KEYSTONE WOODS: A LOCAL RENTAL RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Keystone Woods is looking for senior citizens who are looking for an easier lifestyle living among fellow seniors and it appears that it has gone out of its way to attract them.  A brand new facility containing 97 independent living apartments and 92 assisted living apartments on a 17 acre, wooded and well-manicured site was recently opened up for public view. 

       Keystone Woods is located at 942 Grayson Drive not far from Western New England College and is the product of an experienced partnership of four developers, including Joe Roche, who has lived in Springfield with his wife for over thirty years. 

       Angie Thornton became a believer in Keystone Woods.  After visiting and studying its literature, she made plans to move her mother from a facility in Chicopee to the Keystone Woods Assisted Living facility, but her mother passed away before she could move in.  That didn’t end Angie’s role at Keystone.  She and Keystone’s Community Relations and Marketing Director were mutually impressed with each other’s presentation.  They “clicked” as Angie describes it and Angie accepted Keystone’s offer to become an Administrative Assistant and then a Marketing Associate. 

       She explained her enthusiasm for Keystone by revealing its multiple benefits offered to older citizens.  What do you want?  What do you need—Assisted Living, Respite Living, Group Adult Foster Care?  How about a one or two bedroom apartment or, maybe a semi-private companion suite?  How about no property taxes, fully paid insurance and 24 hour security services?  And if they throw in free basic cable television and health monitoring, free housekeeping services and medication monitoring services and 24 hour emergency call services, would your interest be piqued?  Would you be impressed if they throw in free lawn care and snow removal and complete home maintenance, including trash removal and appliance repair?  And if they provide scheduled transportation to important events and provided free social and cultural events on site, as well as a senior-friendly fitness center and a community T.V. room and dining hall, would you be interested in spending the rest of your years in affordable luxury? 

       Angie, a married mother of two daughters, was impressed enough to leave her own Avon products and cleaning business and join in selling Keystone Woods to the community.  Her focus is on everybody but she “would like to bring in a culturally diverse population: Black, Hispanic and others.  Her commitment is shared by Beth Edelberg-Cardillo, Marketing Director, who affirmed that diversity is a major goal of top management. 

       Although the monthly cost for living at Keystone is more than normal rent, Keystone living does not require the large upfront investment required by other assisted living facilities, and by  the time all of the other rental benefits are added in, including the peace of mind of knowing that you are both independent and surrounded by facilities, services and personnel that meet most of your everyday wants and requirements, the actual rental cost is lower.

       The challenge put to Angie Thornton by this writer was to help me understand the difference among the different categories of tenants—Independent Living, Assisted Living, Respite Living, and Group Adult Foster Care.  She did a good job of explaining it but I am not sure that I listened as well.

       Independent Living tenants have their own private apartments with access to common areas and facilities, one full meal in the common dining area and access to all of the transportation and recreation services provided by staff.  Assisted Living mirrors Independent Living but also includes specialized apartments, medication monitoring, three meals a day and personal care.  Respite Living is exactly what it implies.  It is designed to give a caregiver a respite from caring for a loved one.  If you are caring for someone at home and you are going on vacation or a business trip or simply need some time off, Keystone Woods will provide a one bedroom apartment, three meals a day, medication management and grooming, bathing and dressing assistance and all of the other requirements that give you  the peace of mind that your loved one is receiving quality care during your absence.  Group Adult Foster Care provides “assistance with daily living in a residential setting to elderly and or disabled Medicaid recipients who are at risk of institutional placement.  Keystone Woods is applying to the state for beds for the Foster Care program and will open with 12 shared apartments.  The staffing and services will be much more intense.

       To confirm this writer’s understanding of what Keystone Woods has to offer or simply for more information on how Keystone Woods can meet your needs, call 413-426-9868. n