The Glades at ChampionsGate

The Glades at ChampionsGate sits on a palm-tree-lined campus in ChampionsGate, Florida, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and continuing care retirement services all in one place, which makes it easier for folks to stay put as needs change over time, and with three different neighborhoods, there are choices for people looking for a certain lifestyle or care level, whether that's independent living with maintenance-free apartments and scheduled activities, assisted living with help for daily tasks and medication, or memory care with a secure community built for folks living with Alzheimer's or other memory issues, and the property has a total of 223 residences, breaking down into 114 for independent living, 73 for assisted living, and 36 memory care homes, so there's space for singles or couples, and available floor plans include studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, and single room units-most with accessible features like walk-in showers, wheelchair access, full kitchens or kitchenettes, air conditioning, and fast Wi-Fi, plus some apartments are on the ground floor for easier access, and residents can bring pets up to 40 pounds, so dogs and cats are part of life here, though some restrictions do apply.

The staff helps with things like medication management, diabetic care, incontinence care, and non-ambulatory support, and there's licensed skilled nursing on site if someone needs more medical attention than regular assisted living provides, and there's also short-term or respite care, good for folks who only need help for a little while-or caregivers needing a break, and for memory care residents, the community is secure with enclosed courtyards and safe indoor and outdoor walking paths, so people can go outside but not wander off, and specialized programs like Valeo™ Memory Care and Vita! are focused on brain health, independence, and socializing.

The Glades runs on a wellness philosophy called Salus™, aiming for physical, social, intellectual, and spiritual health, which means daily life can have some structure with activity options like fitness classes, swimming in the heated outdoor pool, walks on landscaped grounds with shady sitting spots, and organized gardening groups, and inside, residents find arts and crafts, a book discussion club, a cooking club, and educational lectures, live music from the resident musical group, plus story time activities for those who enjoy it, and a recreation room, game nights, billiards lounge, movie theater area, and a club for quilting, sewing, walking, and men's gatherings, with special activities like animal therapy, art and music therapy, and chef demonstrations.

Dining is covered in several ways, through four different venues including restaurant-style dining, a café or bistro, private dining rooms, and a room service option, and menu options cover most dietary needs, such as low-sodium, sugar-free, vegan, vegetarian, and international foods, and there are special themed meals and even immersive travel nights with cuisine from different countries, and for pet lovers, Bow Wow Biscuit activities allow residents to bake treats for their own dogs.

Care services go beyond daily needs, since housekeeping, laundry, dry cleaning, haircuts, barber services, and spa visits are handled in-house, along with beautician services, and transportation options include complimentary and paid rides, resident and uncovered parking, so residents get to doctor's visits or offsite events with help, and the community is wheelchair accessible throughout, with high ceilings, big indoor areas with natural light, a central fireplace, and comfortable seating areas, and beyond that, amenities include a fitness gym, game room, TV lounge, library, outdoor patio, raised garden beds, salon, and main street shops.

The Glades accepts check payments, has an entry fee, and is a state-licensed facility, providing community planning resources and support for families and caregivers, with an emphasis on active, relaxed, and community-oriented living, offering in-house religious services along with special devotional activities on and off-site, so people of different backgrounds and languages-since they offer services in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese, Italian, Korean, German, Hindi, and Japanese-can feel at home, and for those who use Facebook, there's even a login feature for convenience.

The Glades at ChampionsGate is managed by Watermark Retirement.

Watermark Retirement Communities is a premier senior living operator managing over 70 communities across 21 states with approximately 5,800 associates, ranked as the nation's 9th-leading senior housing operator by the American Seniors Housing Association. Founded in 1985 by David Freshwater and David Barnes as The Fountains in Tucson, Arizona, the company pioneered wellness-based senior living in collaboration with the University of Arizona Center on Aging before rebranding as Watermark in 2006. Headquartered in Tucson, Watermark became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore-based Keppel Corporation in March 2024, following Keppel's initial 50% acquisition in 2019, with Paul Boethel succeeding the founders as CEO while Freshwater continues as Chairman Emeritus.

The company's signature Watermark University is an award-winning intergenerational learning program where residents, associates, family members, and local experts—including museum curators, university professors, and world-renowned doctors—teach dozens of classes ranging from watercolor painting and ballroom dancing to language learning and sculpture workshops. Named among Fortune's Top 25 Best Workplaces for Aging Services™ by the Great Place to Work® Institute, Watermark provides comprehensive training through programs like GO (General Orientation) Ripples, Leadership by Design workshops, and specialized sales systems focused on understanding buyer motivations and customer service excellence.

Watermark's innovative Prema Memory Support℠ program features Naya caregivers—named after the Sanskrit word for "guide" or "person of wisdom"—who are Certified Dementia Practitioners trained through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. The Thrive Memory Care experience includes secure courtyards, multi-sensory environments with fresh flowers, music therapy, and sensory gardens. Their groundbreaking Thrive Dining (Gourmet Bites) program transforms nutritious meals into attractive, bite-sized portions that residents can enjoy independently without utensils. The Dementia Awareness Experience uses virtual simulations including impairment gloves and vision-loss glasses to help associates develop deeper empathy and understanding.

The company leads the industry in technology innovation with EngageVR, a virtual reality program using Oculus Quest headsets that enables residents to travel virtually to the pyramids of Egypt, swim with whales, or reconnect with veterans from their battalions in virtual living rooms. The 360Well wellness program integrates four key circles—mind, body, spirit, and community—to promote holistic health and independence. Through partnerships with the University of Arizona's Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute and Curana Health for value-based care delivery in Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania, Watermark continues advancing senior care research and innovation.

Following a "shrinking to grow" strategy under new leadership, Watermark focuses on operating premium communities while maintaining its founding philosophy that they are "a wellness company that happens to provide housing and services for seniors," committed to creating experiences where residents truly feel at home with purpose, possibility, and joy.