, and they had the opportunity to take a ride to the boardwalk. She had a friend there too so they had that socialization. Her room had a sliding glass door, so she was able to sit out and read. I had gone on a trip and flown out of Newark Airport and they said to me, "If we had known that, we could have provided you a room when you got here", and it was very, very kind of them. She was very satisfied with the food. She thought the portions were great and the selection was good and healthy. The place was clean, and the staff was very accommodating and warm. They had wonderful young people working on the food service side who were very attentive. The only downside was how far it is from where I live but it was much more economically feasible than some of the other places in this area."

"I'm staying in Gregory School Apartments. It's a 55+ senior apartment and it's a nice place. The layout is perfect and I'm in a 1-bedroom. You pay, depending on your income. The place is perfect and everything is clean. I'm in their independent living and the other ones are for seniors that need more help. They all go by what you make. The staff is excellent. If you have any problem at all, they'll be right there for you with no hesitation. They have a couple of people who manage and take care of the place during the day and they have security at night. It's a very nice place and very secure. I cook my own meals. They have an exercise room on the other side but it's not in my building. There are benches outside and the landscape is beautiful. You can walk whenever you want."

"The Chelsea at Shrewsbury was very pretty, and they had a visitor who has four paws. They have therapy dogs come in and visit with the residents. I thought that was wonderful. It was very hotel-like looking. The staff was friendly enough, I thought the reception was kind of overwhelmed. My mom would probably tell you that she found them to be rude because they were kind of cross and they were busy. I think it might have been in between shift changes or something, but they were too busy to help us. We had to sit and wait for a little bit before we saw the person, we had an appointment with. Their dining area is pretty. I didn't even smell food, so we were there during an off-food time. They had a movie room, and it was very nice. They had another activity room, it was big. They were playing bingo at the time, and that was very full, a lot of people were doing the bingo. They had a little library nook on the second floor. Everything was beautiful, it was gorgeous. You felt like you were going into a boutique hotel. In terms of cleanliness, it was immaculate. They gave me cookies"

"The atmosphere at The Artium is a home like environment. When you walk through the halls, there are bookcases, couches, pictures and friendly faces. The staff is patient, helpful, and they really listen to the residents. There is a program set up that requires the staff to conduct interviews with their residents to find out facts about not only illnesses they may be suffering with but memories from their lives, goals they'd like to achieve, things they like to talk about, and family members that routinely visit. These interviews are placed in their charts for nurses and staff to utilize when treating patients. They get to know their residents and visitors on a personal level which I feel not only makes their stay a pleasant one, but a healthy one. They have a chef that creates a variety of meals, a lovely dining room with a view of the river, and events that residents can attend in order to socialize. They have created a community within the facility and go above and beyond to make residents feel welcome. I have never had an issue going to visit and I have never heard a complaint from her. It's touching to see that they've put so much work into getting to know her and helping her reach her goal. She is becoming forgetful and her goal is to remember her daughter, one of my close friends, which the staff is aware of. They engage her in conversation about her daughter and always present her upon visiting. It's often difficult putting your mother in an assisted living home but I think they made this transition easy for both parties and I would highly recommend this facility. "

"We moved my brother to The Triton House. We like that it is very clean, they give good care, and the food is good. They watch TV and order pizza. There is a county bus that will take them to doctors' appointments, and there is also a doctor that visits. They are provided three meals a day and laundry services. "

"My mother is so happy living at Arbor Terrace in Middletown, New Jersey. The staff is wonderful. They have an individual coordinator for the independent living section who is amazing. Anastasiya is reachable via phone and or text and truly makes my mom feel seen and heard. My mother is able to see the doctor on staff there. Since moving my Mom there in early January of this year she has already been able to see a physical therapist, a staff doctor and an audiologist. Each and every time I go there, the residents are always happy and involved with so many activities throughout the day and early evening. The food is delicious and the place is incredibly clean. The maintenance department Is there to help my mom with whatever she needs. The front desk staff is there help me with whatever I need when I call and that always makes me feel good. Initially, when my family was looking for a place to move my mom into, I was fortunate enough to be able to spend time on the phone with Faith. Her guidance was very important as we went through the process. My mother loves her apartment with her small kitchenette and private bath. I strongly recommend Arbor Terrace to anyone who wants to place a family member in a beautiful, safe and secure setting where hands-on care is provide provided 24 seven."

"I went to see Leisure Park in Lakewood and toured their independent living. It's really good, very updated, and sophisticated. It's clean and neat, and very modern. The staff also kept up with me. The place is very nice and upscale. It's beautiful with a lot of modern facilities, which is what I liked about it. It's also open with a lot of people working there."

"I am a resident of Leisure Village. I'm right on the lake, which is beautiful. It has a lot of natural beauty, ducks, and swans. We have two pools, one heated, and they're both outdoors. They have a lot of activities, but I didn't participate because I was taking care of my great-grandsons. There are a lot of amenities if you wish to take advantage of them, and I'm active in water aerobics. The staff is very good. If you need any help with appliances or anything else, they're very responsive and take care of it right away. They have garbage collection twice a week, recycling once a week, and they maintain the lawns very nicely. They have bingo weekly. They have a cafe that you can go to and hang out whenever you want. They have a gym, an art studio, and a sewing club. They have an Italian and Jewish club. They have a couple of church groups. I feel it's a little high, but most people say that it's the best facility for the money."