The Best Independent Living Communities in Lancaster County, PA

"I like the facilities at Woodcrest Villa. Everything is right there. The hospital is right across the street. It is also very new. The staff was very informative. They answered all our questions and they showed us homes. The home is 1,500 square feet, which is what we are looking for. They have games, a library, a movie theater, an area for riding a bike around the development, and a swimming pool that is open all year round. I'm really interested in this place."

"My wife is at The Long Community. I visit there about once a year, and it’s a nice place. Their apartments are really big. It's a new facility, just about three or four years old. The food is good. They have physical fitness activities twice a week, and they have buses that take them on tours, and they go visit different places. The people are friendly there, and they are all about the same age. Overall, it's a nice place, but the design of the apartment isn’t the best. I don’t know if they can change it, but if I were to design an apartment, I wouldn’t design it the way it is. For example, the shower is too big, and it doesn’t have any handrails, and for older people that is very important. "

"Great full service retirement community with a real heart for its residents. "

"My tour of the Traditions of America East Petersburg was very pleasant. The staff members were very friendly and knowledgeable and answered all our questions, and the facilities were very nice. We looked at separate houses and we felt that they were very good-looking houses and we felt that the pricing was fine. But we felt that once you added up the base price, the premiums, and the necessary upgrades that you would want, then the price was too high. We would need to get at least a small mortgage in addition to selling our current home to purchase the house that we like here, which was a 3-bedroom separate home. They had a nice clubhouse with a nice gym, pool, meeting room, etcetera. The amenities were fine. The staff who gave the tour was knowledgeable, answered all of our questions, and gave us enough time to tour the facilities adequately. Everything was good except for the cost."

"NovaCare is right next to our church, and the church is the one that founded it for the church members, but the church members can't get in now. Everyone is out from outside, and you have to wait in line for three or four years before you can get in. My aunt went there, and I'm aware of the facility. I've taken a couple of tours there. Our problem is we need it now, and we can't wait three or four years before we can get in. They have all kinds of activities. They have a pool, for one thing, and they have activity centers and exercise rooms. They take them on trips. One of my good buddies is the director of activities there. He's from our church, and he's been there for some time. They have a little putting green out there for some of the guys who want to putt, and they have their own little bus. They take them to the store, and they'll take them to their doctor's appointments. Everything is a plus. The apartments varied in size, and they have the cottages also. It has a great location, and the facilities are up to date. Everything is very, very neat. It's outstanding. "

"I had a meal at Lancashire Terrace Retirement, and my wife was there with me before she broke her leg. Very nice director, really good chef, and a nice dining area. I like the fact that it's a small, closely knit community. They seemed to know each other. They have little sun rooms, and the arrangement of the cottages is very nice. I like the location in Lancaster, since we're both Lancastrians, and our daughter's family is here to back it up. We're close to Lancashire, and it has the facilities for rehab, and if anything is needed as far as nursing is concerned, they're right next door. They have like a play, music theater, an opera house, sound, and light. Some people come here and will spend days going to each of the big shows that we have. They have a game room and a nice library. Most of the rooms have a living room area, a bedroom, maybe a den. Closet space is a problem. It's not a very big place, but it's very nice. "

"The rates of Brethren Village were relatively reasonable. We saw some of their rooms and apartments and they were adequate. We thought the staff was friendly. They seemed to have answered all our questions and provided us with the information we needed. "

"I chose Providence Place Senior Living of Lancaster for my sister. There isn't anything that I don't like about it. It's clean and professional. They treat everyone with respect. They're knowledgeable, and their care is just phenomenal. I just like everything about it. The staff is very pleasant. Their communication is good. It's just overall great to be there, that's why we chose it. With regards to food, we talked to several of the people who live there currently, and they rated it highly, so it seemed like they were okay with it. The structure was great. It's right in the center of everything. A PT was right there. The salon, the lounge, and the dining room and everything were spotless. I felt at home right away, and there were daily activities. When you walk in, everyone is very sociable. It's a light atmosphere, and everyone is very welcoming. The room is just perfect for my sister. The size is perfect for her. It wasn't too big, it wasn't too small, but it was very homey."

"Landis Homes provides such a welcoming atmosphere. Very clean and pleasant. You do not feel as though you are walking into an "old folks home." The staff truly cares about each and every resident. The focus at the facility is "person centered care." Each resident is truly treated as an individual. There are many activities for the residents. There is a daycare on site and the residents may interact with the little ones if they wish. There is a fitness trail and plot of land that residents may plant a garden if they wish. They are currently expanding their facility. The facility does have a focus on the Mennonite religion but people of all faiths live at Landis Homes. The food at Landis Homes is pretty good. Overall I would highly recommend Landis Homes. I would chose them as a provider for myself or a loved one "

"I visited Moravian Manor twice because my girlfriend was very interested. It was very nice. The people were very nice, but I don't want that community. I don't want to go outside in the wintertime. Very few things are connected. If you want to use the swimming pool, you have to use the community swimming pool at Lititz. They don't have their own pool or anything. Everything is so scattered. I don't want to go outside; I want everything connected. It's a beautiful community if you want to go outside in the winter. The apartments were very nice. They were a little bit bigger than most of them are. However, I was not impressed with their dining area. It was not elegant in any manner. It was tables, chairs, and vinyl flooring. The staff were all very pleasant. The maintenance looked very good. It's a beautiful community if you like to go outside to do things, but their big apartment wasn't connected to anything."

"Luther Acres have first-class restaurants, nice dining facilities, the rooms are completely redone before you move in, and each room has a washer and dryer, separate living area, and a beautiful bathroom. "

"My parents are in Manor North and have been there for 20 years. They are depression kids and have a life view much different than mine - also they lived in a much different world. They are 90 and still living independently although many of their activities have been reduced or dropped due to mobility. There have been many changes the last few years as the facility is shifted to attract the boomers who want a different experience. Many of the residents are not happy with the more modern looks, missing what my parents call homey decorations. Change is inevitable but difficult for many to adjust. I personally like the more open and bright decor. Every 10 years there are major changes to keep the place relevant for the next generation. Each resident gets their apartment renovated should they chose. That includes a complete makeover to their choice. I have always had great interactions with the staff and they are very patient with the residents - as they can be VERY challenging. Like all businesses staff run the gamut of exceptional to above average. I am on the west coast and sister is in central america so we are happy that our parents are in a caring place with people they like. It is not for me but understand that many really like the adult living experience. "

"I visited Willow Valley. It's a continuing care community, but it's not diverse. I am a white woman, but I like diversity in my life. It's all old white people, and I don't like it. They have studios there. I like it because it's somewhat in the country, and there's a level of independence there, but I don't like the weather anymore in the northeast. They offer people the opportunity to spend an overnight stay or a weekend stay. They had very few single people living there, mostly older married people. It's very desirable in terms of geographic for me. You can easily get to Wilmington or Philadelphia, and it's near Delaware and the Poconos. It's very well designed. It's near the suburbs, which is a beautiful location. There's train service, you got a major airport, and you're not that far from the Lehigh Valley either in Pennsylvania."

"United Zion Retirement Community is very clean and well-kept. Their food is very good. They could use a little more staff. They're very nice, but each person has plenty to do. It doesn't have a swimming pool or some of the health things that other places have. I think the cost is a little less because of that. It's very well established. It's been here a long time. They have local people doing the cooking. I know they have invited some of the people who are in independent living to come into the kitchen and help them prepare food. They allow some of that, such as green beans, that they just need to have the ends snipped off and broken into pieces, things like that, not necessarily things that they would need to use a knife. I don't think they do a lot of trips and things like that. It's a very good value because it's a very safe place and very low key and I think that makes it very safe. There's nothing here I would improve. It's very secure. I chose it because of availability and reasonable rates plus their reputation here in town is excellent. They will be opening a new building and have 36 new apartments."