Plentiful options for senior living communities in the Heights

The Alcazar courtyard gardens.

The Heights offers many options for seniors considering downsizing or needing additional assistance.

Built in 1923, The Alcazar, on Derbyshire Road in Cleveland Heights, is a beautiful Spanish-Moroccan building offering independent senior apartments. All apartments have full kitchens and some have balconies overlooking courtyard gardens. Breakfast is served daily in the dining room, and educational and cultural events are plentiful. The elegant ballroom hosts many special events. The Alcazar also offers bed and breakfast rooms, and extended-stay suites that cater to out-of-state and international visitors. As one resident said, “The world comes to The Alcazar.”

The Homewood Residence at Rockefeller Gardens, on Mayfield Road in Cleveland Heights, offers assisted living, and dementia and Alzheimer’s care. The cozy lobby is much like a living room, furnished with sofas, a fireplace, a fish tank and a jukebox. Homewood is able to offer as much or as little assistance as is needed. “We work hard to enable our residents to age in place and to get whatever level of care they need,” said Cheryl Wheeler, executive director. 

McGregor, located on 32 acres on Private Drive in East Cleveland, near the Cleveland Heights border, offers a full “continuum of care,” including independent living, assisted living, long-term nursing care and hospice. Serving seniors since 1877, “McGregor has a friendly, caring, home-like setting”, said Patrice Brady, director of assisted and independent living. McGregor offers full apartments with kitchens and walk-in showers. Amenities include restaurant-style dining, gardens, a community fruit orchard, a resident choir, exercise programs, activities and a view of Lake Erie.

Judson Park, located adjacent to Cleveland Heights on Ambleside Drive in Cleveland, also offers all levels of care, including independent and assisted living, short-term rehab, nursing and dementia care. “Our residents can age in place, they don’t have to move to another residence when their needs change,” said Robert Lucarelli, director of communications. Judson offers an award-winning wellness program, an indoor swimming pool, intergenerational programming with local schools, continuing education through Case Western Reserve University, performances by local music students and an art gallery curated by the residents.

There are also several senior apartment buildings in our area. The Warrensville Community Apartments on Warrensville Center Road is home to the Jewish Community Center. The JCC offers a free hot lunch program with interesting programming (216-831-0700). Council Gardens, on Taylor Road, features garden apartments and life-enrichment programming (216-382-8625). Cleveland Heights elevator-equipped apartment buildings include Musicians Towers on Lancashire Road (216-321-1410), Warrensville Manor on Warrensville Center Road (216-291-0779) and three buildings at Severance Circle—Severance Towers (216-795-6797), Kensington Place (216-691-1944), and Concord Apartments (216-382-1686). University Heights apartments include Huntington Green on Milton Road (216-381-3117) and Cedar Center Apartments on Cedar Road (216-382-2514).

You can reach The Alcazar at 216-321-5400, The Homewood Residence at 855-308-0877, Judson Park at 216-721-1234 and McGregor at 216-851-8200. It is a good idea to research options early so that if you need to make a move in the future, you will already know which location is the most suitable for your preferences and needs.

Judith Eugene

Judith Eugene is a native of Cleveland Heights who provides life-enrichment classes and activities for senior adults and those with physical and mental challenges through www.lovinghandsgroup.com. She can be reached at 216-408-5578 or judith@lovinghandsgroup.com.

Read More on The Senior Section: a resource guide for senior adults
Volume 7, Issue 7, Posted 6:28 PM, 07.01.2014