Essex Meadows sits at 30 Bokum Rd in Essex, Connecticut, surrounded by 104 acres of gardens, lawns, and woods that back up to a 1,000-acre nature preserve, so you get this nice, natural setting with walking trails and outdoor seating. The community welcomes adults 55 and older and offers a Life Plan Community model, meaning you can move in while you're independent and stay as your needs change, with care ranging from independent living to assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care, and you get help with daily living as needed, right where you live. There's a minimum age of 55, and residents have options like apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes, all with senior-friendly layouts, comfortable furnishings, and both indoor and outdoor common spaces, including libraries, sunrooms, and screened porches for relaxing or visiting with friends and family.
Residents get meals provided so they don't have to worry about cooking, and there's a variety of places to eat, like a main dining room, pub, private dining, or even takeout, with meals planned by a professional dietitian, and special diets can get tray service. Activities happen on site most days so there's plenty to do, and those include gardening, woodwork in the shop, arts and crafts, use of an executive golf course and croquet lawn, the indoor saltwater pool, games and billiards, library, fitness room, beauty salon, and an auditorium for bigger events. There's a busy social calendar with cultural and recreational activities, and community gatherings create a friendly, close feel. Indoors, you'll find cozy living rooms, open dining areas with white linens, and memory care spaces set up for comfort and safety. There are fireplaces in common rooms, inviting residents to sit and talk, especially on colder days.
Essex Meadows offers several levels of support, from standby assistance for transferring from bed to wheelchair, to diabetic care with blood sugar monitoring-though insulin injections aren't given-as well as incontinence care if you can manage most things yourself, and care for those who can't walk easily. The memory care unit is for residents with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, with special bedrooms and quiet communal spaces. Staff are available and awake 24 hours a day for emergencies, and every apartment has an emergency call signal. Housekeeping and flat laundry service come once a week, and grounds are kept up with private security on site. There's transportation for scheduled outings and appointments.
You'll find a mix of people who come for the amenities, like gardening plots and bright rooms, and the security of increasing care levels-meaning if a resident's health changes, they can stay and get more help instead of moving away. People with pets can live here in some housing options. Essex Meadows works to keep things inclusive, sharing information about LGBTQ legal protections. Costs depend on the level of rental choice and care, and residents can use planning tools and get support as they decide on next steps for senior care. The location puts you near the history and culture of the Connecticut shoreline, and community life there focuses on warm hospitality and looking out for each other, aiming to give residents peace of mind as they age.
