The Polaris Community opened in mid-2019 and sits at 9180 Antares Ave. in Columbus, right in the heart of Polaris, which is a busy area for shopping, dining, entertainment, and living, and people can stop by the on-site sales gallery to look around or get answers. This is a retirement community for people 55 and older, operated by United Church Homes, offering both independent and assisted living, and also memory care and skilled nursing for people who need extra help. The community is all-inclusive, so meals, weekly housekeeping, transportation, activities, safety and security are rolled into the daily life there, and they take care of things like medication management, bathing, dressing, and more, plus they offer diabetic and ambulatory care. Residents can get specialized diets-like gluten-free, vegan, kosher, low sodium, and more-and there's a dining room with chef-inspired, restaurant-style meals, anytime dining, and guest meals if someone wants to eat with family or friends. Apartments come in over 40 floor plans with features like full kitchens, washers and dryers, private baths, patios or balconies, and modern layouts, with many of them being ground-floor, handicap accessible, and offering wheelchair-friendly showers so folks can be comfortable and stay independent.
There's a strong focus on letting people choose how they want to live-these are private units with high-speed Wi-Fi, and everything is designed to keep people engaged and active, with art rooms, planting studios, fitness and wellness centers, pubs, cafés, movie theaters, outdoor fire pits, and scheduled activities both on and off the property. Some of the regular programs include art classes, Bible study, cooking classes, stretch classes, Tai Chi, yoga, happy hour, wine tastings, movie nights, educational speakers, and devotional activities. There's a billiards room, bar, and salon for grooming, along with barber services, and residents can use community-sponsored events and a NaviGuide personal concierge who helps coordinate services. A move-in coordinator helps new folks settle in, and anyone can use housekeeping, laundry, and maintenance services which are part of the maintenance-free lifestyle people talk about here. Safety is always in mind with things like emergency alert systems, a 24-hour call system, security features, and around-the-clock medical supervision.
If someone has a pet, cats and dogs are welcome, though there isn't a dog park outside. Units are spacious, modern, and people can choose the floor plan and customize as needed. Polaris Community allows for both independent and assisted living in the same place with flexible services as needs change. There's UCH Cares, which gives home care support for independence, and they provide care for non-ambulatory folks and those in wheelchairs as well. They have private suites and visitor rooms, and the community is active with programs, social activities, and care that's aimed at personal comfort and well-being, so you're in a place where people respect your independence and you're still part of a community with support when you need it, and things like transportation, meals, and personal care are easy to get, all close to the things going on in Polaris.
