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Bellingham Retirement Community

Offers Assisted Living and Independent Living

37 Reviews
2014, 2015
1615 East Boot Road, West Chester, PA 19380
Call (844) 325-8230
Bellingham Retirement Community (844) 325-8230
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Reviews of Bellingham Retirement Community

37 Reviews Write a review
Food
(Not Rated)
Staff
(2 Reviews)
Facility
(2 Reviews)
Activities
(Not Rated)
Value
(Not Rated)

Assisted Living Reviews for Bellingham Retirement Community

September 30, 2017

By Rey

I visited this facility

Bellingham was a great place. The staff member was very helpful, knowledgeable, and patient. She answered all the questions I had. The dining area was nice, but I did not try the food. They had a library, and an arts and crafts room.
Provider Response
Thank you so much for sharing your experience at Bellingham; we are so pleased that you enjoyed your visit with us!

March 07, 2017

By Claire222307

I visited this facility

I was very impressed with Bellingham, which had a reasonable place. I was looking at apartments or suites and the rooms were very appealing. I liked the amount of space and the floor plans of the assisted living apartments. They were well laid out well and seemed to be more like regular apartments with some changes made to accommodate people with disabilities. The dining area seemed very pleasant. The grounds were well kept and visually appealing. They seemed to have a fairly full activities program that would be inviting to a variety of personality types. Having a beauty shop, a bank, and a small store on-site seemed like a really positive thing.

November 06, 2016

By Katie860868

I visited this facility

I liked the Bellingham. You can start as a regular resident in the independent living or assisted living, and the memory care is there too. If you have the money, it would be fine staying there. They only have a $3000 entrance fee as a one-time charge, and then you start paying the rest, but this is better than the others. The rooms were decent and nice.

October 24, 2016

By pharmagal

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

Reasonable price. Rooms are very nice and plenty big enough for a single person. Kitchens might be a little dated but the truth of the matter is that most of the residents don't cook anyway. Prefer to have a reduced rate rather than pay more for a kitchen that is barely used. Very clean Adequate outside balcony on most. Staff was very professional and eager to please.

October 10, 2016

By Charlie160355

I visited this facility

Bellingham was excellent. I like the professionalism of the staff -- not the staff that showed me around -- but the nursing professionals that I had a conference with. The rooms were small. There were several that I felt that were at par, but I would say Bellingham is a 5.

September 13, 2016

By Jeanne623303

I visited this facility

I had prior experience with Bellingham because of my mother who lived in their independent living facility and, also at one point, had been in their skilled nursing facility for a few days. And then, my husband was in their skilled nursing facility post hospitalization. They are the lowest of the lowest in the rankings. I never even got to meet the woman for the tour because when I went to report for my appointment, they had no clue who I was. The person at the reception thus sent me over to the assisted living area where I was made to wait standing, and I did not like what I saw, and so I ended up leaving. I could not imagine placing my husband there under any circumstances. They were disorganized and ridiculous. Even though I had a scheduled appointment, which had been changed because of their marketing person saying that they couldn’t meet me as scheduled because they had too many people moving in, so they set me a new appointment time and when I showed up, nobody was expecting me, so I never even got to see the tour. I only got to stand around for 15 or 20 minutes in the waiting area of their assisted living place and did not like what I saw, so I left.
Provider Response
Thank you for previously entrusting the care of your mother and husband to our staff at our community. I apologize there was not a smooth tour process at the time of your visit at our community. I can assure you that our dedicated staff are proud of the best in class care that they provide on a daily basis. If allowed the opportunity, I would like to share with you our MBI scores in skilled nursing which are among the highest rehab scores both locally and nationally and a predictor of success in the environment at the time of discharge. Additionally, we are very proud of our recent annual Personal Care Home inspection in which we had zero deficiencies. Please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience at our community phone line….Jason Shott, Executive

January 29, 2016

By Louise25

I visited this facility

I liked Bellingham. The people were really nice. I was looking for a place that had facilities for extracurricular stuff, and this place was good. I also liked the idea that you could have a congregated meal or you could just stir up a little something in your room for breakfast or a snack. The apartment seemed nice. It was spacious enough, and I could visualize my furniture and stuff in there. There were other things that I would look forward to. I had to go to an orientation, and there was good sunlight coming in. One problem I had was I wanted to be near my daughter and granddaughter so they could visit, but it was a little too far for that. I kind of would have sacrificed that because it otherwise met all of my requirements, and I would have been glad to move in there.

December 21, 2015

By LD4

I visited this facility

My wife and I visited Bellingham. The place was nice and acceptable. It was very clean and the rooms were nice. The place has one large area where the residents socialize. They seemed to be enjoying themselves and communicating with each other. I also saw that the food looked fine. It was indeed a pleasurable experience.

November 29, 2015

By SH59

I visited this facility

The price at Bellingham was more reasonable than the other places I visited. However, I was disappointed when they walked me into one of the apartments. I would not even think of moving my father there. The rooms were very old, very dated. I was told by one of the women there that residents can work with their contractors to upgrade the rooms but probably at your own expense. The outside areas were not that extensive, just OK. The dining area was small. The woman who took me around was very pleasant and informative, but the apartments were a real turn off for me. They’ve got balconies but the air-conditioning condensers were sitting on a shelf on the balconies, so when you’re sitting on your balcony, you’re going to sit with your air conditioner.
Provider Response

Thank for your feedback. I apologize that the tour of our community was less than you hoped. I assure you that we take great pride in providing first class customer service and work with residents and families to continuously exceed expectations. I invite you to contact me personally so I can gain a better understanding of what we could have done to improve your experience. Again, thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback and I look forward to speaking with you - Jason Shott, Executive Director

October 29, 2015

By Rita34

I am a friend or relative of a resident

We choose Bellingham Retirement Community for my sister-in-law because of the cost. It is the lowest cost, and the location is good with respect to her and her children. It is the nearest to her children. They are first-rate. They are very accommodating and efficient. They return your calls and they seem to have a very well-run residence. I know they have programs. The food is excellent. The dining area is first-rate. It is like a white tablecloth restaurant. The apartment that my sister-in-law is in is re-painted, re-carpeted, and re-tiled prior to her move, so it is in excellent shape. They rooms are not new, but they are maintained very well. I like the meticulous maintenance of the residence, and the grounds is what I like best.

August 15, 2015

By Jill and Lida

I am a friend or relative of resident

My mother has lived at the Bellingham for over three years. She started in independent living. The residents reached out to each other and provided nice support. I think my mother liked the dining hall and the system they have to encourage residents to make friends and sit together. She especially liked the informal dining area with a gas fireplace. The facility is always clean and the staff is friendly. Eventually my mother needed memory care. The transition was easy and I feel she is very safe and comfortable. I get the impression that the friends and family members of the residents at the Bellingham are very involved. That is the key to a successful senior living experience.

August 13, 2015

By Margaret111405750

I am/was a resident of this facility

The rooms at Bellingham Retirement Community are such a nice size, and they’re bright, cheery, and very clean. Everybody is so friendly, both the staff, and the other residents; they make you feel welcome. They have a nice dining room, they serve you, and the food is good. They have bingo, trivia sessions, and bowling. They have their own jitney, and it takes you to the supermarket like K-Mart. For the Catholics, it takes you to mass on Sunday. I feel right at home because it’s so comfortable.

August 11, 2015

By Diana45

I visited this facility

I thought Bellingham was very nice. It was very clean. The residents seemed very happy. I was surprised at how well run it was. The tour was nice, but they didn't have any availability in the assisted living, so they were showing me more of the independent living, but my mom is not capable of living independently. There was a very nice young lady who showed me around and introduced us to the people. She also showed me all the amenities. It was a very nice visit.
Provider Response

Thanks you for taking time to share your impression of Bellingham Retirement Community. The entire staff work tirelessly at exceeding customer expectations and creating a welcoming and caring environment. Please stop by and visit us again soon! - Jason Shott, Campus Executive Director.

May 28, 2015

By Caring103688750

I visited this facility

Bellingham Retirement has been very friendly and flexible, and that was refreshing to see. It has some years; it’s not new, but it’s nice. You can choose your table, and your table is different each time in the dining room. They appear helpful and informative. They have a good art program, it seems like a family place, and they are open to ideas. The facility needs to be updated.

May 24, 2015

By Anonymous104954050

I visited this facility

Bellingham was very nice. Their accommodations were not quite as large as the other facility we went to, but they were good. They had a pool, and they provided transportation. We saw their dining room and had a snack. It was good. The dining room was very nice and large. It was a large modern community with a beautiful setting. There were trees and grass around it. It was a very lovely place, and it was clean.

January 12, 2015

By Caring104290750

I am a friend or relative of a resident

The manager in Bellingham has a lot of empathy. I don't know about the staff, but my mother is not too happy there. The facility, cleanliness, and maintenance seem fine. She was in Skilled Care at Bellingham, and they released her to an apartment which is called Personal Care. My mother is a lot happier in the Skilled Care unit. The staff ratio there is 1 to 8, but in the apartment it's 1 to 17. I think she is not yet used to it yet. She is staying in a nice 1-bedroom apartment. She really enjoyed the activities she had in skilled care. They do have activities in the apartment, and she really likes the director of activities. The food in the assisted living facility is fair.

January 06, 2015

By Caring46439450

I visited this facility

Bellingham is a good facility, and they have a nursing home. I was there for lunch, and the food was good.
Provider Response

Thank you for taking the time to review our community. We appreciate your feedback and would like to invite you back for a complimentary lunch and tour so we can hear more about your thoughts and how we can improve our community. Feel free to reach out to me directly. (773) 580-7546 or jconlon@seniorlifestyle.com. Thanks, Joseph Conlon, Executive Director

August 09, 2014

By Frankburns

I visited this facility

We toured the community and loved it. Everyone just seemed so happy. The woman at the front desk greeted us when we entered. It felt like a place that my mom could call home. I loved the history of the farmhouse and the grounds. I love the fact that there are multiple levels of care so that we will not have to move my mom if her needs change. I would recommend anyone to come and visit this place in you are looking for a place for their parents.

May 12, 2014

By Beach babe

I am a friend or relative of resident

Do not recommend this facility ! Our mother was found deceased a day after our request for a wellness check and the facilities response was that she seemed to be sleeping. When a family states they can not reach their loved one for an extended period, the logical assumption is that something is amiss and should be investigated. Many poor maintenance issues. Not a nice place.
Provider Response

Thank for taking the time to review our community. We are so truly sorry to hear about your mother, and can assure you that we have the most efficient systems in place to ensure all of our residents health and safety. We’d be very appreciative to hear some more feedback from you about how we can improve our services at the community. You can feel free to reach out to me directly at (773) 580-7546 or jconlon@seniorlifestyle.com. Thanks, Joseph Conlon, Executive Director

March 31, 2014

By Caring70926050

I visited this facility

I went to Bellingham, and it was outrageously expensive. The staff was wonderful. It seemed like a very friendly place. The people I met there were very welcoming and pleasant to speak with. I know they had programs for seniors who they met during the day, and they had a lot of activities. They had a workout room. I don't have anything negative to say.

March 31, 2014

By Caring48762550

I visited this facility

What I liked about Bellingham is that when I got there, there weren't a lot of old people hanging out in the lobby like there are in a lot of the places. I like the look of it, I like the location. It's close by to me. I like the way the building is set up. Each building has a different group in it: assisted living or independent or semi-assisted. The rooms were nice; they were apartment-type. The staff seemed very nice, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go there because everything is expensive.

January 29, 2014

By Pat46

I visited this facility

The girl who toured me around Bellingham seemed very nice. I like the facility because the apartments are of good size. I was able to see their two and one bedroom apartment. I also like that it has a balcony in it. The building itself seemed to be very nice. We walked around the facility and it seemed like they have a nice little garden area.

October 09, 2013

By Caring04031

I visited this facility

I visited Bellingham. I liked the facility itself and the fact that it was self-contained and that it did have a rehab as well as a memory care unit there. However, the price, excluding additional care, was completely out of our budget. If they would accommodate people with low-income capabilities, that would be good. Still, I would recommend this place to others.

August 21, 2013

By CaringDaughter0000228

I am a friend or relative of a resident

We chose Bellingham Retirement Community because of the cost, location and what they had to offer. The person who showed us around was very nice and very thorough. I had not talked to the other staff yet. My mom had a two bedroom apartment and it was roomy with a lot of storage. There were also a lot of activities for the residents to partake in. I would recommend this facility to others.

August 20, 2013

By Thomas6513

I visited this facility

I just signed a lease to move into a 2-bedroom at Bellingham's independent living. It has a very warm feeling to it. It's a very nice, very comprehensive facility because it has 4 different levels of care. Many of the residents I ran into are all very nice and very encouraging about moving there. My room is very spacious, has a lot of windows and it gets a lot of natural light which I like. I like that it's on the ground floor too because I use a walker. It's very nicely kept and well-maintained. The staff is extremely friendly and everyone that I spoke with was very pleasant. They're very knowledgeable and answered all our questions. The place is a little bit bigger than others and there seem to be a little more people and a lot of activities. I'm only 66 years old, and there seems to be more people in their 60s and 70s than anywhere else. It's just 2 miles up the road from where I live now.

May 15, 2012

By Cody Joe

I am a friend or relative of a resident

I went to visit my grandmother at this community which is situated in a rural setting among farms, horses, and rolling hills. The facilities are beautiful, peaceful, and quaint. The residents were at an ice cream social when I got there, and there seemed to be many social gatherings planned which was nice. The facilities are nice and include a library, a dining room, and many lobbies that are nicely appointed. The staff is everywhere and was willing and able to help anyone out. I had encounters with both the medical office and physical therapists on site, and both were very friendly and pleasant, and had formed a personal relationship with my grandmother. I feel happy for her that she is there.

June 21, 2011

By YourPeir

I am a friend or relative of resident

My grandmother lived here for 4 years from 1997 to 2001. I would visit her on weekends frequently and eat meals with her. Dinners were excellent and I often had dinner with my grandmother's friends. It was not too difficult for her and I to meet other people and everyone was very nice. There was a strong sense of community in Bellingham, which I think she enjoyed very much. There was plenty of space I she really enjoyed her time there.
See all Assisted Living reviews (27) See fewer reviews

Independent Living Reviews for Bellingham Retirement Community

April 02, 2018

By Suzanne

I visited this facility

We visited Bellingham, and it was very homey. It felt like you were going back to the family home for a visit. They have common living areas that were casual and comfy, and it felt very warm. There were small independent apartments but with full kitchens. The staff was awesome and full of information. They were getting ready to do a bible study in one of the rooms, and they were playing cards in another. There were people going in and out, going about their business, but they did not seem to be engaged in activities. It's an old building. They have a couple of dining areas, the regular dining area was not super fancy, and I liked the country store.

January 15, 2017

By Bluecar

I visited this facility

The one I liked the most was the Bellingham. It was in a rural, country setting, which was appealing to me. When you walk in, the place was bright, pleasant, and cheery. There was a beautiful dining room off to the left, a little country store in the reception area, and a receptionist waiting there. I didn’t see people just sitting around and doing nothing. There were a couple of people in the little coffee shop, which is in addition to the dining room, getting breakfast and coffee. I’ve been there twice; it was fairly quiet the first time I was there. They said that a lot of the residents were out on a shopping trip. I saw several of the apartments, and they were all pleasant and a good size. Of the six places I visited, they were probably the largest apartments. It was particularly appealing for me because the apartments on the 2nd and 3rd floors all had private outdoor balconies, so you could sit out and read, watch the birds, etc. The 1st floor apartments had patios, which I didn’t like since they overlooked the parking lot. I was impressed by the setup of the apartments. It was clean and in a nice setting. I went to the rehab facility, which was very lovely; the independent living facility, which was very nice; and the assisted living facility, which I did not like at all because it smelled awful, like people had urinated on the rug and it had never been cleaned, and there were a bunch of people sitting around in wheelchairs. Since I am looking at its independent living, I would give it a 5.

October 28, 2015

By Anonymous113951150

I visited this facility

The Bellingham was very pleasant. The people I met there were very nice. The rooms were nice and included a full kitchen with a stove, which was nice.

September 30, 2014

By Caring89968650

I visited this facility

Bellingham is very close to where my daughter works. It was a very, very, very nice place for me to do one thing I really like doing and that is take a nice walk outside for a mile or two everyday. I had a very nice lunch there. The food was very acceptable. The staff is very nice, very friendly, very open and very easy to talk to. I’m totally content with the way the traffic moves and the fact that I could easily walk or get a ride to some place to shop. It wasn’t crowded with the external things.

August 18, 2014

By Caring91832750

I visited this facility

The Bellingham was quite large and it was laid out very nicely. The staff we talked to seemed very nice. The people seemed to be happy there. We happened to be there for lunch and the residents seemed to be very happy and sociable with their other guests. Overall, it was very nice. The campus part of the facility was a little crowded with buildings and homes, but it was still very nice.

June 26, 2014

By Caring88092950

I visited this facility

Everybody was very friendly at Bellingham. It was very nice to walk around in the independent living area. They asked me to stay for lunch. The food was very good. I met a few people and talked with them. I also looked at one first floor apartment. They didn't have any vacancies at the time. I really can't say about the other apartments because I have a dog and I need to have something convenient to get outside. They are not as pricy, for one thing, which seemed to fit my budget a little bit better. Most places have at least a $100,000 down payment before you can even get in. At the time, I was only there to view the place and see what it was like. I didn't see anything I didn't like.

April 22, 2014

By Caring82371150

I am a friend or relative of a resident

Bellingham is a very nice facility. We saw their rooms, and they were very nice, too. We are actually moving Mom in today. The people were very nice also. The staff gives out calendars to the residents to tell them what is going on.

October 15, 2013

By Caring71946850

I visited this facility

Bellingham was very nice. They had a nice, clean and pleasant location. The staff was good. They had private rooms. They had some activities. However, it was more expensive than what we could afford.

September 26, 2013

By Vince3

I am a friend or relative of a resident

I went with my partner at Bellingham to see the place and he was able to get a two-bedroom apartment. The rooms are spacious. If you didn't know that the apartment is in a facility, you wouldn't know because of the looks of it. It was updated, they put new carpeting in, they painted the whole place so it was nice and fresh for him. They also have an assisted living section and then they also have a dementia unit. They also have nursing unit available there. They have a local office that provides personal care and that was something attractive because we were using personal care services. You can just hire somebody for as little as half an hour. They also have a room there wherein you can reserve so that if you have a family that is coming in from out of town they can stay there like a hotel. We like that idea because his children are in California and it not really that expensive. They also have cleaning service. It's almost likely they have everything right there.

September 24, 2013

By Janice19

I am a friend or relative of a resident

My parents are doing fine at Bellingham. They can get where they have to go and they do what they want to do. I like that the facility is very clean and they are constantly updating the facility.
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Costs for Bellingham Retirement Community

Cost of Assisted Living

$ 1,234

Starting Price

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Cost of Independent Living

$ 1,234

Starting Price

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Photos of Bellingham Retirement Community

Services and Amenities of Bellingham Retirement Community

Costs

  • Rent Plus Care Fees
  • Assisted Living Starting At: $5325/month
  • Independent Living Starting At: $2875/month

Room and housing options

  • 2-bedroom apartments

Features

  • Beauty Barber Shop
  • Resident Transportation
  • Coffee Shop
  • Party Space
  • General Store
  • Tv Room
  • Garden And Patio
  • Resident Parking

Cleaning services

  • Laundry For Linens
  • Private Cleaning Services
  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry For Clothing

Technology and entertainment

  • Cable In Rooms

Health services

  • Skilled Nursing
  • Hospice Care
  • Medication Management
  • Physical Therapy

Activities

  • Offsite Activities
  • Music
  • Stories
  • Religious Services
  • Book Clubs
  • Wii Sports
  • Tai Chi
  • Fitness Room
  • Yoga
  • Gardening
  • Cooking
  • Arts And Crafts
  • Activities Extra: Senior Ballet

Guest services

  • Guest Parking
  • Guests At Mealtime
  • Overnight Guests

General

  • Staff Patient Ratio: 10/1
  • Minimum Age: 62
  • Pets: Small Pets Allowed

Nurses

  • Nurses Extra: We Have 24 Hour Nurses.

Range of services

  • Physical Therapy

Licenses

  • Licenses: Department ofPublic Welfare

About Bellingham Retirement Community

Senior personal care at Bellingham offers residents the best of both worlds. All benefits of our senior living community are combined with a full spectrum of senior care services to create a premier senior personal care community. Residents enjoy beautiful surroundings, on-site amenities and social programs alongside continual on-call medical care.

At Bellingham, we adhere to state-of-the-art standards of senior personal care while providing a special touch. Our residents receive personal and comprehensive care and are consistently treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Whether our residents need help with day-to-day activities, getting to appointments, or medication management, our caregivers kindly and competently meet those needs.

Our personal care community in West Chester has been purposefully designed to provide you or your loved one with a nurturing, comfortable, home-like environment that is attractive and easy to navigate. We foster community and family by hosting many activities and events each month. Residents are encouraged to participate in as many pursuits and outings as they like, appropriate to their ability. No matter what, everyone is treated as an individual person with unique needs.

At Bellingham, our residents live life to its fullest as they age in place.

Personal Care Amenities

  • Personalized Care Plans
  • 24-hour Staffing
  • Emergency Response System
  • Medication Management
  • Scheduled transportation to local shopping and medical appointments
  • Award winning Wellness Everyday™ programs, provided 7 days a week
  • Dining for Wellness™ - educational and wellness program
  • Brain Health University™
  • Beauty and Barber Shop
  • Housekeeping and maintenance service
  • All utilities and basic cable included
  • Individually controlled heat and central air
  • Fresh, seasonal cuisine prepared by the dining service team

Bellingham offers independent living in West Chester for seniors who are able and inclined to live independently, but crave the comfort, security and social opportunity a retirement community offers.

On-call assistance and maintenance-free living means you never need worry about anything but living life to the fullest! Just steps from your front door, you'll find easy access to a fitness center, media room and a wide assortment of activities, as well as special events and regularly scheduled outings into the community.

If you are looking for a vibrant, active place to call home during your retirement years, Bellingham will fulfill your desires. Come visit us and see how great senior independent living can be.

Independent Living Amenities

  • All utilities included except telephone and cable
  • Housekeeping and maintenance service
  • Guest Suites
  • Individually controlled heat and central air
  • Scheduled transportation to local shopping and medical appointments
  • Safety features including smoke detectors and sprinklers
  • Award winning Wellness Everyday™ programs, provided 7 days a week
  • Beauty and Barber Shop
  • Fresh, seasonal cuisine prepared by the dining service team
  • Dining for Wellness™ - educational and wellness program
  • Brain Health University™

What Makes Us Special

Historic Architecture - Centered around a historic Farm House and an 18th century converted barn___ Beautifully landscaped property adjacent to a 14.5 acre park with walking trail that is minutes from hospitals, cultural venues and shopping___ variety of programs and  activities  including award winning “Brain Health University” designed to stimulate and build cognitive health___ Full Continuum of Care - Independent Living, Personal Care, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing and Rehabitation___ Homelike environment that is friendly and inclusive

Map of Bellingham Retirement Community

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Bellingham Retirement Community


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