Kindred Assisted Living Avery Crossings

Kindred Assisted Living Avery Crossings, which sits empty now in a red brick building at 110 West St, Needham Heights, used to offer senior care with a focus on personal care, medication management, daily activities, and meals, and for years folks in the area knew it as a place where staff looked after residents with kindness, giving person-centered support whether someone needed help with memory loss, assisted living, or wanted to live more independently. The community had 155 units at its peak, with a mix of independent apartments, assisted living, and special memory care, all designed to help folks stay as independent as possible for as long as possible, and people could choose from private or semi-private suites, all with accessible bathrooms and basic kitchenettes, and there was round-the-clock support. At one point Kindred also provided full nursing care, including help for folks with complicated health problems, plus they took care of things like wound care and rehabilitation after illness. There were regular programs like happy hours, music, art, gardening, and educational talks, along with spiritual support, visits from a rabbi, and a professional chef who prepared meals you could get all day, including for special diets like low sodium and gluten free, and people could eat with friends in a dining room or ask for room service. Memory care residents had safe, secure areas with special activities to enhance memory, lots of supervision, and support from staff who understood dementia and Alzheimer's. The place stood out for wheelchair access, Wi-Fi, beauty salon services, and day trips out in the community, and family members could visit often and even eat with their relatives. Staff kept the place clean, friendly, and approachable, and the building was part of a group of facilities nearby, all providing different levels of support. The building itself has a long history, first built as part of the old Carter Mill in the 1950s, and has changed hands a few times, most recently closing its doors in February 2018, with plans for new redevelopment and possible demolition still getting sorted out. People in Needham once counted it as part of a group of locations like Avery Manor and North Hill for seniors needing care, but now the site stays quiet, with talk of new housing or another care community popping up in the future, but for now, it's just waiting for its next chapter.