The Colonnades

Greg

I went to The Colonnades. The lady who took me around was super nice and helpful too, nothing but positives for her. The rooms were a little tighter, and my mom came from a big house. It looked more facility-like, it wasn't bad, it was clean, there's nothing wrong with it, but it gave more of a facility feel than the other place. I can put my mother there and make it work. They have a courtyard area.

Provider Response

David

We went to The Colonnades for my mother. It is the nicest facility, certainly the most expensive, and it's very good. The people that helped us were very nice and helpful. My mother-in-law had been there for a few years, and so we got kind of familiar with their dining room back then, but I think there's been a lot of changes. It's the most expensive, maybe too expensive for us, although it's the best.

Debra

The Colonnades was beautiful. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. The director was just amazing. We went to the library, and she explained just how things worked, and the menu. If they weren't happy with anything on the menu, they had other options for them. She showed us a couple of models, and they all seemed very safety-oriented, and COVID secure. The staff members were just super, they would stop and talk and welcome us there. They had all of the things that the other places had. It was very nice, neat, tidy, and clean. It's close to the shopping center and there is UVA a few miles up.

Kathryn

We thought that when we retired that we probably would come to The Colonnades because they have cottages and they're very spacious. I'm in a cottage now. I probably won't ever move into the big building where the apartments are. I like it. I have a big family. I'm able to feed 13 people on a holiday and if you don't mind sleeping on a blowup bed, I can get eight people to spend the night. That's what I like. It's unfortunate because of COVID a lot of the activities were curtailed and also just went through a big renovation. And we now have a new auditorium that they're putting in the audiovisual system and they've just redone the swimming pool, which is now opening up. There are lots and lots of really wonderful activities. The kitchen, which also has been remodeled, is now getting back up to snuff if they can get all the food delivered, that seems to be a problem that everybody's having you think you're getting beef and you end up with lamb, or ham, or whatever, whatever the trucks are bringing in, you get. So I think that's everywhere. I've been very pleased, and I've been here for eight years. The staff is a five, all the things that they've had to go through to keep us safe from COVID, and they're like everybody else, struggling to keep the numbers up. But there's been very minimal turnover. We've been very pleased with them. The food is excellent, we have a wonderful chef. For those that don't drive, they have shopping trips, they have shuttles to and from church services, they have gone out to vineyards, out to dinner, and take you to shows. In-house, they usually have a weekly musical program with outside performers coming in, we have multiple exercise classes, we have our own choral group, very, very active, anything you want, and card players. It's expensive, but you get what you pay for.

John

My dad is staying at The Colonnades in Charlottesville. It is good for him. He was there for nursing care or whatever they call it, and now he's transferred upstairs for long-term care. I'd say they're topnotch, including the staff. It's a large facility. The other facilities are rather small and more like a house. This is obviously a huge facility, and it's the best I've seen. It's just way better, and it's so nice. I went to like 3 little Friday concerts where they brought in a singer. The staff is really loving and attentive. I was with my dad every day for about 3 weeks out there. No matter who came in and worked with him, they were all really good. The facilities are really clean. I was there while my dad was eating. His food has to be ground up really fine because he has a swallowing issue. It doesn't look like the food that they're serving because they have to grind it up. I sat with the residents there for a couple of meals. I didn't personally eat, but I watched other people eat. It smelled delicious, and everybody seemed to enjoy it. It's one of the more expensive places. It's kind of a private pay system. I think they only have 2 Medicare or Medicaid rooms. It's definitely one of the more expensive, but I think that it's well worth it.

Stacy

We looked at The Colonnades and the staff we met were very friendly, very knowledgeable, and answered all our questions. The facility was excellent, very clean, and very well maintained. The marketing manager, I think her name was Gail or Grace, was excellent during the tour.

Jane

Look for recent reviews--The Colonnades has more problems every day. Routine loss of electricity, heat and hot water. A plumbing disaster closed their kitchen. Food comes from a temporary kitchen. No table service in the dining room--buffet line only. Worst of all--they are chronically understaffed. Despite job fairs they are unable to hire and keep staff, from service staff to nurses to administrators. Those who remain are unpleasant to deal with. Currently spending on a big dining room addition while rooms sit empty. There are newer, better options in Charlottesville. Look around!

Provider Response

CKE

The Colonnades had cottages and one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments. They let you be assisted in your apartment until it's too much of a struggle on the staff, to the point that you have to be bathed and dressed. Otherwise, you could stay a long time. It's also a long-term care facility and a wonderful place for rehab. If someone goes into the hospital and has to go to rehab, you could walk over and do not have to worry about getting transportation to go visit. They had different sized cottages. If you have family visiting, they can stay in the apartments or stay in your cottage or apartment. They have a wonderful library where people have donated their own books.

Carolyn

The Colonnades is beautiful, clean, and very nice. The lady who toured us was wonderful, very nice, knowledgeable, and answered our questions. They had a nice indoor pool. I loved the cottages. It was a nice visit.

Champagne1

The Colonnades was gorgeous but cost over $5,000 a month, and I don’t have that kind of money. I saw a lot of people moving around as there were a lot of people catching up. The rooms were gorgeous and had a washer and dryer in the units. I did have lunch there, and it was very, very good. If I had unlimited funds, The Colonnades would be great.

Anonymous114649150

The one I visited here was The Colonnades. They were extremely nice, and it was a very nice arrangement, except that I do not think my mom was ready to move everywhere. They offered a number of things in terms of coming up, and had dinner or lunch there a couple of time. They called me for follow-ups. They were not pressuring me in anyway. I thought the amenities at The Colonnades were ideal. The one-bedroom apartment was the ideal for my mother. I especially liked that they had physician on site, whom I actually knew. Having a physician on site would be fabulous. The Colonnades was well known here, and people knew it was a really good place.

Gwen14

The Colonnades was not setup for people in wheelchairs. There were no automatically activated exits where the parking was. The only automatic access door was the front door. The swimming pool had high steps in and out, and I could not get out of the pool. I ended up having to have my husband and a worker pull me out of it. The rooms were fine. The activities were good.

Provider Response

Caring105140050

The Colonnades was very impressive. The rooms were adequate. The person who accommodated me was very helpful and very positive. Sanitation was very good. I would recommend it.

anonymous74630050

The Colonnades was a beautiful and lovely place. Everything was very nice, and everybody was very nice and friendly. It was not as huge as the other facility that I have visited, but they divided the apartments and the cabins. We had lunch there, and the food was excellent.

Caring0673

My husband and I stayed at The Colonnades for about six months. It was a good facility. It was clean. The food was pretty good. We left because of the increased cost and we felt too young to live in a facility.

DB, Charlottesville

My mother has lived at the Colonnades, a senior living community, for nearly 7 years. I am continually impressed by the professionalism and compassionate care and concern of all the staff. The community's executive director, is very visible and participates in the weekly Wii bowling tournament with the residents. The new staff are given a book with photos and names of all residents so that within a few days of moving in every new resident is greeted by name. it truly is like a new extended family and I rest easy knowing that many good people are looking out for my mother. My mother is in independent living, but health care, nursing care, and a dementia unit are also part of the community. I highly recommend the Colonnades.

seanbmc

The facility appeared to be in great condition. It appeared to be pretty new and clean with wide open spaces and lots of light. The grounds outside of the facility were very nice and kept up. The staff I dealt with were very courteous and helpful getting us in and moving us around to where we needed to be. The facilities welcomed us and set up an area for us to perform for the residents, who were excited to have us come in. After we performed we got to talk to many of the residents about music or whatever else they wanted to talk about. The staff also showed us around some of the different sections of the facility and some of the outside areas. I do believe many of the residents in this facility are from upper class from the surrounding areas. Since this was a special event where they seemed to be ready to welcome us and were ready, I did not see any negatives there.

Clairek

My experiences with the Colonnades have been mostly positive. Interacting with the residents has allowed me to gain a realistic perspective of life at this facility. I can honestly say that I believe this is one of the best assisted living facilities in the Charlottesville area. The staff is always friendly and works very hard to ensure that their residents are well taken care of. On several occasions I have witnessed situations where staff member were busy and stressed but still maintained the level of respect and care that the residents deserve. The facilities can be described as elegant but welcoming. The maintinance crew does a wonderful job of keeping the grounds looking lush and beautiful. The inside of the building is well taken care of and pleasant as well. The abundant windows make the common area feel comfortable and welcoming. The few times that I have dined at the facility have been just "ok" although I would attribute that the dietary needs of the residents. Overall, I think the Colonnades is a wonderful assisted living community.