Pricing ranges from
    $5,701 – 6,841/month

    The Fellowship Community

    241 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge, NY, 10977
    4.9 · 15 reviews
    • Assisted living
    AnonymousCurrent/former resident
    5.0

    Warm, vibrant biodynamic community living

    I chose this Steiner/Waldorf-influenced community and immediately felt at home in its warm, family-like, country setting - woodsy grounds, cabins, schoolchildren nearby, and a working biodynamic farm with gardens and animals. Staff and nurses are caring, responsive, and always eager to help; rooms are safe, comfortable, wheelchair-accessible, and there's 24/7 on-call care and a doctor in residence. I thrive on the meaningful volunteer opportunities, farm work, and a rich cultural life - watercolor, pottery, woodworking, music, plays, reading groups, memoir classes, and inspiring speakers - plus wholesome organic meals. It's relaxed and nontraditional (not for someone wanting the newest building trends or a fixed daily schedule), but for me it's the best decision: spirited, supportive, and full of life.

    Pricing

    $5,701+/moSemi-privateAssisted Living
    $6,841+/mo1 BedroomAssisted Living

    Schedule a Tour

    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Restaurant-style dining
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Dining room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library

    Community services

    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    4.93 · 15 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      5.0
    • Staff

      4.9
    • Meals

      4.8
    • Amenities

      4.2
    • Value

      4.5

    Pros

    • Organic on-site meals
    • Biodynamically/garden-grown homegrown food
    • Doctor in residence
    • Strong sense of community and family atmosphere
    • Independent and assisted living options
    • Small village / rustic village feel
    • Scenic woodsy grounds with cabins and trails
    • Working organic farm with animals and plants
    • Meaningful volunteer and service opportunities
    • Varied, nontraditional activities (arts, crafts, study groups)
    • Rich social, intellectual and cultural life
    • Conferences and visiting renowned speakers
    • Spiritual life and study opportunities (Rudolf Steiner/Anthroposophy available)
    • Intergenerational contact (private school connection, children on site)
    • Responsive, warm and caring staff
    • Skilled, sensitive, and loving caregivers
    • Holistic and attentive nursing care
    • In-house amenities (seamstress, woodworking, studios/gardens)
    • Wheelchair accessibility and 24/7 on-call assistance
    • New building(s) alongside historic village character
    • Opportunities for solitude as well as active engagement
    • Lower cost than some prior/residential locations

    Cons

    • Not aimed at people seeking the latest/high-end housing or luxury finishes
    • Not ideal for those who want a fixed, rigid daily activity schedule
    • Strong Rudolf Steiner/Anthroposophy/Waldorf influence may not appeal to everyone
    • Rural/camp-like setting may not suit urban preferences
    • Small community size may mean fewer commercial amenities/choices on site
    • Some may perceive a 'summer camp' vibe that feels too informal or childlike
    • Less emphasis on high-tech or cutting-edge housing features

    Summary review

    Overall impression The reviews paint The Fellowship Community as a highly community-centered, nature-oriented senior living option with overwhelmingly positive sentiment. Residents and reviewers repeatedly emphasize a warm, home-like atmosphere where social, intellectual and spiritual life matter as much as practical care. The environment is repeatedly described as scenic and woodsy, with the presence of a working organic/biodynamic farm, resident-tended gardens, and cabins that reinforce a small village, rural character. Many reviewers state that moving there was "the best decision," citing rich interpersonal life, meaningful opportunities to contribute, and a feeling of being at home.

    Care quality and staff Care is consistently depicted as sensitive, skilled and loving. There is specific mention of attentive nurses, holistic care approaches, and a doctor in residence, which together suggest a capacity to meet both routine and some more complex health needs on site. Staff are described as warm, welcoming and eager to please; administration is labeled responsive. Multiple reviews highlight trust that residents will receive compassionate care in the future, and the facility is noted to offer 24/7 on-call assistance and wheelchair accessibility—practical markers of safety and support.

    Facilities, grounds and accessibility Facilities combine new construction with a rustic, village-like campus. Reviewers mention a brand new building and comfortable, safe rooms often with woods views, while the broader campus maintains a woodsy, rural aesthetic with cabins, gardens and farm areas. The campus supports both solitude and extensive outdoor stimulation—walking, gardening, hiking and simply enjoying the grounds. Accessibility features and on-call help are in place, and reviewers note the property offers lower costs compared with some prior living situations. At the same time, several reviews caution that this is not a place for those seeking the newest, luxury housing finishes or cutting-edge facility features.

    Dining and farm life A standout theme is the emphasis on food: organic on-site meals, biodynamically grown produce, and "great homegrown food" are cited repeatedly. Working farm operations and opportunities to participate in farm work—animals, plant cultivation and gardens—are core parts of life here, and they complement the dining program. Reviewers explicitly praise the quality and wholesomeness of the meals.

    Activities, culture and spiritual life The Fellowship offers a broad and intellectually rich program of activities that leans toward nontraditional, culturally and spiritually oriented options. Offerings include reading groups, memoir-writing classes, musical events and plays, watercolor and pottery classes, knitting, woodworking, study groups, and conferences with renowned speakers. There is a clear emphasis on meaningful contribution—service on committees, volunteering, and opportunity to teach or lead. Spiritual interests are supported and visible: the community has an explicit Rudolf Steiner/Anthroposophy and Waldorf influence, and reviewers note that diverse spiritual expressions coexist. The presence of a private school and intergenerational interactions (children on campus) add to the cultural texture and a sometimes "summer camp" vibe that many residents enjoy.

    Management, involvement and community governance Reviewers frequently mention opportunities to be involved in community governance and committees, contributing to a sense of ownership and purposeful engagement. Administration is depicted as responsive, and staff-run support services (such as an in-house seamstress and various craft/workshop spaces) enhance day-to-day life. The tone of management appears collaborative with residents, who find ample chances to volunteer and help shape community life.

    Who this place fits—and who it may not The Fellowship Community is best suited to seniors who value strong interpersonal connections, meaningful contribution, cultural and spiritual engagement, and a lifestyle close to nature with farm-based activities. It appeals to people who prefer a relaxed, flexible daily rhythm rather than a regimented schedule, and to those comfortable with or interested in Anthroposophical/Waldorf-influenced approaches. Conversely, it is less appropriate for someone seeking the latest luxury housing features, a highly scheduled activity program, an urban setting, or a community without a distinct spiritual/philosophical leaning. The rural, small-village scale and occasional "summer camp" atmosphere are strengths for many reviewers but could be drawbacks for others.

    Notable patterns and final assessment Across the reviews there is strong convergence on the quality of people (both residents and staff), the authenticity of the cultural and intellectual life, the centrality of organic/biodynamic food and farm work, and reliable, loving care. Criticisms are consistent but narrower: concerns are mainly about fit (housing style, spiritual orientation, rural setting) rather than operational failures. In short, The Fellowship Community appears to be an excellent choice for active seniors seeking a culturally rich, service-oriented, nature-centered communal living experience with dependable caregiving—while those wanting the latest housing amenities, a strictly scheduled day, or a secular/urban environment should carefully consider whether it matches their priorities.

    Location

    Map showing location of The Fellowship Community

    About The Fellowship Community

    The Fellowship Community sits about 30 miles northwest of New York City on 80 acres of farm and forest, and you'll find a group of around 140 elder members, co-workers, and children living together in a rural, vibrant community that really tries to blend work, learning, and care for one another with daily life. Folks there can choose independent living apartments for healthy seniors who want to stay active without worrying about home repairs or chores, and some prefer assisted living, where trained and friendly staff help with things like bathing, dressing, medication, and offer a 24-hour call system, and there's always someone nearby if support's needed. The community's non-profit and bases its care and programs on principles from Rudolf Steiner's Anthroposophy, keeping a strong focus on mental, physical, and spiritual well-being, and you'll notice that the environment promotes a sense of belonging with both social activities and quiet natural spaces for reflection.

    There's a program they call Nature Therapy, as well as lots of daily and weekly activities-from processing garden vegetables together to cultural and spiritual events, and all sorts of opportunities for volunteering, taking classes, or just spending time with others. The Threefold Community Farm grows biodynamic vegetables and dairy right there on the land, which are used in meals at Hilltop House, and community members can help with the farm work or join in processing the harvest, which many folks find meaningful and social. The grounds include a Medical Center, the Pine Lodge, the Otto Specht School, fitness centers, and gathering spaces, all intended to help people stay engaged and comfortable. The Fellowship Community supports aging right through to the end of life, with care that aims to be home-like and human, not institutional, and elders move from independent living to more support as their needs change, surrounded by familiar faces.

    Management works to provide personalized care, though there've been some concerns in reviews over how community data and operations are handled, but there's an ongoing effort to keep the focus on compassion and belonging. There are resident-run events, volunteer chances, and a lot of routines set up to make sure everyone finds purpose. The setting is scenic, with woods, fields, and orchards, and food comes fresh from their own land, matched with meals and activities that feed both body and spirit. The group operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit through the Rudolf Steiner Fellowship Foundation and runs several unique projects, like the Threefold Community Farm, plus education and outreach through events, courses, and a member library, so people from different backgrounds and ages stay involved, making it a true intergenerational place to live and age in.

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