The Colonnade Senior Living sits at 700 Weber Road in O'Fallon, Illinois, and folks can reach it easily by I-64, I-44, or I-55, so nobody has trouble finding the place even if they haven't been before, and when you walk up you'll see it's a three-story community that's focused on giving seniors a place to call home, whether folks are looking for independent living, assisted living, or needing specialized memory care, with apartments available in both studio and one-bedroom options, ranging from 318 to 636 square feet, with big, well-lit rooms and plenty of space for personal belongings plus, if someone has a pet, there's a pet-friendly policy so dogs and cats are welcome too and even service animals.
The staff includes on-site nurses, licensed practical nurses, a full-time activity director, and professionals like a medical director and dietician, and what that means is you've always got someone there, day or night, who knows how to help if you have a question or a problem, and the team is trained for everything from medication reminders to helping residents bathe, dress, and move safely, including using lifts if needed, plus they know how to help folks who might wander or act out because of memory problems, with a secured memory care area using bracelets and alarms to keep track of everyone and prevent them from leaving safe areas without staff knowing.
Meals are a big part of the day here, with chef-prepared food served in an exquisite dining hall, restaurant-style or by room service, and there's always attention paid to special diets like gluten-free, low-sodium, low-sugar, vegan, or even meals for specific health needs, and there's always coffee and snacks at the café or bistro if someone gets hungry between meals-plus folks can invite guests for meals and enjoy the kind of food that makes you feel comfortable and at home, which is something the whole kitchen staff tries to give residents whether they're from close by or moved in from out of town.
On any weekday, there's usually a whole list of activities arranged by the full-time Activity Director, and there are things like arts and crafts, karaoke parties, Wii bowling, gardening in raised beds, exercise classes, movie rooms, billiards, and even intergenerational programs so older and younger folks spend time together, and for those who want to attend religious services, both onsite and offsite devotional options exist for all sorts of faiths, with chaplains visiting regularly; families never feel left out if they want to join a social or spiritual event.
Outside of the rooms, there are wide, well-lit hallways, a variety of indoor and outdoor communal spaces like patios, walking paths, game rooms, library, bar/pub, computer room, beauty salon, and even a movie theater and main street common areas set up to give the building a sense of town comfort; the grounds are spacious with plenty of spots for folks and pets to sit or stroll and there's a secure courtyard for memory care residents so everyone can go outside safely, and if anyone needs to get around town, complimentary transportation is set up for errands or doctor's appointments, while those still driving have resident parking.
For health care, Colonnade offers visiting nurses, podiatrists, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, plus on-site home care assistance for those who need extra help with non-medical needs, companionship, or hospice care; caregivers receive extra training for memory care and handling behavioral needs, so the staff knows how to keep residents comfortable, safe, and as independent as possible, and there's always a doctor on call when more serious issues arise.
Colonnade pays attention to technology too, with computerized alert systems and security for those at risk of wandering; this keeps families feeling reassured, and lets everyone know someone's always looking out for those in memory care or with dementia. The community goes by Heritage at The Colonnade for its memory care services, with a purpose-built secured area for those residents and personalized care plans so each person gets what they need. There's a focus on keeping folks active, eating well, and living as independently as possible, but always with the option for more help if things change over time.
Apartments stay tidy with daily housekeeping and laundry, and there's help with bathing, dressing, and reminders for folks who need it, so even if a resident starts on their own and later needs assisted living, they won't have to move-it's a place designed for changing needs, with a commitment to complying with health and safety rules, including measures for COVID-19 from Illinois and federal guidelines. Residents have use of free Wi-Fi, cable TV, scheduled transportation, accessible bathrooms and showers, and plenty of games and programs for mental fitness and socializing, with both structured and informal activities so nobody has to feel alone.
The Colonnade tries to keep things comfortable, with friendly faces and staff who pay attention to what people want, not only on holidays or special occasions, but every day, so seniors can relax and enjoy getting older with the dignity, food, support, and entertainment that make the difference between feeling at home and just living somewhere.
