Knollwood Military Retirement Community sits on 16 wooded acres in NW Washington, DC's Rock Creek Park, and has welcomed retired military officers, their families, and other qualified individuals since opening in the early 1960s, and the place has roots going back to when the Army Distaff Foundation broke ground on the original site, with ties to First Lady Mamie Eisenhower and a tradition of caring for Army widows, then growing to include men, other branches, government workers, spouses, and civilians age 62 and older, and it's community-focused, nonprofit, and guided by a mission to help residents no matter their ability to pay, strongly following a "Leave No One Behind" philosophy that ensures folks have housing, meals, medical help, and wellness support. Folks live in independent living apartments called The Hall or move to assisted living at The Terrace, where over 40 individual apartments are set up so residents get help with dressing, medications, bathing, and meals, as well as access to outpatient therapies, dentists, podiatrists, psychiatrists, and other medical specialists who come right to the campus, and all the while licensed nurses and certified nursing assistants are on staff to help with day-to-day needs or emergency situations, plus there's a Health Services Center for skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation, and long-term care with 24-hour coverage from experienced medical staff, so the continuum of care is in place as needs change with age, with a separate Special Care Center and specialized neighborhoods for residents living with Alzheimer's and other kinds of dementia, and people also benefit from rehabilitation care when recovery is needed.
Deborah Chandler, who leads as Activities Director, helps set up regular and special events, and the daily schedule includes wellness activities, spiritual and cultural programs like Bible studies, family gatherings, fitness classes, and happy hour socials, trying for both structure and fun, and the community runs pet therapy programs, supports residents with pets, and always aims to keep people engaged, so nobody feels left out and friendships can grow. Knollwood tries to keep things person-centered, meaning they treat each individual as unique, with their own experiences and goals, and everyone's included in decisions about their care and lifestyle, and big on wellness, they run holistic programs that bring together several dimensions like social connection, brain and body health, purpose, emotional support, and even financial and occupational topics, so there's a chance to feel whole and active even as health needs change. The apartments come in a range of layouts, with 45 different floor plans available, so there's flexibility, and options range from independent living to assisted living and include memory care, plus the staff handles all maintenance, housekeeping, meals, and safety checks, so residents focus less on chores and more on enjoying life.
The dining rooms serve a variety of food options, the fitness center encourages movement at any ability, and green spaces give folks places to walk or visit outside, while the wider neighborhood has parks, stores, and cafés close enough for outings, which helps keep everyone connected to the city along with the campus. Safety is a priority, with rapid in-house lab testing for illnesses like COVID-19, pulsed UVC light robots that disinfect surfaces, and biometric health screening kiosks at entries, which speeds up building access and protects from infections. Reviews about Knollwood are checked through a community score system, considering sentiment, neighborhood safety, and overall livability, giving a balanced view of what it's like to live there.
The nonprofit Army Distaff Foundation continues guiding the community, raising funds, and making sure the standards stay high and the place stays accessible to those in need, building on decades of military tradition. Knollwood supports purposeful living throughout a person's later years, not only by offering medical care and safe housing but also by trying innovative wellness programs, updating equipment, and bringing in new practices from health partners to stay current. Residents can download a brochure to read more about the features and options, but the community is best known for offering full-service housing, skilled nursing, rehab, and memory support, all in a peaceful spot surrounded by nature, with a steady history of supporting veterans and their loved ones through each chapter of aging.
