Homes Away From Home

INSPIR CARNEGIE HILL

1802 Second Ave.

203-567-4397

Type: Assisted, Enchanced, Memory Care

Facilities: 215 apartments, studios to two-bedrooms

Fees: Starting at $13,500/month, includes room and board, a concierge and special events and programs, with the base level of medical care.

Base rental rate, SOL: includes apartment, utilities, amenities; Alli Technology Suite: concierge services, resident safety system, housekeeping, laundry, life-enrichment program, all meals, and scheduled transportation. Additionally, base level of care and a dedicated RN care manager are included. Oceana & Terra includes apartment, amenities, concierge services resident safety system, housekeeping, laundry, life-enrichment, dedicated RN care manager, personal care, medication management and skilled nursing services. Does not include private duty, one-on-one care, or companion services.

Lifelong senior New Yorkers, especially East Siders, when considering their options for finding a new home and can afford the luxury of setting and comfort that’s not too far from where they’ve lived, have Inspir on the Upper East Side as an option. Residents have access to Inspir’s top-tier health care and innovative wellness programs as well as being able to get to the city’s best doctors and hospitals – Weill Cornell Medical Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital – on their own. Newly built and 23 stories high, Inspir was designed so that residents enjoy natural light throughout and expansive city views, including the East River.

East Siders and mostly New Yorkers of a certain age who are ready for the next stage of living and are able to afford the luxury are finding that Inspir is where they want to live. Its floor-to-ceiling windows bring the outside indoors. Its location makes it easy to continue their lifestyle near family and friends in the midst of the city’s culture and buzz. In addition to Senior Living, Inspir has three programs for assisted living and for residents who require memory care or enhanced care: SOL is for residents who need assistance with personal care or who may require intermittent enhanced care services. OCEANA is memory care for residents with dementia or other cognitive impairments. TERRA is for residents with chronic enhanced care needs who may also require ongoing skilled nursing services. Each has a monthly schedule of programs, locations and times, as does Assisted.

Smart apartment technology and floor-to-ceiling windows are in every residence. One- and two-bedroom apartments feature washers and dryers. Utilities are included in the monthly fee as is 24-7 licensed nursing, daily meals and daily housekeeping.

The 16th floor’s two-level atrium and terrace, with interior and exterior seating, is a favorite during the day and evening. Residents enjoy the natural light and plush outdoor greenery. For indoor relaxation there’s the heated pool, state of the art fitness center, or one of the lounges. The day’s schedule of expansive activities and events as well as the day and evening menu of chef-prepared selections are available on touch screens mounted on the wall opposite all elevators.

At Inspir senior residents embrace their independent lifestyle in an environment of luxury designed to meet changing personal wellness and health needs. A Mercedes house car is available for appointments. And for $20, a round trip shopping spree on Fifth and Madison Avenues.

VISTA ON 5th

1261 Fifth Ave.

Phone: 212-534-6464

Fax: 646-854-8568

vistaon5th.org

Type: Assisted Living

Facilities: 127 studio apartments

Fees: Monthly private rent: $6,000; Medicaid/set rent: $1,313.00 (identified by NYS annually).

Waiting list: Check when contacting Vista on 5th

Located directly opposite Central Park, Vista on 5th residents enjoy access to the park and its glorious views, especially when dining in the 14th floor dining room.

Vista on 5th accepts Medicaid and private pay. Because Medicaid is accepted, pets are allowed only for visits. There is a Good Dog Therapy program and residents who want some time with a pet, can arrange to do that. A favorite is Hudson, a golden doodle. There’s a concierge desk at the building’s entrance. Fees at Vista are inclusive of personal care services. Medical appointments and arrangements for transportation are made for residents with advance notice. S supervised rehab gym is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vista has a recreation manager who, with the assistance of an aide, gives exercise classes for strengthening and balance. Other activities include yoga, Spanish classes, live singing and musical performances, concerts, as well as day trips.

Since the pandemic, the usual sofas and seating for residents and guests in the lobby which overlooks a green garden have been replaced by chairs which are socially distanced. Residents enjoy a full range of activities on premises and around the city. All apartments enjoy Alexa as their personal assistant. There’s a wellness center and exercise equipment on premises. A physician is on site and available to meet with residents Tuesdays through Fridays. An ophthalmologist and podiatrist each come once a month.

Vista’s monthly rate covers 3 meals a day, and such personal services as housekeeping and laundry. Their 14th floor dining room is a favorite with its view of Central Park south of 110th St. and the Conservatory Garden.

When I met Vista’s CEO Nicole Atansio, who is a registered nurse, in 2019 in connection with the Senior Living Guide, she said that “Living at [Vista] is being at home, and all seniors come to [Vista] with their life’s stories and that [Vista] is the next chapter,” and that “residents need to know they are home at a place where they are able to build on their stories, make more memories and additional chapters.” Interestingly, when Amanda Garcia took me on a recent tour of Vista, I inquired about Carmen R., whom I visited when I was writing the 2019 Senior Guide. Carmen still lives at Vista. And Garcia, who is now Vista’s director of operations, started working at Vista seven years ago as as business service coordinator. Longevity is alive and well at Vista on 5th.

ATRIA WEST 86

333 West 86th St

212-791-0200

333West86.com

Type: Independent, Assisted Living

Facilities: 150 apartments

Studio, starting at $6,900; One bedroom, starting at $9,100; Two bedroom, starting at $17,200; Second person fee, $1,500

One-time Pet fee: $1,000

More than 20 years ago Atria West 86, located at 333 West 86th St. in the heart of the Upper West Side, was converted from a 21-story residential apartment building to an independent supportive senior living community which has made it easier for active older New Yorkers to live in the artistic and cultural heart of the city, with Riverside Park and Central Park just minutes away, and not far from Lincoln Center in the 60s and Symphony Space in the 90s.

Many of the residents have lived on the UWS for a good part of their lives and like to know that they can easily get to old favorites in the area – Riverside Park which is a half block away or to busy Broadway. A long walk or a short bus ride or transportation arranged by Atria will get you to Zabar’s or to Barney Greengrass on Amsterdam Ave. Can’t really get more UWS than those two venerable institutions. That being said, Atria residents generally want to continue living an independent lifestyle with the comforts of having housekeeping, laundry, and chef-prepared meals taken care of and being able to be part of a community of contemporaries. Residents enjoy independent hotel-style living and, if needed, Supportive Living Care Services are available at an additional monthly fee, which is based on the number of hours required.

Fees range from $845 for up to 3.5 hours/week to $5,070 for up to 21 hours/week. For this care, they are a assigned a personal care level following a comprehensive assessment by a licensed nurse with periodic follow up. In Level 1 personal care, the resident receives help with personal grooming, getting dressed every morning and getting prepared for bed every night. At Atria, 50% of the residents do not require personal care services.

All apartments feature a kitchenette and a walk-in closet. Rates include 24-hour staff, chef-prepared meals, an events calendar apartment maintenance, scheduled transportation, housekeeping service, utilities, emergency alert system. From Atria’s rooftop terrace you have a breathtaking view of the Hudson River and the city skyline.

Atria has three on-site dining venues. For breakfast, lunch, dinner there’s Anthony’s with chef Anthony Dugue presiding over the kitchen at the elegant, full-service restaurant. There’s A.P.’s Grille, a casual bistro for soup and a sandwich before setting out for the day. The Cafe’s for some morning joe and and maybe a danish, and then for a glass of afternoon wine. Happy hours are a favorite. Atria’s monthly activities and events calendar is posted and printed calendars are available. Residents can plan for nightly movies, programs and events covering such topics as health and physical fitness, learning and intellectual stimulation, live entertainment, creative expression and the arts, civic and professional involvement and religious and spiritual fellowship.

THE BRISTAL

1622 York Ave

646-370-6446

thebristal.com

Type: Assisted Living

Facilities: 132 apartments

Studio Apartment, starting at $12,800 monthly/ $426.67 daily

Studio Apartment (The Reflections Memory Care Program), starting at $20,150 monthly/ $426.67 daily

This past May, Bristal Assisted Living opened its first assisted living facility for seniors on York and 86th St. on the Upper East Side. It’s one block from Carl Schurz Park, home to Gracie Mansion, the official home to NYC’s mayor, and directly across the street from the Mansion restaurant, an all-time UES dining favorite. The 14-story assisted living facility has 132 apartments for seniors in need of independent or assisted living, and highly specialized care for residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The building is structured so that amenities and recreational spaces accommodate resident needs.

The Bristal is among the first assisted living communities in New York State to implement the Foresite Predictive Health and Fall Management system, which is able to track a resident’s health, help to predict an elevated risk of falling and provide immediate alerts should a fall occur. The system is set up in the resident’s apartment and is able to alert staff if a resident tries to get out of bed so they can provide assistance. All residents at Bristal have an emergency alert.

The Bristal was specially designed for seniors. Hallways areas have built-in ledges for extra support. In addition to The Bristal’s main dining room on the lobby floor, there is table side dining on each floor and a kitchen-style station from which meals are served to the table. For games, the Recreation Room is set up for billiards and table games like Scrabble. There are 11 apartments on each floor. The materials used in building the structure make it so that outside sounds and noise are kept out. Every floor has an indoor area and outdoor terrace with seating for relaxation and quiet time. Apartments are spacious. Pets up to 15 lbs. are permitted. Rent includes private apartment with kitchenette and private bathroom, three chef-prepared meals served daily. There are daily housekeeping services, weekly laundering and an emergency response system in every apartment, with 24-hour security and staffing.

For Memory Care, The Bristal has a private neighborhood called Reflections, which occupies several floors of the facility. It is a highly customized program that specializes in helping aging adults manage Alzheimer’s disease and other memory-related cognitive disorders and is supervised by experienced and trained senior care professionals.

CARNEGIE EAST HOUSE

1844 Second Ave. (95th-96th St.)

212-410-0033

carnegieeast.org

Type: Independent and Assisted Living

Facilities: 97 apartments

Monthly Rent: Studio, $6650; One bedroom, $7800; Two bedroom, $8475; Second person fee, $1350. (Affordable apartments are available to those interested parties who meet the required income limitations. All affordable apartment assignments are subject to approval by the NYC Housing Development Corporation.)

Carnegie East House on the Upper East Side has been home to Ruth Dombrow for six years and to Fay Loo for four years. When I met then 85-year-old Ruth in 2019, she talked about how living at Carnegie East was “a perfect fit” for her and how she enjoyed the “supportive lifestyle” and that her one-bedroom apartment which was “just the right size.” A painter, Ruth is still very active as an artist in various mediums – watercolors, collage, and paint, and her works are featured in the community’s art show and annual gala.

Fay, a retired NYC school teacher, was born in Shanghai and has always lived in Manhattan. I was surprised to see Muriel Fisher now living at Carnegie East – I met Muriel when writing Our Town’s 2019 Senior Living Guide. She was then living at a senior residence on the West Side and moved to Carnegie East when it closed. A retired educational director at a private school, Muriel still enjoys playing Scrabble, now with the friends she’s made at Carnegie.

Carnegie’s diverse activities are designed to keep residents happy, healthy and intellectually engaged. There’s a full schedule of wellness and exercises as well as on- and off-site cultural activities. On the premises are classes taught by theater and dance professionals, and there’s a theater group for residents. Medical management is available to residents who need assistance managing their medications, which are paid for with private insurance. A licensed nurse is on duty seven days a week.

In addition to three meals a a day for an extensive fine dining menu, monthly rent includes housekeeping once a week, 3.5 hours of personal care services (such as bathing, dressing, and grooming) per week, personal laundry (including linen and towels), utilities, except telephone and cable TV, 24-hour concierge service. Pets are allowed. A beauty salon and solarium are on the premises. Kitchenettes are equipped with an efficiency refrigerator, freezer and cook-top stove.

All apartments are designed to maximize independence and a safe environment for older adults – accessible toilet and shower with multiple handrails, an emergency call system that connects to the concierge desk for prompt response and such building features as day rooms throughout the residence, a library, computer room with Internet access, low vision library, as well as a wellness and rehabilitation center. Secular and religious holidays are observed. There’s Prayer Service and Shabbat Service.

Executive Director Joseph Girven sums up life at Carnegie East House as a “vibrant supportive living community” for a “dynamic body of residents to lead full and enriched lives.”

SUNRISE AT EAST 56

139 East 56th St.

New York, NY 10022

212-479-1200

SunriseEast56.com

Type: Independent Senior Living, Assisted Living, Memory

Care, Enhanced Care

Facilities: 151 apartments

Monthly Rates - Starting at: Studio, $14,750; One- and Two-bedroom Suites, $21,350; Additional Second person fee, starting at: $8,540

Built in 2019, Sunrise East 56’s 15-story building opened in December 2021 and is attracting affluent senior residents to a lifestyle of curated comfort where they can continue their lifestyle in a luxurious setting, have easy access to the city’s cultural life, and not worry about making reservations if they want a chef-prepared meal. Its design and interior decor are subtle and sophisticated, and communal spaces and amenities are tasteful. Located Midtown East, Sunrise is accessible to the city’s culture – museums, theaters, local events – and it’s a short walk to Bloomingdale’s and other shopping. And Sunrise is at the ready to make reservations for scheduled transportation. Or schedule a ride for a shopping spree on Fifth and Madison Avenues.

Sunrise was designed for comfort so that senior residents can go about their daily lives and have the comfort of a curated lifestyle with all of their needs taken care of. Included in the monthly rate are personal care and medication services, weekly housekeeping, laundry, and scheduled transportation, three locally sourced meals prepared by Sunrise 56’s culinary team. Residents and staff wear BlueBrand bracelets, a supportive technology, so that everyone’s on call in an emergency. For additional individualized care, there is an additional monthly fee.

Sunrise also uses the Foresite Predictive Health and Fall Management system which tracks a resident’s health, helps to predict an elevated risk of falling and provide immediate alerts should a fall occur. It is set up in the resident’s apartment and is able to alert staff if assistance is needed. The building is certified LEED Silver for its leadership in energy and environmental design.

There’s an expansive calendar of programs and events. And touchscreens keep residents informed the day’s menus and activities. Pets are permitted and there are pet therapy programs scheduled on the calendar.

VILLAGE CARE AT 46 & TEN

510 West 46th St.

212-977-4600

www.46and10village.org

Type: Assisted Living Program (ALP)

Facilities: 150 apartments – Studio and Two-bedroom shared apartments

Note: In order to to begin the application process, the following is required: Residents must be 62 or older. Active NYS Medicaid. Medicare does not cover the ALP. Receive SS benefits.

Iris, a resident of Village Care at 46th and Tenth, loves living at the Assisted Living residence, and echoes the sentiment on VC’s website, “I love it here. Village Care is my home. Everybody in the building is family.” And she’s not alone. Peter Blaxill, who has been a resident at VC for several years, agreed. When I met with Peter for this year’s Senior Living Guide, as I did in 2019, he couldn’t say enough about VC’s excellent and caring staff. “Everyone’s so nice. They know your name. They care about you,” essentially repeating what he said in 2019. Interestingly, Peter’s and Iris’s assessment was confirmed by the U.S. and World Report when they named Village Care at 46th and Tenth assisted living residence a “2022-23 Best of Senior Living.”

Life at VC suits Peter. He’s able to enjoy an independent lifestyle while getting the assisted services he needs and values. And at 89, the retired Broadway musical actor enjoys his ability to get around, sometimes with the assistance of an aide whom he pays out-of-pocket.

Village Care’s location and urban lifestyle are perfect for eligible seniors who want to take advantage of being able to walk the neighborhood or use public transportation. Although the pandemic saw many restaurants close, there’s still a good mix of ethnic establishments in the vicinity. A Target’s nearby and the Theater District’s within walking distance. For immediate health needs, Ryan Chelsea-Clinton Community Health Center is right around the corner from VC between 45th and 46th on Tenth and a pharmacy’s on the opposite side of the street.

Residents enjoy the comfort of having the personal and health services and emergency alert services (including medical and life alerts) that make life easier – 24-hour concierge and security service, housekeeping, laundry services, meals, and a calendar of activities to participate in, or not. A registered nurse completes a nursing assessment of each new resident and develops a Personalized Plan of Care so that each resident’s needs are met. In addition to health and assisted services, VC offers a full schedule of recreational activities on- and off-premises. Monthly programs include a night of Broadway show songs, and a guitarist singing 60s songs. There’s a nightly movie, and a large TV in the Rec Room. Three meals are served daily, restaurant style. Apartments have a refrigerator and stove.

THE 80th STREET RESIDENCE

430 East 80th Street

212-717-8888

80thStreetResidence.com

Type: Enhanced Memory Care, Assisted Living

Facilities: 70 rooms

Fees: Monthly costs vary depending on room type and level of care

Waiting list: Check for current status

Most residents have had careers as executives, artists, educators, politicians and world travelers, and 80th Street’s mission is to keep them engaged at their comfort level. Many are lifelong New Yorkers who thrive on city life experiences. Residents can enjoy the view from the Penthouse Terrace and spend time in the outdoor lounge to relax or join a gathering or barbecue. There are planned trips to museums and Lincoln Center and indoor events include performances by musicians at the residence, Shakespearean readings by performers and residents alike.

The all-inclusive services at 80th Street include nurses and care managers trained in cognitive impairment, medication management, transportation and escort for nearby off-site medical appointments and a full range of group and one-to-one activities. The monthly fee includes salon services, toiletries, TV and furniture.

In a boutique, luxe setting on the Upper East Side, each resident lives in a neighborhood with others who have similar cognitive abilities. Each apartment opens onto a homelike dining and living room. which is staffed 24-7. In the transition period, when a resident moves into the residence from their home, 80th Street provides a private personal care attendant to ease the transition.

(Straus News Manhattan was unable to schedule a visit.)

ISABELLA INDEPENDENT LIVING

515 Audubon Ave., near West 191st Street

212-342-9200

Isabella.org

Facilities: Studio and one-bedroom apartments, some with balconies.

Fees: Starting at $2,400 a month

Type: Independent Living

Located in Washington Heights, at the tip of northern Manhattan and surrounded by parks and gardens, Isabella is a diverse independent living residence for seniors 62 and over. Hallways are wide. The monthly fee includes lunch and dinner, cable TV, utilities, fresh linen weekly. Housekeeping is extra. A wide range of medical and social support is available nearby when and if needed. Over time, needs may change. Residents of Isabella House may require home care services from time to time and are free to engage private home care services on their own as circumstances require.

Isabella’s was selected as the location for Lin-Manuel for the filming of “In the Heights,” an an apt description of Isabella’s city-centric senior living residence.

(Straus News Manhattan was unable to schedule a visit.)

THE NEW JEWISH HOME

120 West 106th St.

212-870-4715

jewishhome.org

Type: Skilled Nursing, Home Care, Rehab

Facilities: New Jewish Home runs a Westchester campus (in Mamaroneck) and senior residences in the Bronx, including independent living and assisted living. There is also an Adult Day Care Program (off Hutchinson Pkwy).

Fees: A mix of private pay, Medicare/Medicaid

New Jewish Home’s comprehensive health care systems are all-inclusive: Short-Stay Rehab, Care at Home and Long-Term Skilled Nursing Care are available in Manhattan. Independent Living, Assisted Living, Supportive Housing are in the Bronx.

The Jewish Home’s 20-story Green Project building is located at at 97th and Columbus.

The Green House is for long-term care living, and 12 residents will each have their own room with private or shared bathrooms. Rooms open onto a central living area, with a kitchen where staff can accommodate residents’ food choices and activities..

The Jewish Home has a long tradition of diversity as well as a commitment to having a welcoming living environment for LGBT seniors.

(Straus News Manhattan was unable to schedule a visit.)

305 WEST END ASSISTED LIVING

305 West End Ave

New York, NY 10023

212 969-8464

Monthly rates: Start at $7,800 for Independent, Assisted Living for studios and private suites, $17,000 for Reflections Memory Care suites

305 West End is home to seniors who want to maintain an independent or assisted living lifestyle, and those who need memory care. Conveniently located in the heart of the Upper West Side, 305 West End Assisted Living is a short distance from parks, attractions, dining and shopping. There’s an on-site cinema and an outdoor terrace. Three meals, nutritionally planned and individually served each day in a country club dining room. Luxurious suites, with kitchenette and private bath, are spacious. Services and amenities include housekeeping, weekly linens and laundry, a fitness center, exercise classes and wellness programs.

Monthly costs vary depending on room type and level of care need. Services and amenities that are included – housekeeping, weekly linens and laundry, wellness programs, town car service and motor coach transportation to and from outside activities, three meals nutritionally planned and individually served each day.

(Straus News Manhattan was unable to schedule a visit.)

BROOKDALE BATTERY PARK

455 North End Ave., near Chambers St.

212-791-2500

brookdale.com

Type: Independent Living

Facilities: 217 apartments, from studios to two-bedrooms

Fees: Monthly costs vary depending on room type and level of care needed.

Waiting list: High occupancy; first come, first served

Brookdale Battery Park recently celebrated their twentieth anniversary. Located in downtown Manhattan, the location is suited for those seniors who want an urban lifestyle. There’s upscale dining and shopping at Brookfield. An MTA bus stop is opposite the building for a ride to the Theater District. And Brookdale provides shuttle buses for shopping and cultural activities around the city. The facility was designed for seniors, from wide hallways for extra support to apartments with low counter tops. All apartments have Alexa as a personal assistant.

There’s a full schedule of activities on- and off-premises. Brookdale’s monthly fee includes 24-hour emergency response, exercise, health and wellness program, and a monitoring system to check in on all residents. Pets are allowed.

(Straus News Manhattan was unable to schedule a visit.)

COTERIE HUDSON YARDS

Senior Living

505 West 35th St.

800-385-2527

Rent + Care Costs: Assisted Living - Starting at $10,800/month; Independent Living - Starting at $10,800/month; Memory Care - Starting at $11,200/month

One- and Two-bedroom apartments; Companion Suites, Studio apartments

Slated to open in Fall 2022, Coterie Hudson Yards is another of the high-end Senior Living Residences that are coming to define luxury living for seniors in Manhattan. Pricey they are, but so are rents for all any one in any age category who wants to live in New York, New York. The lifestyle Coterie offers is cosmopolitan and its reflected in menus crafted by acclaimed chefs, white-glove service, and a vibrant community where residents enjoy life in style.

Located between busy Midtown West and Chelsea, Hudson Yards is fast becoming a destination for New Yorkers and visitors alike with such New York City attractions like High Line, Broadway, museums. Coterie residents enjoy exclusive benefits throughout Hudson Yards, including access to priority restaurant reservations, event tickets, specialized services like personal shopping. Luxury living is reflected in wellness and in care offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care service. There’s a 24-hour on-site medical center, staffed by Sollis Health, and a physical therapy service is available to residents. Coterie has a curated library, gym equipment in the private health club selected by the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Team to promote fitness, flexibility, and longevity. Resident choose from four dining venues, including a sky terrace for al fresco dining. Their on-site bakery is also a learning space for resident cooking classes.

Life at Coterie Hudson Yards, is summed up by Joanna Mansfield, General Manager at the senior residence: “Coterie Hudson Yards residents have access to best-in-class amenities in spacious residences. It is everything older adults want and need with a wellness program expertly designed for the mind, body and spirit.”

(Straus News Manhattan was unable to schedule a visit.)