The Best Independent Living Communities in Portsmouth City County, VA

"I have moved into Lighthouse Pointe by Barclay House. I'm very happy here. The people are friendly. The food is good. I'm all settled in. I like the way my room is set up. There are activities going on. It's just a lovely place for me to be. My experience so far has been excellent. The staff members are very helpful and friendly. They're very helpful in giving us good food. It's beautiful here. It's expensive, but everywhere is. Housekeeping has done a terrific job. They've made me feel welcome. It is also in the area where I wanted to live. It's near friends that I have. It just fits my current lifestyle."

"I toured Serenity Care of Virginia. I went by myself. It was very tidy and clean. It was inviting. There were no odors. It wasn't like a nursing home-type environment. It was refreshing. Everyone seemed very polite. It just seemed relaxed. My sister has to have pureed food, and they offered to buy equipment to puree her meals. They were selective and they wanted to make sure that it was a peaceful, happy environment for the residents. They have a Hoyer lift there, too, so that's important for what our needs are. They seemed to be more personal with the residents, and they were concerned about them and their needs. They're there for them. There are four residents, and I think there are three rooms. For the price, my sister would be in a room with somebody else. I also met her potential roommate as well. It's the type of environment I would love for my sister to be in."

"The residents of The Chamberlin were fantastic. One of them showed me around after the tour. She was very nice and talked about herself and stuff. It was just nice that she wanted me to do that. She didn't know I was coming or anything like that. She was going somewhere else. She said, "Are you thinking about coming here?" She asked questions about my grandma. I liked that they have an indoor pool. They have this beautiful terrace that overlooks the water. They have a lot of activities. I saw them playing charades when I came. They were very accommodating. When I walked in, I buzzed in, and they asked me who I was. When I said my name and the point of contact that I had in my phone, someone came down, got me, brought me up, and showed me around."

"My mom has moved into the assisted living of Harmony at Independence. I like that it's a fairly decent-sized community, they have a lot of activities, and their menu is very nice. The staff is very welcoming and helpful. The place is very clean and easy to get around. They have an outdoor space, a library, and a movie room. They have movie nights and trips where you can go around the world via video. They also have happy hours."

"First Colonial Inn was more modernized than the other places we toured. It's not like it's renovated. It's clean. They've got friendly staff. They have more security. When you go in, even though you're visiting, you have to go over to a kiosk and type in your information, like you have COVID, why are you here, you have to put in your name. You sign in and you have to go to the kiosk. The staff was warm, friendly, and helpful. Even our tour guide was great, Travis. We were able to see the dining hall, and it's nice. It's like you go to a cafeteria and get your food. They cook all day long there for you. The building was nice and well-kept, and it doesn't look rundown. The price is a little higher than the other place."

"I toured Harper's Station Yorktown. The staff was great. Everybody we met and were introduced to was great. He still follows up on me, calls, and checks to see what kind of progress he's looking at. We went down and met some of the people who are in the memory care area. The patients all seemed to be friendly. They seemed to be happy. It was a good feeling that you almost felt like you weren't in a nursing home-type facility. Everything around it is fairly new and clean. I would guess that place is probably no more than two years old. The landscape, the facilities around it, the amenities they have in that place, the movies, the outside court, and the entertainment areas they have for people were so nice. They have a band that comes in like once a week and plays. The pricing was right in the ballpark with everybody else. They explained how the lunches worked, that people could come down for lunch. They showed the different lunch rooms. They have a couple of different places and even a bar for them. And the bar is non-alcoholic, but it's like a bar you'd go to somewhere else with all these barstools, tables, and everything around it. It's just that they got all these juices and all kinds of stuff behind the bar. It can make you feel like you want to sit there and play cards with somebody. You could play cards and have your glass of orange juice or something. It's really comfortable. Their lunchroom has a menu on the table, with white tablecloths and menus for choosing what you want for dinner or lunch. Everything gets cooked and everything's done right there. It's not prepared like in a cafeteria."

"I visited friends at Harbor's Edge Retirement Community. I've been over there many times to visit friends in rehab, but never into the memory care area itself. From the time I came in the door, there was a woman named Sylvia, and she was so friendly and just bubbly. She just made me feel welcome, and while she was helping me, everybody that came in the door, she knew, and they would say hi. After she contacted the person that I was meeting there because I was early, she showed me a very comfortable place to sit and relax while I was waiting for Kirsten, the person who showed me around. The rooms were very nice, and those that I visited were empty, and they're in the new memory wing. It currently isn't open. It's finished, but they are in the process of waiting for another shower room to be built. So currently they don't have a room available, and no date as to when it will be. The facility is spotless. Everyone that I've ever met has been very pleasant. Kirsten is even new, she's only been there a number of months, and she was very knowledgeable, very compassionate, and very friendly. She's in a job that she needs to be in. I will have to bring furniture, even in memory care."

Upside is truly an exclusive opportunity to live independently on your own terms. We offer luxury living options with over 2,500+ apartments in our network across the country alongside a dedicated and experienced personal concierge support system. Upside is a uniquely designed senior living alternative to help you live completely independently. The Upside team helps you find a luxury-style apartment living option and provide you with extra layers of care and assistance, whenever and however you need it. Once you're settled in your new home, we connect you to your personal concierge and expert on all things aging. The Upside concierge is available to help arrange meal and grocery deliveries, transportation services, schedule appointments, assist with technology, and so much more! Anything you need, Upside is just a quick phone call or text away.

"I toured Karolwood Gardens Portsmouth. It was beautiful and nice, but it was a little over my budget. It was too expensive. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They showed me a one-bedroom apartment and all that. They prepared the meals and had an entertainment room for them to entertain and several other things that they do. They also have a beauty parlor and a barber shop to cut men's hair. They were established very well."

"I was looking for independent living, and I visited one in Chesapeake. I liked Sunstone Apartments because it was far from the city noises like loud music and that kind of thing. It is quiet, and the apartments are wonderful. The apartment has a kitchen, living and dining room area, one bedroom, and a bathroom with lots of closet space. It has a patio outside, and it is nice. The community that it is in is not that large, but it is close to shopping, churches, and dining. It is close to an area that you can go out in, but it is far enough if you just want to take a walk for exercise. They do have a community area or a community room. The apartment complex is not that large, or at least it didn't look that big to me. You don't get a doctor in house, but in the bathroom and in the bedroom there are call buttons or call lights for you, so if you are having trouble during the night, you can always use that to call for assistance. "

"I lived in Cromwell House for over 5 years. I left recently because I decided to live with my children in order to spend more time with them.While I was living at Cromwell House I can say it was an enjoyable experience.The other residents are very friendly and soon became like family.The staff is amazing.They also became like family.They are personable, kind hearted, friendly, and fun people.The activity director makes sure that there is something to participate in everyday.They throw parties on holidays, and sometimes for no reason at all.Everyone brings dishes and it's always just a good time.The activities were one of my favorite parts about living at Cromwell House.Also, I don't drive so the community bus always came in handy.And don't worry, it's totally free of charge.The bus driver takes you to doctor's appointments, shopping stores, and grocery stores and Tuesdays we go on field trips.I loved my one bdrm apartment which was plenty of space for me.I had my own kitchen, plenty of closet and cabinet space and also a huge bathroom. It was just enough space for me to maintain and didn't have to do too much cleaning.It didn't take very long to decorate just how I wanted.Plus my electricity bill was very low, not even $50!And at Cromwell House you don't even have to pay for cable.They provide it for you.I saved so much money living there it was unbelievable.And there was one time I had an accident and fell, and I couldn't get up, they have these pull cords in the bathroom and bedroom and they send help for you.Cromwell House was a very memorable and happy experience for me.All seniors 55 and over looking for a nice place to live, CALL CROMWELL HOUSE. You won't regret it. "

"I visited Jamestown Commons. They have two days a week of socials, and they have a bus to take you around. Everything is strictly independent there. They have a courtyard, an exercise room, and a game room. "

"I toured Royal Sail at Bridgeport. They're very, very nice people and the rooms were nice. The one-bedroom was large and very clean, and the hallways were wide. It was just a nice place. They also have a pool, they have places outside for you to sit and it is secure. The apartments had very nice marble countertops, the appliances were very nice, and each room has a balcony. It was just pretty. The place was very clean and neat, the workers were very caring, and the lady that gave us the tour showed me a two-bedroom and a one-bedroom. She went out of her way to show us what was available."

"My mother-in-law is at Greenbrier Senior Apartments. They have a pull cord in every room so if something should happen you just pull it to get help. She still can pretty much take care of herself. We have to do grocery shopping and doctor's appointments but she can still dress and cook for herself. The place is very clean, the staff is wonderful, everybody there is very nice. The leasing manager is super good and when we need something done, they do it right away. My mother-in-law was one of the first residents to move in, she's been there for a long time now, it's been over 13 or 14 years."