The Best Independent Living Communities in Albemarle County, VA

"My wife and I moved to the Colonnades ten months ago, after considering five other Charlottesville-area retirement facilities. The residents and staff quickly made us feel part of the community. The staff is very helpful and available, even with some tech support with the internet and cell phones. We especially appreciate the wide range of activities--there seems to be an activity for every interest--and the varied exercise and fitness opportunities. There is a UVA-staffed health center and a good physical/occupational therapy program. The food is generally good, and it's improving. Independent living residential options include cottages with garages and patios and apartments with patios or balconies. Pets are welcome."

"My visit to The Manor House Independent Living at Branchlands was really nice. I almost made up my mind that's where I was going to go. They have this big place called the Manor House. It's been there since the late 1800s, and it's very beautiful. They are working hard to keep it in its original state. It's really pretty. It's spacious, and it's got a lot of courtyards outside to sit and walk your animals. The rooms were good, well-lit, and well-cared for. I like them a lot. It's like a community, and you feel like you are in a neighborhood. The person who gave me the tour was really nice. She was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed her. Their apartments were nice. They even have a patio, and you can go out on the patio into the courtyard. I looked at the dining area. It was really nice, and they showed me the menus. They have a chef there, but I did not eat any of their food. They have a calendar of events and things that you can do, like arts and crafts and bingo. There is a prayer club. They have great transportation anywhere you want to go. They take you to doctor's appointments, and they will take you to the mall. They will take you out to eat. The transportation is really good."

"We had a nice tour at Commonwealth Senior Living at Charlottesville. It seemed to be well managed and well maintained. They had two-bedroom units available, which is what we prefer. The apartments were well-maintained and adequate in size, but the kitchen was very small. The staff was very knowledgeable, very open to questions, and gave us a lot of opportunities to talk and ask various things. They had people cleaning the rugs. We were supposed to go look at a couple more rooms, but they were upgrading them. So, I was impressed that they were doing that."

"I toured Anthology of Charlottesville. The apartment's pretty small. They serve two meals a day. They have lounges. It's a sort of typical higher-end retirement place. They have a courtyard and common spaces. They have a cafe-type and a bar-type area, which I think you can use if you want to have a get-together. They have an activity room. They had a saltwater heated pool and a movie theater room. They have a fair number of amenities."

"My husband has lived at Acadia for almost a year. He has Alzheimer’s. .Previously, I placed him at two other facilities. Neither one could meet his increasing needs and the costs were becoming prohibitive. A social worker from the University of Virginia worked with me to locate an appropriate placement for him. Immediately, we focused in on Acadia. It’s the best decision I could’ve made. The staff are down to earth, friendly, and caring. On top of this, my husband’s dog is allowed to be with him. Acadia feels like a home, and not an institutional placement. Staff and residents are one big family. I am there often to see my husband, but also to spend time with residents and the staff, with whom I have become very close. Kudos to Brad, whose vision to help others with disabilities to live a dignified life, has come to fruition."

"I moved to The Independence. It's a one bedroom with a patio, nice living room, dining area, big kitchen, and laundry. We have a poetry reading group. We have a whole bunch of stuff. We do bridge, bingo, and mahjong. I love the staff. They are very good. The cleanliness is good. We have a patio and we have barbecues. We have a library. The value for the money is great."