The Woods - Retirement Community

    197 Howe St, Methuen, MA 01844
    • Independent Living
    • Assisted Living

    Moved my mom very pleased

    I moved my mom here and we're very pleased. Beautiful, brand-new community with golf-course views, large sunny apartments (full kitchen, granite, in-unit washer/dryer, balcony), immaculate grounds and lots of amenities. Staff and management are welcoming and helpful, meals are good, and the social calendar is lively (movies, bocce, pickleball, bingo); it feels like a real community - I'd highly recommend.

    Loved one of resident
    Jul 2026

    Pricing

    Prices shown are estimates and subject to change. Contact your senior living advisor for current pricing.

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Coordination with health care providers
    • Hospice waiver
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Meal preparation and service
    • Restaurant-style dining

    Room

    • Air-conditioning
    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Internet
    • Kitchenettes
    • Private bathrooms
    • Spa
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Memory care community services

    • Dementia waiver
    • Specialized memory care programming

    Transportation

    • Community operated transportation
    • Located close to restaurants
    • Located close to shopping centers
    • Transportation arrangement (medical)
    • Transportation arrangement (non-medical)
    • Transportation to doctors appointments

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Dining room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor patio
    • Outdoor space
    • Pet friendly
    • Small library
    • Wellness center

    Community services

    • Concierge services
    • Fitness programs
    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Planned day trips
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    Reviews

    4.73·(63)

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      4.0
    • Staff

      4.5
    • Meals

      3.9
    • Amenities

      4.7
    • Value

      3.8

    Pros

    • Brand-new, well-maintained facilities
    • Attractive dining rooms and multiple meal options
    • Extensive on-site amenities (movie theater, gym, salon, tavern)
    • Apartment-style units with full kitchens
    • In-unit washer and dryer
    • Accessible bathroom features (walk-in showers, grab bars)
    • Bright units with natural light and private balconies/patios
    • Beautiful grounds and outdoor recreational spaces
    • Active social calendar and varied programming
    • Resident-driven clubs and initiatives
    • Friendly, attentive and helpful staff
    • Weekly housekeeping and responsive maintenance
    • Convenient location near shops and medical services

    Cons

    • Inconsistent dining service staffing and meal delivery
    • Variable food quality and temperature control
    • Affordability concerns and periodic rent increases
    • Management turnover affecting community culture
    • Inconsistent cleanliness standards in some units and bathrooms
    • Activity-program scheduling and availability inconsistencies
    • Building layout causing disconnected access to main dining
    • Parking availability constraints
    • Management communication and resident relations

    Summary of reviews

    The Woods presents as a modern, amenity-rich retirement community with many reviewers praising its new construction, tasteful common areas, and well-maintained grounds. Apartment-style independent living is a clear centerpiece: units are described as spacious, bright, and well-appointed with full kitchens, in-unit laundry, walk-in showers and accessible safety features. On-site amenities — including a movie theater, fitness area, salon, tavern/happy hour space, craft and game rooms, and multiple outdoor activity areas — create a resort-like environment that supports social engagement and varied leisure options.

    Staff and day-to-day responsiveness are frequent strengths in the feedback. Many accounts highlight welcoming, attentive front-desk and maintenance personnel, a hands-on director, and staff who learn residents’ names and facilitate move-ins and transitions. Reviewers report active resident participation in clubs and programming, and several comments describe resident-led initiatives that reinforce a sense of community.

    Dining and foodservice emerge as a mixed area. The facility’s dining rooms and menu variety receive positive mentions, and some reviewers praise accommodating special diets and an appealing dining atmosphere. At the same time, operational weaknesses recur: understaffed meal service, long waits, occasional order errors, temperature-control problems and inconsistent food quality are cited. There is also an operational-layout consequence to note — some residential buildings are physically separated from the main dining area so residents must go outside to access meals, which can be inconvenient in inclement weather.

    Programming and activities are robust in scope and include both structured classes and casual leisure options (bocce, pickleball, billiards, movies, day trips). However, there are instances of program-scheduling gaps and occasional unavailability of promised activities; prospective residents should confirm current activity calendars and club availability. Outdoor and sports amenities are generally well regarded, though a subset of reviews mentions underutilization of certain courts and spaces.

    Operational and management themes are mixed. Several reviewers note strong admissions and move-in support, prompt maintenance, and high-quality housekeeping routines. Conversely, others raise concerns about management turnover and changes in community culture, communication style, and policy enforcement; these dynamics have been linked by some families to increased resident dissatisfaction. Affordability is also a recurring consideration: starting rates and periodic increases lead some prospective residents to question long-term cost/value.

    Sanitation and unit-level maintenance are generally described as good, but select reports indicate inconsistent cleaning standards in some apartments and bathrooms; interested families should request a current cleanliness inspection and clarify housekeeping schedules. Parking constraints and occasional service disruptions (chef or staff changes) are additional operational items to review.

    Overall, The Woods offers contemporary independent-living apartments with broad amenities and an active social environment supported by many engaged staff and residents. The strongest positive patterns are facility condition, amenity breadth, and staff helpfulness. The principal areas to validate during a tour are dining-service reliability and menu consistency, current activity schedules and follow-through, clarity on costs and fee increases, management stability and communication practices, and the specific floor plan/building location relative to dining and common spaces.

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    Location

    Map showing location of The Woods - Retirement Community

    The Woods - Retirement Community is located at 197 Howe St, Methuen, MA, 01844.

    About The Woods - Retirement Community

    The Woods - Retirement Community sits right across from the Merrimack Valley Golf Club and opened new facilities in February 2020, so everything feels modern and clean with wide hallways and comfortable common areas where you can just sit back or meet up with friends for cards or a movie. The grounds are always tidy, with gardens, pretty courtyards, and walking paths where you can take your dog since pets are welcome-cats too, which is good for folks who want company. The apartments come in several layouts, including one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, and you get your own washer and dryer, which saves time and keeps things simple, and people talk about Magnolia House as being a nice option. The lease is month-to-month, which leaves things flexible, and there's a special EZ Move Program with Seniors Need so moving in goes smoother. The community supports independent living, assisted living, nursing home services, and memory care all in one place, so if you or your spouse ever need more help, you can just shift to another level without leaving the property, and that makes life easier to plan.

    Dining is a big deal here, because there's 24/7 restaurant-style service with meals cooked by an Executive Chef using fresh food, and you can eat in pleasant dining rooms or cozy lounges. Residents can also grill outside at the open-air grill area with shiny appliances or sit by the fire pit or gazebo when it's nice out, and for those who want to stay active, there's a putting green, pickleball and bocce courts, plus a dog park. Social events like wine tasting or purpose workshops fill the calendar, along with day trips, bingo nights, movie nights, fitness classes, and tai chi, so folks have plenty to do and a chance to keep their minds and bodies in good shape.

    The Woods pays attention to wellness, with daily and weekly activities and a fitness center on site, plus a beauty salon, so you can always get your hair done nearby. There's a library, computer area, billiards, and card tables for quieter times, plus WiFi in the common areas if you like to keep up online. Each apartment has safeguards like pull cords and wearable pendants for quick staff help, and the air-filtering system removes many airborne germs, which is reassuring, especially for older folks. The staff is trained and friendly with people like the Executive Director, Health Services Director, and Life Enrichment Director staying involved, and all the different levels of care are licensed and on site.

    There's always free transportation if you need to go to the doctor, shop at local stores, or see a show, whether it's by the community shuttle or an Uber partnership, and family or friends can even stay in guest rooms and eat meals with you. Utilities, housekeeping once a week, maintenance, and concierge help are included, which takes the edge off everyday chores. The Sunshine Travel Program lets you visit sister communities in other cities and states for a change of scenery, joining local events and activities away from home. The Woods welcomes people who want an active retirement and independent lifestyle but also gives peace of mind knowing help and higher levels of care are right on hand if needed, and it's all set up so you can pursue hobbies, join clubs, relax in gardens, and hold gatherings with loved ones.

    About Sunshine Retirement Living

    The Woods - Retirement Community is managed by Sunshine Retirement Living.

    Founded in 2007 by Luis Serrano and May Hasso, Sunshine Retirement Living is a family-owned company headquartered in Bend, Oregon. Operating 39+ communities across 18 states, they specialize in affordable middle-market senior living with independent living, assisted living, and innovative memory care services.

    People often ask...

    The Woods - Retirement Community offers competitive pricing, with rates starting at a cost of $6,665 per month.

    The Woods - Retirement Community offers independent living and assisted living.

    There are 54 photos of The Woods - Retirement Community on Mirador.

    The full address for this community is 197 Howe St, Methuen, MA 01844.

    No, The Woods - Retirement Community does not offer respite care. Respite care in assisted living communities provides temporary, short-term relief for primary caregivers by offering professional care for their loved ones. It allows individuals to stay in an assisted living community for a limited time, giving caregivers a break while ensuring residents receive necessary support and assistance with daily activities.

    Disclaimer

    Mirador Living is not affiliated with the owner or operator(s) of The Woods - Retirement Community. The information above has not been verified or approved by the owner or operator. For exact information, please contact The Woods - Retirement Community directly. There is no cost for this service. We are compensated by the community you select.

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