Channing House sits in a quiet Palo Alto neighborhood and stands out due to its 11-story building, which is much taller than the houses around it, and folks who move here will see big views of the San Francisco Bay or the nearby foothills from their apartment windows. Channing House is a not-for-profit Life Plan Community, also known as a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), that gives seniors different types of living, with 191 living units in all, covering independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care inside one campus. Residents can find 27 assisted-living beds set in 24 rooms as well as 26 skilled-nursing beds, and there's a newer Health Care Building, called the Lee Center, with more units for nursing and assisted living, along with dining and activity rooms for everyone's use. Folks who want to keep their independence choose from different apartment styles, some even with kitchenettes, and people who need more help have support with daily needs or in special memory care spaces, where the staff gets training in taking care of those with Alzheimer's and dementia, and they set up secure areas so residents don't wander off.
Channing House offers a lot of amenities, with a main dining room that serves chef-prepared meals, private dining rooms for birthdays or quiet gatherings, and a special monthly "Webster Street Grill" event up on the 11th floor, where people enjoy gourmet foods and fine wine while looking out over the city. There are gardens on the roof, a woodworking shop, an art studio, a computer lab, and a large library, while a fitness center and indoor pool let people stay active, with fitness classes and wellness programs for both body and mind. Residents find plenty to do between the organized daily events, holiday dinners, activity rooms, and resident-run classes, and there's transportation for trips out and about or to medical appointments, and a parking garage in the basement for those who still drive. Channing House keeps everything easier for people by including all utilities, high-speed internet, cable TV, weekly housekeeping, and linen service, so there's less to worry about, and people who need care have 24/7 emergency response by licensed nursing staff, plus on-site visits from doctors from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.
Most years, Channing House has attracted more women than men, and people often talk about the sense of community from neighbor-led programs and all sorts of social events and multipurpose spaces, whether they're dining together, working on art, swimming, or sitting in the gardens. Healthy foods-including vegetarian meals and dessert choices-are served daily, and the tradition of holding special holiday gatherings adds something extra for everyone living here. The place is run as a charitable organization and gets its licenses from both the California Department of Health Services and Social Services, following rules for Assisted Living (RCFE License #430700136), skilled nursing (SNF License #220000404), and certificate of authority (#083).
Channing House has always focused on giving seniors a safe place where they can stay independent for as long as possible, get more help as they need it, and take part in as many activities as they want, all while living in the middle of Palo Alto with nice views and access to events, supportive programs, and health care whenever it's needed.
