Harvest Homes sits over on N Roberts Ave, right in Portland's St. Johns neighborhood, and has served older adults since 1965, so it's been around a long time and you can really tell folks have put care into the place, with the building itself looking a lot like a lodge and lots of big windows and homey touches that make things less like an institution and more like a big family house, which is probably helped by the small, family-owned way they run things. The community has both assisted living and memory care, and the staff works with people at whatever stage of health or memory they're at, whether someone needs a little help with daily life or more hands-on care for things like memory loss, incontinence, diabetes, or if they can't move around easily, and they've got a team led by Ms. Michelle Westwood, President, and Ms. Lyndia Moyer, Secretary, and everyone's trained to focus on each resident's whole self, so they try to understand medical histories and backgrounds and then build care routines that fit each person, and they really keep up with honesty, trust, and making folks feel comfortable.
People can bring dogs or cats as long as they're under the weight limit, and the grounds stretch out with gardens and native trees, plus there are walking paths so residents can get outside and move around or just listen to the wildlife, and if you've got a green thumb you can help tend to a plot or even take part in the care of the community mascot, which happens to be a group of chickens, and some residents help look after them now and then, so it feels lively. There's an on-site preschool that brings a different kind of energy, and every now and then students from the University of Portland's School of Nursing come by, which brings even more community into the mix. The apartments are mostly one-bedrooms, and some have views of the woods around the property, while the common areas include open sunrooms with big windows and a dining room that looks out over the grounds and feels pretty cozy and bright. Residents can get together for home-cooked meals or even make food with their families in the kitchen, and there's a chapel for church services, quiet time, or any kind of celebration.
Memory care is more hands-on and pays attention to the body, mind, and spirit, with daily activities, church services, and events aimed at keeping folks active and social, and the staff encourages everyone to trust them and take part in the life of the place, and every detail feels carefully put together based on what the residents need or enjoy, not just a set program. There's transportation, parking, some rooms have wheelchair-accessible showers, and there are plenty of spaces for quiet or visiting, so it's easy for family and friends to join in. The whole place runs on values of care, transparency, respect, and keeping everyone in the loop, with a long record of meeting care standards-most recently shown when they got a deficiency-free survey from the Oregon Department of Human Services in March 2025. Harvest Homes Inc. has joined the Vanda Health family but keeps its own tradition of care. You won't find every fancy amenity, but if you look for a homey, connected spot with solid care and a rich history, Harvest Homes has made a place for that.
