A senior living community offers more than you think. It’s not a dreary hospital-like building where seniors sit around bored. An active senior living community is a place where seniors celebrate life in several different ways. At least, that’s how it is in our vibrant communities: Wesley Willows, Peterson Meadows, and Highview in the Woodlands.

The best active living communities are dynamic environments where residents enjoy a variety of luxurious amenities and services every day. Therefore, the answer to the question “What is a senior living community?” is a bit more complicated than you might have originally thought.

We don’t want you to be overwhelmed by the wide variety of living options, services, and amenities you can find in our communities. So, we’ve put together this post as a primer to help you understand exactly what we mean when we say we’re an extraordinary senior living community.

Keep reading to learn what to expect when you visit places like Wesley Willows, Peterson Meadows, and Highview in the Woodlands. We’ll give you a taste of what it’s like to live in an active community in Rockford, IL.

What is a Senior Living Community?

Let’s start by answering the most basic question: “What is a senior living community?” As we mentioned above, senior living is so much more than most people expect.

To be sure, some communities are large buildings reminiscent of hospitals with apartments, nurses, and communal dining areas. These assisted living communities are often what people think of when they imagine a senior living community.

But there are communities that offer much more than this, called Continuing Care Retirement Communities (or CCRCs). CCRCs offer the widest range of services of any active living community. A person can move into one of these communities knowing it offers all the care he or she will need for the rest of his or her life. Because of this, people can age in place at CCRCs.

We know this is true because our community, Wesley Willows, is a CCRC. In fact, Wesley Willows was named the fourth best CCRC in Illinois and the 60th best in the United States by Newsweek Magazine in 2024.

So, what are the comprehensive services that CCRCs like Wesley Willows provide? The lifestyle options include Independent Living, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, and Memory Care. We’ll take a closer look at each of these and other lifestyle options below.

Independent Living

Some senior living communities offer Independent Living for residents who do not need assistance with daily activities or ongoing nurse supervision. Independent living residents live in private homes and apartments within the community.

This living option refutes the fear that one must forfeit one’s freedom in a senior community. You don’t have to live in a facility where staff are monitoring you all the time. On the contrary, independent living residents at communities like Wesley Willows and Peterson Meadows can live on their own without interacting with staff at all if they want to. They are completely free to live an independent lifestyle.

Of course, this begs the question: “Why choose independent living in a senior living community when you could just live on your own in a regular home or apartment?” The answer has to do with the conveniences of independent living.

Independent living residents enjoy a maintenance-free lifestyle since the staff takes care of all interior and exterior maintenance for them. No longer do they have to shovel their driveways in the winter, rake leaves in the fall, or mow grass in the summer. And if an appliance breaks down in their home, a professional maintenance worker is available on campus to take care of it free of charge.

Housekeeping services are also available for residents who don’t want to worry about cleaning the house. Think about all the time and effort these residents save without having to worry about these chores!

The Independent Living option frees residents to do what they really want to do. At Wesley Willows and Peterson Meadows, we offer transportation services to help residents get where they want to go if they don’t have a car. Residents also have a wide variety of amenities and life enrichment activities available in the community. We will discuss those more below.

Assisted Living

Assisted Living is an ideal living option for seniors who need help completing basic daily tasks, such as showering, getting dressed, and cleaning the house. The staff in these communities are specially trained to look after residents’ wellbeing. They offer residents 24/7 support for medication management, nutrition, emotional needs, and more.

Our organization offers Assisted Living in two communities: Wesley Willows and Highview in the Woodlands. Residents of these communities live in their own spacious and modern one- or two-bedroom apartments. They can decorate these apartments how they want and enjoy living as they choose.

Assisted Living may not have the word “independent” in its name, but the best communities still promote and encourage independent flourishing. Residents enjoy the freedom to schedule their days and choose the activities in which they participate. The staff are simply there to help them complete whatever tasks they are no longer able to complete on their own.

Our Assisted Living residents also enjoy access to the amenities, services, and activities available to those in Independent Living. These conveniences are especially nice for residents who have difficulty leaving campus. They can stay in and still enjoy a wide variety of enriching experiences right down the hallway. 

Skilled Nursing Facility

Another lifestyle option available at CCRCs like Wesley Willows is skilled nursing and rehabilitation care. These communities have medical facilities staffed by licensed nurses located on campus.

This lifestyle option is ideal for residents with medical conditions that require 24/7 skilled nursing care. Many residents will come to the facility after a stay at the hospital to continue their rehabilitation from an injury or illness. Skilled nursing facilities offer both short-term and long-term care to help seniors get back to their optimal level of independence.

The Skilled Nursing Facility at Wesley Willows is called Willows Health and Rehab Center. It offers care from several different types of skilled nurses in a comfortable home-like environment. These specialists include:

• Licensed Practical Nurses
• Certified Nursing Assistants
• Physical Therapists
• IV Therapists
• Registered Dieticians
• And more

Just like Independent Living and Assisted Living, residents of Skilled Nursing enjoy access to convenient amenities, services, and activities during their stay. This includes amenities like beautiful outdoor gardens and fitness centers and services like three chef-prepared meals a day and transportation around town. 

Memory Care Center

Seniors with conditions that affect memory, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, find the care and comfort they need in a Memory Care Community. Here residents receive specialized, professional care for daily life in a safe and secure environment.

Family members of people in Memory Care can rest assured that their loved one is always protected and cared for. Residents receive 24/7 care from qualified staff, and the doors to the facility are locked and monitored to ensure no resident wanders off unnoticed.

Our organization offers Memory Care at both Wesley Willows and Highview in the Woodlands. Residents at both communities live in comfortable rooms and participate in daily activities to promote their cognitive health and flourishing. Our staff strategically fills the residents’ calendars with activities to promote their holistic well-being, including their physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. 

Home Care

Residents who opt for Independent Living but need a little extra help with daily tasks often benefit from Home Care. This option involves hiring a service to send a caretaker to the residents’ home for a certain amount of time each day. The amount of time depends on how much assistance each person needs.

Home Care services are an excellent option for people who need some assistance with things like meals, medical care, or mobility. Residents who live alone in a home also benefit from the companionship of a Home Care professional.

Home Care workers can come for as few or as many hours as are necessary. However, if residents need assistance for most of the day, then Assisted Living is likely the better and more economical living option.

Respite Care

Many senior living communities also offer Respite Care for people still living at home and receiving ongoing care from their loved ones. Respite Care allows people to have a short stay in an Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, or Memory Care Community, so their loved ones can take a break from caring for them.

Respite Care is an excellent option for families considering an active community for their loved ones and wish to try it out for a short time. It also gives family members an opportunity to rest from the ongoing demands of caring for their loved ones. 

What is Daily Life Like in a Senior Living Community?

The best way to understand the value of a senior living community is to get a taste of what daily life in the community is like. Let’s take our communities at Wesley Willows, Peterson Meadows, and Highview in the Woodlands for example. As you will see, residents in these communities have many reasons to celebrate life every day.

Let’s start with where they live. Our campuses are beautifully maintained, private, and secure. Residents delight in the natural beauty, peace, and quiet they provide. Many residents also enjoy walking their dogs around campus and sitting outside soaking in the view during the summer months. 

Amenity-Rich Living

Residents benefit from access to many indoor and outdoor amenities. These include areas for health and wellness, such as:

• Fitness Centers
• Indoor and Outdoor Walking Paths
• Aquatic Center with full-size pool, lap pool, and spa

Our communities also feature many amenities for enjoying hobbies, including:

• Library and Media Center
• Game Rooms
• Art Room
• Community Garden
• Dog Park
• Billiards Room
• Woodshop

People don’t have to go far for their dining, personal care, and shopping needs because of these on-campus amenities:

• Bistro and Dining Room for chef-prepared meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Full-Service Salon
• On-campus Resale Shops and Gift Shops

These are just some examples of the many conveniences centrally located on our campuses. Residents love having all these amenities within walking distance. 

Abundant Life Enrichment Activities

Another defining feature of an active senior living community is a packed activity calendar. Residents in our communities often remark about the wide selection of things to do every week. They especially appreciate that every activity is optional, giving them the freedom to choose how they spend their days.

The calendar features plenty of recurring activities. For example, residents have the option of taking part in a variety of Fitness Classes led by our excellent Fitness Coordinators. Or they can have fun and socialize at weekly games, such as Bridge, Chess, and Bean Bag Toss. Each of our campuses also has weekly Chapel Services led by our Full-Time Chaplains.

Every week features special activities as well. We frequently organize trips to local attractions, like Restaurants, Concerts, Museums, and the new Hard Rock Casino in Rockford. There are fun events on campus, too, including Happy Hours, Concerts, Dances, Holiday Parties, and more.

Residents receive a weekly newsletter to keep up with all the exciting events on campus. And if they don’t see something they’d like to do, they are more than welcome to organize their own group activities. Many of the most popular things to do on our campuses are resident-led!

Who Qualifies for Senior Living?

How old must you be to qualify for senior living? The truth is you don’t have to be a senior! Most senior communities are technically 55-plus communities, meaning you must be at least 55 years old to live there. Independent living is often an excellent option for 55-year-olds looking to enjoy maintenance-free living in an amenity-rich and active community.

However, not everyone over 55 qualifies for every type of senior living. To qualify for Independent Living, for example, you must be able to live on your own without constant supervision. Therefore, communities like Wesley Willows often include health screening by medical staff as part of their admissions process. If medical professionals find a person is unfit to live completely independently, they will encourage the person to choose Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, or Memory Care, depending on their needs. 

Want to Tour Our Senior Living Communities?

As you can see, a senior living community is so much more than you might have expected. The best communities offer a wide range of active living options to fit any lifestyle. Residents enjoy access to numerous amenities, services, and activities to fill their days.

Are you interested in one of our active, carefree communities for you or a loved one? Getting started is easy! Simply reach out to us and schedule a visit. One of our friendly senior living sales coordinators will meet with you to get to know you, answer your questions, and show you around our campuses.

Please call 815-316-1500 or email info@wesleywillows.org to get started. We look forward to meeting you!