Hillcrest Retirement Community sits in a peaceful, wooded spot up in the Pocono Mountains, with a rambling older property that's got a home-like feeling and a layout that lets sunlight pour in through big windows, especially in the sunroom where a player piano sometimes plays music and folks can sit and relax with tables and chairs right where the sunlight lands. The place offers a range of living options, like independent living for folks who are still active and want to avoid the headaches of maintenance, but also assisted living for people who need a bit more help with things like bathing, dressing, hygiene, and taking medicine on time, and they even have a specific section and care for residents with memory problems, including Alzheimer's and dementia, where they use special alarms on bracelets to help prevent wandering and confusion. There are only 27 assisted living beds, which means it's an average-sized place, but people get personalized care, and staff watches out for everybody pretty closely, offering hands for moving between beds and wheelchairs, and providing help for folks with higher needs, diabetes, and incontinence.
They have nurses onsite, a doctor who can be called in, and visiting professionals like podiatrists, dentists, and therapists of all types, so residents' health can be tracked and managed without needing to leave the building most times. The community's won a handful of awards for its care and friendly, upbeat staff, who've got a good reputation for being helpful and cheerful, which has made the place feel welcoming like an old friend's house. Meals get planned with nutrition in mind, made by chefs, and served either restaurant-style or in flexible ways for specific diets, like for diabetes or hypertension, and residents can expect both tasty choices and safe options if they need special food. Pets like cats and dogs can stick around, and outdoor spots are set up so people who love gardening can dig into raised beds or just look at the indoor plants, and there's even a book room, a steam room, exercise and fitness spaces, a hairdresser who visits, and places to walk inside safely no matter the weather.
People here keep busy too-the activity list includes music therapy, animal visits, games, trips outside, movie nights, art and music programs, social events in the evenings, and help going out to faith services, the doctor, or to run errands. Nobody may smoke inside, but outdoor smoking areas exist. Parking's set aside for residents; there's also free transportation whenever folks need a ride. For those living at home, Hillcrest can send out aides to offer company and help with non-medical tasks. The place fits semi-private rooms or private suites and can look after folks who need hospice or just a break with respite care. Hillcrest doesn't take everyone-it has some age requirements and gender preferences for some rooms, so some units are for women only or men only. The staff's around all day and night, and they focus on the residents' comfort and independence. The whole property leans toward peace, friendly faces, and letting seniors stay as independent as possible for as long as they can, and all the safety features and healthcare support try to make that work.
