Sonoma Hills Retirement Living Community sits in Sonoma, right in the heart of wine country, and you'll notice right away that people seem busy with activities, walking through flower and vegetable gardens, or gathering for meals in the dining room where you can eat any time of day, and they make a point of growing some of their fruits and vegetables in the garden out back, which some residents help take care of along with the gardening group, and when you see the apartments, you'll find 80 one-level, garden-style apartments, mostly one-bedrooms but also studios and some two-bedroom units, which all have full kitchens, washer and dryer stacked in the apartment, central heating and air, private patios, and emergency call systems for peace of mind, and every building and apartment has walk-in showers, smoke detectors, fire sprinklers, and deadbolt locks for security, but they don't allow smoking indoors anywhere.
This community helps people stay independent while giving lots of choices, like independent living, assisted living, board and care, memory care, and respite care, while care staff are on duty, and they have nurses, a doctor on call, and home health care that's Medicare-certified, and some folks use the hospice services, plus they're pretty open about pets as long as you follow some simple rules and pay the deposit, and you'll see dogs and cats in many of the units, so people who love animals don't have to give them up just because they moved, and if you like to travel a bit, they offer this Platinum Travel Program where you can stay at their sister communities in California or Utah, and meals and entertainment come included with that too.
There's a lot of talk here about supporting people's health and happiness, so you see things like a fitness center, Tai Chi and yoga classes, daily exercise with certified instructors, and then lots of group activities like book clubs, cards, billiards, Friday Social Hour with wine and hors d'oeuvres, and community events listed out in a monthly newsletter that's handed to everybody, which helps people stay involved, and you'll also notice they have devotional services both onsite and offsite for those who want them, and both a chapel and a beautician/barber shop onsite, so most things are right there for convenience and comfort, and if it's safety you care about, you'll notice the community is all one level with no stairs to climb, which makes it easier for folks using walkers or wheelchairs, and there's always parking for residents, so people who still drive can come and go.
Meals are served restaurant-style in a big, elegant dining room with extended hours, and there's a private dining room for parties or birthdays, and the staff look after dietary needs with menus focused on nutritious, seasonal options; but if you want to cook for yourself, every unit has a full kitchen, and they'll still include three meals daily in the rent just for ease of mind, and the rent itself is month-to-month and covers everything like utilities, Wi-Fi, weekly housekeeping, laundry, scheduled rides for shopping and appointments, and all the wellness and social activities too, so there aren't many surprise expenses.
There's a real sense of friendliness, and staff check on people regularly and invite them to join activities, so nobody feels ignored or isolated unless they prefer privacy, and the staff are often described as helpful and attentive, which most folks appreciate since it's rare nowadays, and they make a point to keep the atmosphere warm, welcoming, and secure, one of those places where you see folks stopping to talk in the lobby, which has a grand piano and a cozy fireplace, or gathering in the lounges or outdoor sitting areas.
Along with all these things, Sonoma Hills Retirement Living Community focuses on keeping life simple and supportive with room to be as independent as you like, strong safety features, a pet-friendly approach, all the basic services wrapped into one fee, plenty of opportunities for socializing or peace and quiet, and lots of options for senior living and care in one spot, which takes a lot of worries off people's shoulders as they age.
