Arden Wood sits on a twelve-acre landscaped property at 445 Wawona Street in San Francisco, and you'll notice right away the main building looks like a chalet and is actually known as an architectural landmark, which is something most places don't have, and the grounds come with beautiful gardens and woodland pathways, plus a quiet atmosphere that's good for rest or study. Arden Wood has served Christian Scientists for nearly eighty years and sticks to Christian Science nursing standards, which means staff focus on spiritual healing and don't use medicine or physical therapy, and you'll find skilled Christian Science nurses available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, both on-site for nursing care and as part of the Christian Science Visiting Nurse Service for temporary home care. People can choose independent living in apartments called The Residences at Arden Wood, where they get meals, housekeeping, laundry, daily activities, and views of the property, and for people needing more help, there's sheltered care and skilled nursing care, and both residents and guests can take part in programs for spiritual growth like Bible study groups, hymn sings, and metaphysical talks, or use the library and join daily activity programs.
There's a dining facility where residents get three meals a day with specific hours, and while visitors have to follow set visiting hours from 9 AM to 9 PM, there's family guest lodging available, which can be helpful for anyone who wants to stay close by, and guest rooms for overnight stays, so family and visitors can come for short visits or longer rest and study stays. Arden Wood has several options for people to stay in touch or informed, like newsletters-especially the Heart to Heart newsletter-social media, and event replays, while upcoming events and chances to host events are available too, and there's a photo gallery showing features of the community.
The place is equipped for people with special needs, with handicap-accessible common areas, ground-floor units, and staff to help with things like showering, dressing, laundry, daily housekeeping, driving, and trips to appointments or off-site activities, plus special care for non-ambulatory residents and people needing medication management, diabetic care, or incontinence care-all based on Christian Science principles. The facility includes a gift shop called Squirrel's Nest that runs from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and transportation is easy, with detailed directions from several routes, including the airport, BART, ferry, and MUNI subway; there are even bus options to main parts of the city and to the waterfront.
For people interested in growing their skills, Arden Wood has a Christian Science Nursing Arts (CSNA) Education Center, offering courses with classroom and practical "sick room" training, and a full curriculum with schedules and tuition fees listed, plus a program for mentoring advanced students, and the Nursing Education Center provides education for those preparing to join nursing activities-higher modules are taught at Chestnut Hill, but the initial ones are right at Arden Wood. The programs in place also allow for spiritual renewal, where people can come for a quiet space to study, and resources are available for healing and gratitude, ministry, and understanding church manual by-law.
A board of trustees oversees operations, admissions, and policies, and Arden Wood's also known for matching donations, online giving, and planned giving, and holds an annual meeting for community matters and future planning. The apartments and guest rooms have a rate calculator to help with planning, and there's a clear history and timeline documenting Arden Wood's background and the ways it's changed over the years, plus photos of recent renovations and refurbished spaces, so people can see what's changed and what's stayed the same, and, out by the main entrance on Wawona Street, visitors can find an Italian restaurant just outside the grounds. Arden Wood stays focused on healing, spiritual growth, and creating a homelike setting in line with Christian Science teachings, so both long-term residents and visitors can find support, community, and guidance.
