The Best Independent Living Communities in Onondaga County, NY

"My mother is at Forest View at Fayette. It's not quite independent. That's what it originally was supposed to be. I guess with COVID, they have some residents there that need care. There are only 14 residents and maybe 4 that need care. Some are in wheelchairs and some with walkers, but they're pretty much independent. They have aides and a nurse there. They made sure that just in case anything happens, they have someone to distribute the medications to those who need it. They have staff and maintenance. They have the basic cable package there. They have a patio on the side and the back. They have a patio in the front, if they want to sit out. PACE program works with them. PACE will pick them up and take them out for a daytrip and activities. If they choose to go visit family, they can walk out at any time. It's independent living with some assistance. They don't have much entertainment there. If people choose to go out for entertainment, they can. They have some pretty good staff. A lot of them are so beautiful, and they're caring. When the staff cooks the meals, the rating is a 5. When it's brought in from PACE, it's a 3. Before COVID, the staff used to cook all the residents' food. When COVID started, they started bringing the food in from PACE. The staff now cooks maybe twice a week. They need to really improve on the food and entertainment. When I go there, it's generally always clean. They just need some upkeep on the bathroom because my mother complains about it."

"My uncle has moved into The Hearth at Greenpoint. I think it's very friendly. He likes the food. He doesn't participate in activities, but there are a lot of different activities. They have a nice monthly newsletter so that they can see day by day what's happening and what's available to them. He hasn't taken advantage of any van rides or anything like that, but they offer different trips for local shopping and trips out of the country just to get out and about. The staff members are very friendly and professional. My uncle is under a plan where his medications are taken care of for him. They bring his medicines to him at the desired time."

"The Oaks is an independent living facility. Both of my parents live there in a Bedroom plus den apartment. Included in the price are monthly cleaning services, free laundry machines, breakfast and dinner meals, shuttle service, and plenty of daytime and evening activities. The Bedroom plus den includes a large walk-in closet to complement 2 other closet plus a pantry. I have found the staff to be very caring, attentive to individual requests and quick to respond to community needs. The building and grounds are well taken care of. While the meals are kosher, there is a great variety offered at every meal. The portions are generous and the serving staff kind and attentive. The location of the facility is centrally located so that physician visits to any side of town are usually within 15 minutes. I am grateful that I don't need to worry about the atmosphere and location where my parents are staying! "

"My mother will be moving into The Bernardine. It's close to where we live, so we can keep better contact with her. The facilities were being updated to look very good. They have doctors and programs for assisted living and the price was wonderful. The rooms were very spacious. It was very clean. They have pull cords. They have people that will come in to check on you. They have immediate access to medical assistance. My mother was eating the food at the rehab unit and loved it and they have the same food there. The dining area is very clean and very good. The person who gave me the tour, Max, was wonderful. Everyone has been very good."

Brighton Towers Senior Living, located in Syracuse, NY, is a community designed for individuals who are 55 years old and above. It offers apartment-style living where each unit includes a living room, a kitchen, and a dining area. This setup is ideal for residents who appreciate having their own private spaces that feel like home, with the convenience of not having to maintain a separate property.The community is well-equipped with a variety of amenities to enhance the living experience of its residents. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the walking and hiking areas, as well as the outdoor common spaces that allow for relaxation and socialization. For convenience, there is on-site parking and the building access is controlled. Pets are allowed, which is great for residents who love their furry friends. Additionally, the community includes fitness and wellness facilities, a salon, and communal dining areas, all designed to provide comfort and a resort-style living environment.Brighton Towers also offers several services to ensure the residents have everything they need. General transportation services are available, making it easy for residents to go shopping, attend appointments, or visit nearby attractions without the need for personal vehicles. This combination of well-thought-out amenities and services makes Brighton Towers an appealing option for seniors looking for a community that supports an active, comfortable, and convenient lifestyle.

"I love The Nottingham. My parents started out in independent living, and my father passed away, so I eventually got Mom into their assisted living. It's my number one. It's beautiful. The grounds are great for walking. It's sort of like a country setting. It's set away from the main road, and when you're on the campus it's really nice, safe, and secure. They have fobs on their keychains to get in. My mom needed a level of care that included the nursing staff doing all her medications, like ordering and delivery of the medication, whatever time of day it was. They would come in and give Mom her meds, and so that's very secure. The Nottingham offers a continuum from independent living to assisted living. They have memory care, too, but if any of their residents fall ill and need rehab (if they have a room in their rehab), that's another service that they provide there. I love that place. That's my favorite. The food is delicious. In the assisted living it's the same level of deliciousness and choices. The people who serve the folks there got to know them by their first names. They know that Mom likes her iced tea with two lemons, so there's a very good personal touch to it. They have a recreation therapist, and they have an activities program that runs through the week and the weekends. There are times when they will take them over to activities that are in independent care even though they're in assisted living. They will go over there for some special events or some music at night or whatever it is. I like the flow of that because with my mom moving from independent care to assisted living I don't want her to miss anything. I was there for Mother's Day where we planted seeds. They painted their clay pots and then they planted the seeds. They tried to make it as friendly and welcoming as they could. The facility is very pretty, very clean, and welcoming."

"I moved into Morgan Square Senior Apartments. It's wonderful. It's a little pricey, but the rooms are very clean and big. All utilities are included, including Central Air. There's a built-in dishwasher and microwave. The cable is included. They have all different kinds of activities and games every day. They have a senior bus trip. They go shopping every Monday. They have a pool room, a game room, an exercise room, laundry, and garbage facilities on the premises. They take field trips once a month. Everyone is super friendly and helpful. The facility is large. There's only one elevator in the center, and the building goes around, so if you're not close to the elevator, it's a long walk. Everything's covered except your telephone and laundry. You can have a balcony or a patio. Everything is well-lit. There are a lot of overhead lights, which they maintain and are nice. They have pull cords in the room in case you have an emergency. There's someone on call 24 hours a day. You have to pay extra for a garage and a storage room, but they don't always have any available, so you have to get on a waiting list."

"I am a resident of Limestone Garden Apts Senior. The staff are fine. The cleanliness and the maintenance go, the place is pretty clean, but it's old. It was built in the early 70s. The windows need replacing, and they've tried for a grant a couple of times and haven't gotten it. We have an activities committee. We do different things. We have a potluck supper once a month. We do have a community room with a kitchen. We can put on our own stuff or you can reserve them for a family get-together. That part is pretty good. We have a president and committee that runs different activities. I'm pretty happy here."

"I used to live at Conifer Village Apartments, and it was wonderful. I had no problems with the community at all. The staff was very nice. We usually have meetings once or twice a week for different stuff going on. I buy my own food since it is just independent living. I would definitely recommend this community. "

"Everything about McHarrie Pointe was fine. The staff who toured me was very nice, friendly, and informative. They had different activities and a library, scheduled outings, a calendar of events such as little entertainment groups that might come in, and card games."

"My friend is a resident of Seneca Fields Senior Apartments. It's new and clean. There's a little porch on each apartment. You have parking right in front of your apartment. I only talked to the woman in the office who put me on the list. I saw my friend's room. I thought it was fine because it's new and it's only about four years old. She told me that they do some activities. They play cards. They have a little community room where they can get together and do things. I think it's a little bit more room than I have now. I liked it, and I like the layout."