Leisure Village East

Leisure Village East sits at One Dumbarton Drive in Lakewood, New Jersey, and it's a retirement community for people aged 55 and older, where folks can choose from different housing options, and there's a focus on independent living but also on assisted living and what they call "intermediate level of care," which means helping people who can't live alone safely anymore but don't need a full nursing home, so there's support for daily activities like getting dressed or bathing, but not 24-hour medical care. The place is pet-friendly, and people who live there get to use a lot of amenities-there's a gated entrance, an 18,790 square foot clubhouse, a fitness center, two libraries, a woodworking shop, bocce and shuffleboard courts both inside and outside, a residents' lounge, a billiards and card room, and organized activities in Barton Hall by the recreation director, Karen Konopada, with the maintenance staff like Pat McCabe and the office staff like Heather Fernicola taking care of the property and Jan Kasyjanskie as the community manager. There's a private nine-hole golf course, horseshoes, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, three ponds for boating, and fishing lakes called Lake Vista, Sunset Lake, and Mallard Lake, and the place feels park-like with its fountains and cared-for lawns and walking spots. People can join social events and clubs or spend time with neighbors since the community is set up in what they call leisure villages, with set neighborhoods and streets, and safety is part of the plan with security features at the entrance. Office hours for questions or help run Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm, with a midday lunch break. For folks interested in moving in, there's information on real estate and loan pre-qualification that won't hurt your credit. There's also support for retired military and first responders, and both independent and assisted living options are blended together, with amenities to match, so residents can get help when they need it and take part in community life.