Walnut Trace

    389 Olde Ridenour Rd, Gahanna, OH, 43230
    4.9 · 12 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    5.0

    Modern apartments, caring staff, community

    I moved my dad into this brand-new, independent living facility next to a beautiful golf course and the Big Walnut Trail. The modern, accessible apartments and spotless grounds feel like home; staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and go above and beyond - responsive to medical needs while respecting privacy. Daily activities, fitness classes, a Bistro with excellent meals, and welcoming residents create a lively social life and real peace of mind. I would recommend it.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    4.92 · 12 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      4.0
    • Staff

      5.0
    • Meals

      5.0
    • Amenities

      5.0
    • Value

      4.9

    Pros

    • Brand-new / modern facilities
    • Accessible layout for people with disabilities
    • Golf-course-adjacent, scenic location
    • Landscaped grounds and walking paths (Big Walnut Trail/Creekside access)
    • Clean rooms and common areas
    • Friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable staff
    • Staff responsive to medical needs and invested in resident wellbeing
    • Strong support services and external partner (NCR Partner At Your Door)
    • Independent living focus with privacy and flexibility
    • Apartments rated first-rate
    • Gourmet chef and excellent meals (The Bistro)
    • Fitness room and exercise classes
    • Wide range of daily activities, life enrichment programs, and interest groups
    • Social opportunities and a close-knit resident community
    • Party room / Bistro and other attractive common spaces
    • Feels like home; staff go above and beyond
    • Resident meetings and good communication

    Cons

    • Limited amenities observed compared with larger senior communities
    • Independent living only — limited or no assisted care options on site
    • Affordability concerns / cost may be a barrier for some

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment across the reviews is strongly positive, with repeated emphasis on an attractive, modern independent living community that combines high-quality apartments and grounds with attentive staff and a lively social environment. Multiple reviewers describe the facility as brand-new and visually appealing — situated next to a golf course with landscaped grounds and walking access to the Big Walnut Trail/Creekside — which contributes to a pleasant, park-like setting. Cleanliness and well-maintained facilities are noted consistently, and many reviewers say the apartments and common areas look first-rate and feel like home.

    Staff quality and responsiveness are standout themes. Reviewers repeatedly describe staff as friendly, welcoming, informative, knowledgeable, and willing to go above and beyond. Staff are credited with being easy to talk to, accommodating, and invested in resident wellbeing; specific mentions include responsiveness to medical needs, involvement from a partner service (NCR Partner At Your Door), and staff actions that made difficult placement decisions easier for family members. Resident meetings and clear communication are highlighted, reinforcing a perception of good management and attention to resident concerns.

    Dining and food service receive strong praise: reviewers cite a gourmet chef, excellent meals, and the Bistro as particular positives. The dining experience appears to be an active and enjoyable part of community life. Activity programming and social opportunities are also emphasized. The community offers a robust slate of daily activities, exercise classes, fitness facilities, and many interest groups, which together support physical health, social engagement, and mental stimulation. Multiple reviewers remark on the friendly, accepting resident culture and say the social experience provides peace of mind (for residents and their families) and that they would recommend the community to others.

    Care scope and limitations should be noted. The community is an independent living facility, and reviewers repeatedly frame it as focused on privacy and flexibility rather than higher levels of clinical care. Although staff are praised for responsiveness to medical needs and strong support services, the reviews indicate limited on-site assisted-care or memory-care amenities. For prospective residents who may need progressively higher levels of care, the facility’s independent-living-only model could be a limitation.

    Amenities and cost are two additional themes to weigh. While reviews praise many core offerings (fitness room, Bistro, party room, life enrichment), there are comments indicating “limited amenities observed” compared with larger or more full-service senior communities. Affordability concerns are also mentioned: several reviewers hint that cost may be a barrier for some families despite recommending the community otherwise. Prospective residents should clarify which specific amenities are included in pricing and compare costs against the level of services provided.

    In summary, Walnut Trace is portrayed as a modern, clean, and well-run independent living community with excellent staff, quality dining, active programming, and attractive grounds. The primary trade-offs called out by reviewers are its independent-living focus (limited higher-level care on site), a more modest amenity set relative to larger campuses, and potential affordability issues. For seniors seeking an engaging, social independent-living environment with strong staff support and attractive outdoor space, Walnut Trace scores very highly. For those who anticipate needing assisted living or memory-care services in the near future, or who require an extensive on-site amenity package, it would be important to verify service scope and costs before deciding.

    Location

    Map showing location of Walnut Trace

    About Walnut Trace

    Walnut Trace sits in Gahanna, Ohio, offering a 55+ senior living community with a variety of services and amenities for independent seniors and people needing a bit more help as they age, and the place is part of National Church Residences, so support is always close at hand when you need it. The campus has 93 modern one- and two-bedroom apartments, each with things like full kitchens with high-end appliances and private terraces or balconies, and the rooms come with floor-to-ceiling windows, open floor plans, in-unit washers and dryers, individual heating and cooling, and they're both pet-friendly and handicap accessible with wheelchair-friendly showers. The rent for these apartments starts at $2,650 per month, with surface parking included or covered parking available for a fee. The community's open at all times, and there's an emergency response system and secure access so residents feel safe and looked after no matter the hour, plus housekeeping and linen services come with the package, taking the hard work out of daily life. Walnut Trace's main dining options include the Walnut Café, a bistro-style restaurant, chef-prepared meals, and daily fresh start breakfasts, with options like gluten-free dishes served in a restaurant setting so meal times can be both social and healthy.

    Residents can use high-speed Wi-Fi, cable, and phone service, which are all included, along with utilities and a maintenance-free lifestyle that takes a load off their minds, and they can join in wellness programs, fitness classes, and check-ins, or just walk the looping outdoor paths, sit at firepits, tend the gardens, or check out the seating areas scattered through the grounds, even enjoying easy access to a bike trail and public golf course next door. The campus also has a general store for grocery needs, a library, arts and crafts studio, a movie room, pub, club and community rooms, and lounges with fireplaces for quiet or social times. There's a strong sense of activity here, with planned social events, group activities, reading, yoga, card games, outings to local restaurants and shops in Gahanna, and organized spiritual services, so nobody has to feel left out.

    If health needs change, Walnut Trace offers assisted living services for help with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, and medication management, plus memory care services for people dealing with Alzheimer's or dementia, with smaller secure areas, confusion-reducing environments, and specialized therapies to help people stay calm and comfortable. For those who need a break or are recovering from illness or surgery, there's short-term respite and rehabilitation options, while hospice care supports residents in their last months. Outside of the apartments, home care aides can stop by to offer non-medical help and companionship, helping seniors living at home even if they don't want to move, and staff members are trained to support all types of wellness and health services on site around the clock.

    Residents who are income conscious have access to income-based housing, and Walnut Trace keeps things as flexible as possible with several floor plan options including one-bedroom, two-bedroom, or even two-bedroom with den. All amenities are available, and everything from dog-friendly features to ceiling-to-floor windows stands out in the apartments, while surface parking for visitors and residents is always available without hassle. Whether someone wants to have coffee with neighbors in the lounge, take part in educational activities, have a meal cooked by a chef, or just relax by a firepit at sunset, Walnut Trace's simple setup and open layout give older adults space to enjoy life in a friendly, comfortable way with no pressure and as much support as wanted.

    About National Church Residences

    Walnut Trace is managed by National Church Residences.

    Founded in 1961 by Rev. John Glenn, National Church Residences is the nation's largest non-profit senior housing provider, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Operating 360 communities across 25 states, they serve over 60,000 seniors through independent living, assisted living, memory care, and home health services. Rooted in Christian values of compassionate service.

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