Breakwater at The Normandy is an independent and assisted living community for seniors aged 55 and older, sitting on over 30 acres of landscaped and wooded property right along Lake Erie in Rocky River, Ohio, where you'll find big trees, walking trails, ponds, gardens, and paths with lake views, which do make for a quiet, pleasant place, and people who live here can choose from one, two, three, or even four-bedroom apartments, most with updated kitchens, walk-in showers, balconies or patios, spacious closets, and controlled heat and air, plus storage lockers and washers and dryers, and you can even bring your pet. The community got started in 1969, then saw a big renovation in 2016 (and another in 2018 for the senior apartments), so things feel pretty up-to-date. They call it Breakwater at The Normandy but it's also part of The Normandy campus, which includes The Normandy Manor, Lakeside, Breakwater Apartments, and a Skilled Care Center, all next to each other, so people can move from independent living to assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing and rehab if they need to as time goes on.
People here don't have to worry about basic chores since the staff will handle housekeeping, laundry, linen service, groundskeeping, pest control, trash removal, and even maintenance if something breaks, and there are country club-style dining options, meaning residents can eat in the dining room, try the on-site restaurant, order room service, or get their meals delivered, and friends or family can join them too; the meal plans include everything from casual to fine dining. They have community spaces like a movie theater, game room, pub, fitness center, beauty salon, library, media center, nine-hole putting green, and spaces for arts, crafts, music, and more; plus, outside, there are gardens, patios, walking trails, barbecue spots, ponds, water features, and even access down to the lake. Breakwater offers a full activities and social calendar, so residents can join in on arts and crafts, cooking, gardening, performances, music, fitness, sports, and holiday or cultural events, plus intergenerational and spiritual programs.
Security and safety matter here, with 24/7 emergency maintenance, controlled building access, an emergency response system in every apartment, regular wellness checks, fire and sprinkler systems, and daily check-ins, all meant to help residents and families feel safe. On the health side, Breakwater gives medication reminders, has on-site physical therapy and rehab, ambulatory assistance, and accessible apartments, and the staff can provide more help as needed thanks to the campus's full range of care options, including memory care designed to limit confusion and wandering. Staff can help with everyday tasks on an a la carte basis, so the care can change as each person ages and their needs shift.
The apartments come with cable TV and internet included (but not phone), and you can get private parking with heated garages and guest spots, though specifics about that and other features like garages aren't fully published. Residents and families praise the place, with a 4.5-star average from 22 reviews. The staff can speak English, German, and Spanish, and interpreter services are available too.
Transportation services are offered for medical appointments, errands, and nearby shopping, and the campus is close to Cleveland Metroparks, shops, restaurants, and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, which might help families visiting from out of town. Breakwater at The Normandy is pet-friendly, has flexible visiting hours, and allows several payment methods, along with financing options, and people can find prices for one- and two-bedroom options online. The community has a free service to help seniors and families find living options that fit their needs and budgets, and you can look up more about them if you go to their website at http://www.normandyretirement.com.
