The Best Communities in Philadelphia County, PA

"I toured Deer Meadows Retirement Community for respite care. My dad will be in their memory care. They had a room that was readily available for our timeframe as well as the cost out of pocket. I was very impressed with the secured unit as well as all the amenities that he would be able to have access to as far as activities. My concern was, that while he is home, he's inactive, but that facility has a lot of activities for him to engage in even though he is in a secure unit. I was very impressed with that. A lot of activities were more recreational. There's access to a pool table, there's access to an actual game room, and of course, just having the access to your private TV and things of that sort. A lot of those things pretty much impressed me. The staff were very friendly and very welcoming. I had my son with me when during the tour, and they were very engaging with him. They explained to us that we would still be able to visit my dad during this time. They were friendly and welcoming when he went back for a second tour, so it was very nice. They also explained to us that in the memory care unit, you need a code to get onto the floor and off the floor."

"Wesley Enhanced Living Pennypack Park was very nice. The person who took me on the tour was very informative. They took me through the entire facility. The apartment sizes were sufficient. The only negatives I found were that there are no washers and dryers in the units, so you have to use them on the floor. Although it's a very old building, they have modernized it, and it was in very good shape. They've got a beautiful dining room. The apartments were ample. Compared to some that I've visited, they were a pleasant size and not cramped. They took you through the place where they have movies. They took me out in the garden, which is surrounded by the building, so it's very private. There's security. They give you points for food. They have a dining room, a snack and breakfast/ lunch area."

"I like that Atria Lafayette Hill was very clean. The people were very friendly. When I walked in, I didn't feel like I was going into a nursing home. I felt like I was coming into an apartment more so than some of the other places. What I liked about Atria was the fact that it was age-in-place. You can stay in the apartment if you need personal care or if you need any kind of physical assistance. The only time you have to move out of that apartment is if you have to go into memory care. I like the idea that my brother can possibly stay there for a while, and he wouldn't have to move locations. So that's very nice, and I like that. The other thing I like about them is that they don't have a buy-in. They had a community fee that was whatever the rent was for the month. And it only has a hundred rooms, so to me, that wasn't that big. And it was pleasing to the eye. I like the idea that it's a la carte. If they need a little bit of assistance, it's this much more amount, or if they need medication, it's this much more amount. And the staff who gave the tour was amazing. She spent a lot of time with me, and answered all my questions. She was very informative. If she didn't have an answer, she looked it up for me and she got back to me. So that was impressive."

"I toured Sunrise of Abington. I like pretty much everything about it, but the price was a little steep for me. The staff was great. Everybody I ran into was just a joy to talk to. The apartments were nice. There was enough space. I looked at the one- and two-bedroom, but I would only get a one-bedroom because it's just me. They showed me around the grounds. It was a pleasure. They're nice people. The dining area was nice. Nobody was in there eating at the time, but they showed me the dining room and other rooms where they do checkers and cards and other things. It was a nice setup all the way around. They have an exercise room. They were polite. All the staff that I met, every time I ran into another staff member, they spent the time, they talked with me. It's always good when you feel welcome when you go to a place. They were doing some construction. They're putting some new apartments together. I got an opportunity to see them, and the place is well taken care of as soon as you pull on the grounds."

"This facility seemed very nice. The residents were happy and the staff seemed to enjoy working there. It felt more homey than I expected and was very clean. The residents seemed to have a lot of things to do and the food seemed pretty good! The amenities were nice. This facility is in a very nice area as well and the residents had a lot of access to the community through shuttle services. "

"We went to Pinnacle at Plymouth Meeting. We looked there at the two-bedroom, two-bath. It was very nice. The place was set up like a main street town, which was really very nice. You walk in one area and it looks like they have a general store, a bistro, a theater, and private dining room for families. They have a game room on the Main Street. It was very cleverly decorated. They have a salon and spa, they have yoga and exercises, and they have lecture rooms where they have different topics brought in. The two-bedroom has a full kitchen. The staff was very pleasant and professional."

"We toured Wesley Enhanced Living Upper Moreland. The staff who gave the tour answered all our questions and gave us information. I liked them, and the way they did it was outstanding. The facilities were kept very clean, very open, and lunch was delicious. Also, the personnel who served lunch were very friendly. We saw only a two-bedroom apartment, and it's spacious. We didn't see a one-bedroom, which we are interested in, but the two-bedroom was very nice, with a well-equipped kitchen. Each apartment has a balcony, which is very nice. The cottages are really something. They have a very big garage, even for a big car. You can open the doors both ways. So, we liked it. I am on a gluten-free diet, and I told the server that I had some concerns about the food. He served it nicely and told me it was gluten-free, and I could eat it safely. He paid more attention when I told him. He's a very nice guy."

"We toured Woodbury Mews. Jerry was very courteous. We had lunch there. The food was excellent. The food was outstanding if that was something that you were looking for. The facilities were a little bit older, but everything had been upgraded in the unit. One thing that we didn't like was that they didn't have any balconies, verandas or patios, so that was negative for us. The units were smaller, with no kitchen, just a kitchenette. But they had a theatre, a huge craft area, and a very active activities program. The staff we met were all very friendly and accommodating."

"With heartfelt appreciation From the perspective of this resident of Wesley Enhanced Living-Main Line, the initial protective vaccination (Feb. 9, 2021) against the Covid 19 virus for residents in Independent Living) was a well-planned, efficient, and tenderly administered program. Rich Block "

"I'm at Seaton Voorhees. The people are very friendly and helpful, but I don't like rules and regulations. You have to follow rules and regulations, but that's part of life. They have one- and two-bedroom and efficiencies, and I'm in an efficiency. The food is not great, but it's good. They have activities each day, like exercise and bingo. They're doing a very good job here. The staff has been great."

Parkers Bend Retirement is Moorestown, New Jersey's premier independent living community. The community comprises 119 apartments for adults 55 and over — including studio apartments, one, two, and three-bedroom suites, and a variety of floor plans. Parkers Bend Retirement is all-inclusive, providing five-star services on a month-to-month basis. A single monthly charge includes all services, utilities, phone, cable, and internet. Spacious common areas feature a 150-seat state-of-the-art theater, library, billiards and game room, conversation areas with fireplaces, concierge lounge with bar, flat-screen TV, game tables, superb fitness and exercise room facilities, spa area, laundry facility, and business center. Residents savor the variety found in an industry-first all-inclusive Freedom Dining Program. With three fresh chef-prepared meals daily, residents can choose from a variety of menu options and dining experiences with flexible hours. Coffee, juice, ice cream, and snacks are available all day. Weekly housekeeping service is provided, along with transportation to and from appointments and shopping trips. Numerous planned activities, social events, and travel opportunities abound. Live-in managers and concierge and valet services are available 24/7, ensuring resident safety. Every resident receives an emergency alert pendant, guaranteeing peace of mind to friends and family that their loved ones are protected during emergencies. Pets are warmly welcome at Parkers Bend Retirement, with no additional pet deposit. A guest suite is available for residents' family members to reserve for visits. A travel program whisks residents to any of Resort Lifestyle Communities' other properties, where they can reserve a guest suite free for one week — meals included. Fitness and wellness programs including aerobics, weight lifting, yoga, walking clubs, sittercises, and many more boost resident wellness. A beauty salon/barber shop is close on the property. Residents can participate in a book club, bridge and poker games, or go on excursions to museums, cultural events, and casinos. Residents often say they wish they would have made the move sooner—those who make the move while they are still healthy tend to retain, or even improve, their health living in an independent retirement community like Parkers Bend. Socialization, security, and peace of mind are vital benefits provided to all residents. Socializing not only contributes to a longer, happier life, but also improves cognitive performance. Building a circle of support with new friends at Parkers Bend will enrich your life in countless ways. Visit Parkers Bend soon!

"We toured Marlton Gardens Gracious Retirement Living. It's brand new and has a lot more amenities than what we need, but it's very attractive. The tour we had was very, very, thorough. The staff was excellent. I only met the person in charge, and I was very impressed by him."

"Brookdale looked like a nice facility, everything looked nice, but the contact person, I didn’t get some phone calls returned, and poor communications I would give that, but the rest was fine. The dining hall was nice, parking was easy, and everything else seemed good. The rooms were good, but you bring your own furniture."

"I went to look at Juniper Village at Bucks County. The bedroom was very generous. The kitchen was like a wall, and a wall, and then a partial wall that looks into the living room. So when you're in there, it's like you're in a hallway. I didn't care for that too much. I didn't like the kitchen. It's not open. It was in a wooded area. The staff seemed very nice. She had answers to your questions. She was a very positive person. She wasn't trying to persuade you, and just gave you the information that you needed. She was very helpful. I know they have a place to exercise. Everything was clean. The painting looked like it was fresh. There didn't seem anything that needed fixing. Everything seemed to be in good shape."