Fairhaven Senior Services sits close to downtown Whitewater and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, so residents often see younger faces and get to join in intergenerational programs, which probably keeps things lively around here, and being a Life Plan Community means folks can start out in independent living and then move to assisted living, memory care, rehab, or hospice, all within the same campus if they ever need more help as the years go by. There's the Hearthstone neighborhood for memory care, made for people with dementia or Alzheimer's, so it's designed to feel safe and homelike, while care gets tailored to each person's needs. The place has lots of amenities-there's a library, beauty salon and barber, fitness room, game and billiards lounge, movie room, and both indoor and outdoor walking paths, plus an enclosed courtyard and raised gardening beds for those who like to get their hands in the dirt. There's a mini-mart, general store, business center, coffee shop, and even a woodworking shop, and the staff provides housekeeping and laundry, so no one has to worry about chores, with meals coming three times a day in the Skylight Dining Room, made by chefs who focus on healthy, good-tasting food, and they can accommodate special diets like vegan dishes, low sodium, gluten-free, or international foods.
Fairhaven has a solid activity program, run by a full-time director who oversees things like outings, book readings, music, sports, arts and crafts, and dog treat making, as well as structured wellness and exercise classes like balance, brain fitness, dance, chair exercises, and personal training. Residents can attend regular religious and devotional services right on site, with Protestant, Catholic, other faith services, and a visiting chaplain, since the place is associated with the United Church of Christ but welcomes all backgrounds. Apartments and patio homes have different layouts, from studios to two-bedrooms, all with their own bathrooms, climate control, cable, and some nice views of the grounds; there's family rooms, kitchen appliances, and for those who need it, wheelchair accessible spaces and transfer assistance. The grounds are well-kept and the staff tends to be described as friendly, kind, and helpful, always there 24 hours a day in case anyone needs medical help or just a bit of extra care with daily life, like bathing, dressing, grooming, medication reminders, and meals, plus there's respite care to give family caregivers a break.
Health services at Fairhaven cover many needs, including skilled nursing, medication monitoring, psychiatric help, therapy for things like cardiac rehab, speech, occupational, stroke, or pain, and even support for anxiety, depression, or chronic illness. The community tries to help residents stay independent and active as long as they can, with transportation services for shopping and appointments, plus parking for those with cars. There's regular outings and events, like field trips, bridge, bingo, social hours, seasonal parties, dog visits, and a resident garden, and the place is pet-friendly, too, as long as no one's got a large dog or a pet that's hard to manage. The second-floor assisted living area's been recently remodeled and newer features keep things comfortable and up to date.
Fairhaven's got a not-for-profit setup aimed at promoting dignity and independence, with Life Lease options for those looking to settle in, and it offers a simple, small-town feeling even though the community runs big, with different floors and buildings for varying care levels, and people seem to appreciate how the community feels safe, homelike, and friendly without too much fuss.
