Audubon Retirement Village sits on a quiet street in uptown New Orleans at 612 Henry Clay Avenue, surrounded by old live oak trees and landscaped courtyards, and after a $16 million renovation the place now has 119 private rooms with their own bathrooms for privacy and comfort, giving residents a more personal space than most places, and there are also semi-private rooms if folks want to share. The community serves seniors who need skilled nursing care, assisted living, independent living, and memory care, especially for Alzheimer's, so people with different needs find a place here. The staff includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, CNAs, a Medical Director, a Nurse Practitioner, a consultant dietician, a consultant pharmacist, therapy aides, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, and social workers, and they're there all day and night to help with things like bathing, grooming, dressing, wound care, medication, and pain management. There's also help with daily activities, homemaking, and transportation to medical appointments, which takes a load off residents and families.
The place puts a lot of focus on rehabilitation, so there's a state-of-the-art rehab gym where folks can work on recovering from surgery or illness, and they have all sorts of therapies, like physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and even services for stroke recovery, podiatry, pain control, and nutritional counseling with a specialist on staff. The nursing team works on helping folks get strong enough to return home if that's the goal, and there are options for skilled nursing, short-term rehab, long-term care, respite, and post-acute care, so residents who need either a few weeks or need to stay longer will find help here.
The building has safety features like handicap access, sprinkler systems, grab bars, washers and dryers, and private or shared rooms with en-suite baths. There's a focus on comfort with regular housekeeping, building maintenance, communal living spaces, libraries, a cafe, dining rooms, and even cable TV and WiFi for those who want to keep up with family or the news. Social life isn't forgotten-they've got fitness centers, game rooms, organized group activities, salon and barbershop services, arts and crafts, spiritual programs, and health and wellness classes. Outings happen regularly, and they welcome families and volunteers to take part in activities, which makes visits more lively. Residents also get to join in community enrichment trips around town when they're able, and transportation for other needs is arranged by the staff.
When it comes to quality, inspection reports in recent years show no deficiencies, inspection grades are A+, and compliance is high, so basic standards are met or exceeded. The overall grade for the facility is a B, and in 2020 it was ranked as one of the top nursing homes in Louisiana, even winning national recognition with a Bronze - Commitment to Quality Award. The current occupancy rate is about 74 percent, meaning there's usually room for new arrivals.
Audubon Retirement Village operates as a non-profit that started in 1994 and works with groups like CommCare Management Corporation, LCMC Health, and LSU Health Sciences New Orleans, so the community has some solid backing. Families and future residents can learn about financing options, including Medicare and Medicaid, and get a good explanation of different care levels-skilled nursing, assisted living, and independent living-so people make informed choices. The place allows for both in-person and virtual tours, makes assessments up front, and always encourages checking records, certifications, and staff ratios. All these things make Audubon Retirement Village a steady option for elder care in New Orleans, offering a broad range of services while trying to address both comfort and medical needs.
