Homes Away from Home

The Apsley by Sunrise

2330 Broadway (at 84th/85th Streets)

212-209-1430

theapsleynyc.com

Type: Independent living, assisted living, memory care, enhanced care

Facilities: 76 assisted living and 80 memory care residences. There is a one-time move-in fee. Contact The Apsley to get rates for one-bedroom, studio, assisted living, memory care two-bedroom and memory care studio options.

Locating local landmarks on the UWS can be fun. In addition to such lifelong local favorites thought of as landmarks like Barney Greengrass and Zabar’s, let’s not forget The Belnord, a true landmark so designated in 1980. Located on West 86th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam, the 86th Street location also was co-named for uber Upper West Sider Isaac Singer, himself a legend, and who resided at The Belnord. Recently, Martha Stewart was said to have moved to The Belnord, which will add to landmark lore. And within a block of all this lore and glory is luxe senior residence The Apsley by Sunrise, which opened a year ago on Broadway between 84th and 85th Streets.

The 19-story Apsley was designed with blond wood paneling, stained glass touches and white marble creating an aura of hospitality and a setting for affluent seniors to enjoy independent and assisted living lifestyles. The Apsley provides on-site nurses to coordinate a resident’s care with their family and healthcare provider. There’s an emergency response system in every apartment. For memory care residents, there’s a secure Reminiscence Neighborhood with distinct programs for a resident living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of memory loss.

Monthly costs include housing, meals, laundry, medical care, activities and personalized senior living services via Amazon Alexa and Alva Technology. Key features and amenities include a spa, a care center, landscaped outdoor terraces, an art studio, a theater and a library curated by a local bookseller. The main dining room is situated on the street level as is a casual dining bistro, and there’s a nearby parlor for relaxing. Food is curated and residents can have table-side dining and daily activities on premises as well as having access to all that makes the West Side - and Manhattan - the place to live.

Everything is in and accessible to The Apsley - Museums, the Theater District, Lincoln Center, Symphony Space and the exciting and extensive social and cultural centers and venues that make New York the place to enjoy senior living. Everything’s accessible by foot, train, bus, taxi, Uber or an app away.

Atria West 86

333 West 86th St.

212-712-0200

333West86.com

Type: Independent, assisted living

Facilities: 150 apartments, studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. Contact Apsley West for pricing.

Located in the heart of the UWS for over 20 years, Atria West is perfect for seniors who want an independent or assisted living lifestyle. Many residents are New Yorkers who prefer cultural experiences a cab or bus ride away. For real fresh air, Atria West is a half-block walk from Riverside Park, and a bus, cab, or Uber away from Central Park. Same for getting to other cultural and artistic venues on the UWS, including Lincoln Center in the 60s, Symphony Space in the 90s, or the Museum of Natural History in the 70s. And for bagels and lox, there’s Barney’s Greengrass on 86th and Amsterdam and Zabar’s near 79th St. You don’t get more NY than any of those venues. Whether getting away from street life or taking a walk in the park, residents can always enjoy the magnificent view of Manhattan from Atria’s rooftop.

Housekeeping, utilities, an emergency alarm system, laundry, chef-prepared meals and 24-hour staff are among the services included in the monthly rate. Residents enjoy independent, hotel-style living. Many residents do not require personal care services and, if needed, supportive living care services are available at an additional monthly fee, which is based on the number of hours required.

There are three on-site dining venues, including a full-service restaurant, a casual bistro, and a cafe for some morning joe and an afternoon happy hour. A monthly activities and events calendar sets out the happenings. There are nightly movies, programs and events covering such topics as health and physical fitness, learning and intellectual stimulation, live entertainment, creative expression and the arts, civic and professional involvement and religious and spiritual fellowship. Pets are allowed. In the past, there was a one-time fee for residents with pets.

The Bristal Assisted Living at York Avenue

1622 York Ave

646-370-6446

thebristal.com

Type: Independent living, assisted living, memory care

Facilities: 132 studio apartments with memory care options. Contact The Bristal for pricing.

The Bristal Assisted Living residence for seniors opened two years ago on the UES on York and 86th. A hub of activity, The Bristal’s a block away from Carl Schurz Park and Gracie Mansion. Museums, theater, restaurants, cafes and all manner of NY shopping is easily accessible by public transportation — the 86th St crosstown bus, the 2nd Avenue Subway — or an app away. And, of course, by hailing a cab.

The 14-story building was structured and designed so that amenities and recreational spaces allow residents to enjoy living an independent or assisted lifestyle. Built-in ledges in hallways provide extra support. There are 11 apartments on each floor. Each apartment has a kitchenette and private bathroom, and an emergency alert in the event a resident falls. In addition, all residents have a personal emergency alert. Pets, 15 lbs. or less, are permitted if the resident is able to properly care for the pet on their own. Daily rent at Bristal includes choice of a private apartment, three chef-prepared meals served daily, housekeeping services, weekly laundry, 24-hour security surveillance and 24/7 staff available.

There’s a fitness center, beauty salon, bistro and outdoor terrace — all on-site. There’s a calendar of daily events and day trips. Transportation is provided to take residents to the city’s parks, museums, concert halls and more.

For convenience, there is table-side dining and a kitchen-style station on each residential floor. In the main floor dining room, residents are served chef-prepared gourmet meals. There’s a recreation room for table games and billiards. Each floor has an indoor sitting area and outdoor terrace with seating for relaxation. A specialized program, Reflections Memory Care, spans several floors of Bristal, and is supervised by experienced and trained senior care professionals. The highly customized program is designed to help aging adults manage Alzheimer’s and other memory-related cognitive disorders.

Brookdale Battery Park City

455 North End Ave.

212-791-2500

brookdale.com

Type: Independent Living

Facilities: 217 apartments, from studios to two-bedrooms. Monthly costs vary depending on room type and level of care needed, generally starting at $7,195 a month.

For over 20 years, Brookdale Battery Park City, located at the tip of Manhattan, has been home for seniors who enjoy an independent urban lifestyle. Public transportation via an MTA bus immediately opposite Brookdale goes to the Midtown Theater District, museums, restaurants and the culture and entertainment that define Manhattan. And Brookdale has shuttle buses for shopping and cultural activities around the city. For stay-at-home time, Brookdale has an on-site cinema, fitness center and outdoor terrace. Meals are nutritionally planned and individually served each day in a country club dining room.

The 217-apartment building was designed for seniors — wide hallways, low countertops. All apartments are equipped with Alexa as a personal assistant. Pets are allowed. There’s a full calendar of on- and off-premises activities. Manhattan is easily accessible from Brookdale.

Brookdale’s monthly fee includes 24-hour emergency response, exercise, health and wellness program and a monitoring system to check in on all residents.

Carnegie East House

1844 Second Ave.

212-410-0033

carnegieeast.org

Type: Independent and assisted living, enriched housing with an array of special services for senior living

Facilities: 97 apartments. Monthly prices range from $7,300 to $9,310 for studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. Short-term (daily rate) is $350 per person. A move-in special now through Labor Day offers one month of free rent and a complimentary membership to the 92nd Street Y.

Open since 2002 and newly renovated, Carnegie East House still caters to the diverse needs of their residents with a wide range of care and independent living services. Monthly rent includes three meals a day from an extensive fine dining menu; 3.5 hours of personal care services, housekeeping once a week, personal laundry, utilities (except phone and cable tv), free wifi, licensed nurse, licensed social worker, personal care worker on duty 24/7, and 24-hour concierge service. Residents supply furniture of their choice. Carnegie East provides surroundings that maximize independence, including a kitchenette with refrigerator and cook-top stove, a spacious bathroom with handrail-accessible shower and toilet, internet, phone and cable connections and an emergency call system. With all that in place, residents are safe and able to enjoy the comfort and amenities of their home at Carnegie East. All residents must be ambulatory. Applicants in wheelchairs may be admitted, but they must be able to walk on their own inside their apartments. A one-time non-refundable $350 application fee secures a hold on an apartment.

Pets are welcome and there are some guidelines for the safety of all residents. Medical management is available to residents who need assistance managing their medications and fees are additional. Medication is paid for with private insurance.

Carnegie East has a full schedule of wellness and exercise classes and on- and off-site cultural activities. On-premises classes are taught by theater and dance professionals, and there’s a resident theater group. Through the generosity of their benefactors, Carnegie East’s programs are free to residents, including going to the Met and Julliard School of Music, among others. On premises there’s an Alvin Ailey’s Dance for Active Aging Program. Residents enjoy patio parties, barbecues and happy hours for socializing. There are day rooms throughout the residence and separate rooms for a library, computers with internet access, a low-vision library, a wellness and rehabilitation center, a solarium and a beauty salon. Secular and religious holidays are observed.

Chef Eduardo Sanchez brings culinary expertise to Carnegie East’s creative menus, which emphasize fresh seasonal ingredients, nutrition and wellness. Meals are elegantly served and dietary needs — in addition to regular diets like consistent carbohydrate, low fat, and no added salt — are accommodated. Residents are able to participate in planning their favorite menus.

Earlier this year, Angela DeWood came on board as Carnegie East’s deputy executive director. Joseph Girven, who has been with Carnegie East since 2007, continues as executive director. A transitional respite program was started for prospective residents who want to see what life is like at Carnegie East before making a decision. The short-term respite option is $350 a day with a 2-week minimum and 120-day maximum stay.

When asked about her new role as Carnegie East’s deputy executive director, DeWood said, “we honor the dignity and autonomy of every individual, fostering an environment where residents, staff, and visitors are treated with the utmost respect and consideration. This is a very special community and I am proud to be a leader here.”

Carnegie East House’s prime location is an added bonus, featuring great river views. Easily accessible public transportation is available via the 2nd Avenue Subway and the M15 downtown bus, both just a walk across the street. Hail a cab. App an Uber. No matter, you’re a ride away from Manhattan’s cultura1 theaters, restaurants and the Upper East Side’s neighborhood cafes.

Coterie Hudson yards

505 West 35th St.

929-581-2050

coterieseniorliving.com

Type: Independent, assisted living, memory care

Facilities: One- and two-bedroom apartments; companion suites, studio apartments. Rent and care costs start at $10,800 per month for independent and assisted living, and $11,200 for memory care. For current rates, contact Coterie.

Coterie Hudson Yards is a high-end senior living residence. Open over a year ago, they provide assisted, independent living and memory care. Coterie is a good environment for active seniors who don’t need help to live independently. Assisted living is for seniors who need some help with daily activities and want an active and social community. Memory care residents have a supervised and secured community designed to support engagement and quality of life for residents living with dementia.

Located in the midst of Midtown West and Chelsea, Coterie is easily accessible to the High Line, Broadway, museums and all the culture and entertainment that makes Manhattan the place to live. Coterie residents have priority for some restaurant reservations, event tickets and personal shopping; all a concierge call away. There’s a 24-hour on-site medical center and the gym equipment in Coterie’s private health club was selected by the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Team. Physical therapy service is available to residents. Coterie has a curated library. There are several dining venues and a bakery on site.

The 80th Street Residence

430 East 80th Street

212-717-8888

80thstreetresidence.com

Type: Enhanced Memory Care

Facilities: 70 rooms. Monthly fees starting at: $16,000 for a shared room and bathroom with a built-in divider for privacy, $20,000 for a standard private room with an adjacent shared bath, $21,500 for a standard private room with a private bathroom. Enhanced tier is a $3,000 monthly additional fee. One-time non-refundable community fee is due upon move in.

In its 25th Silver Anniversary year, the 80th Street Residence (“80th Street”) remains the only senior residence in New York City dedicated exclusively to Enhanced Memory Care. When I spoke with Lindsey Harbison, 80th Street’s assistant executive director, she described the mission and tradition that carries on.

“For over two decades, The 80th Street Residence has been helping people living with cognitive impairment and their loved ones navigate the difficult journey of dementia. We are a small community and get to know each resident. Our goal has always been not to just provide individualized support and care, but also to create daily experiences where our interactions with each resident are purposeful and create meaning and moments of joy in their day. I think that seeing the big picture and recognizing that caring for the whole person is what we are trying to do, helps make 80th Street the special place that it is.”

And recently, 80th Street partnered with the Parkinson’s Foundation Community Partners in Parkinson’s Care, a membership program for senior living communities and home care agencies. The partnership enabled 80th Street to complete the Foundation’s training and they are now best equipped to provide their residents living with Parkinson’s Disease the quality care and support they require. 80th Street’s all-inclusive fee includes nurses and care managers trained in cognitive impairment, medication management, and escort for nearby off-site medical appointments, as well as salon services, toiletries, tv, cable and furniture. Rooms have a 24/7 Emergency Response System. Rooms do not include telephone service. If a resident’s physician deems it appropriate, an enhanced level of care is provided and there is an additional $2,500 monthly fee.

Each resident’s care is individualized, including residents with Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s Disease. The household model is — in design and layout — a neighborhood, where 8-10 residents live together while receiving the support of 80th Street’s specially trained dementia caregivers 24/7. There’s a kitchen, a dining room and living room like at home, and each is easily accessible for residents and becomes the hub of their daily activity and routine. The design and layout encourages socialization, relationship building and independence. And it normalizes everyday life with the regular use of familiar spaces. Each room has a 24/7 emergency response system. There’s a 24/7 staff on each floor and three meals a day are served restaurant-style on each floor and are available off-hours if preferred.

Communication with a resident’s family is an integral part of life at 80th Street and there is an ongoing family support group. Prior to admission, Jackie Lebau, 80th Street’s social worker, does an evaluation so that a proper assessment is made of the resident’s needs and to determine the appropriate neighborhood for the resident. With 80th Street’s enhanced license, accommodations can be made for hospice care.

Inspir Carnegie Hill

1802 Second Ave.

646-582-0113

inspirseniorliving.com

Type: Independent, assisted, memory care

Facilities: 215 apartments; studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. Fees include apartment rent, concierge, special events and programs with a base level of medical care. Contact lnspir Carnegie Hill for pricing.

Opened in 2020, the 23-story lnspir Senior Residence is home to senior residents who want to live a luxurious lifestyle. Most residents are New Yorkers who have lived in Manhattan or its environs and prefer being near their medical services. lnspir is easily accessible to the UES’s top-tier health care and innovative wellness programs at nearby Weill-Cornell Medical Center, Mount Sinai Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital. Living at Inspir means that all are nearby and accessible by public transportation; hailing a cab, app-ing an Uber or having Inspir’s concierge arrange.

Smart apartment technology and floor-to-ceillng windows are in every residence. Apartments have washers, dryers, utilities, housekeeping and 24/7 licensed nursing is available. Activities are intellectually and culturally stimulating and take place on- or off-premises. Guest speakers include luminaries from all walks of life and professions, including theater, media and politics. Touchscreens mounted opposite the elevators display the day’s menus and activities. Meals are curated and chef prepared. The 16th floor’s two-level atrium and terrace, with interior and exterior seating and plush outdoor greenery is a day and evening favorite.

Sunrise East 56

139 East 56th St.

212-479-1200

SunriseEast56.com

Type: Independent senior living, assisted living, Memory Care

Facilities: 151 apartments. one- and two-bedroom suites. Contact Sunrise 56 for rates.

Sunrise 56 will be celebrating its third anniversary this year. Located at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 56th Street, the 15-story senior residence is home to seniors able to afford the independent and assisted living lifestyle offered at Sunrise 56. Monthly costs at the luxury senior residence will vary depending on apartment and the level of care needed. The base monthly fee includes housing, personal care and medication services, weekly housekeeping, laundry, medical care, medication services and three locally sourced meals prepared by Sunrise 56’s culinary team. Residents and staff wear BlueBrand bracelets, a supportive technology, so that every one is on-call in an emergency. There is an additional monthly fee for individualized care.

Each resident’s apartment is set up with a tracker that alerts staff if a resident requires assistance. The building is certified LEED Silver for its leadership in energy and environmental design. An expansive calendar of programs and events lets residents know the day’s menus and happenings. Menus are displayed on screens opposite the building’s elevators. Pets are permitted.

305 West End Assisted Living

305 West End Avenue

212-969-8464

305westendassistedliving.com

Type: Independent living, assisted living, Memory Care (Reflections)

Facilities: One- and two-bedroom suites starting at $7,800 a month. Memory Care suites start at $13,000 a month. Confirm pricing with 305 West.

Seniors who prefer urban living and want to maintain an independent or assisted lifestyle will find 305 West a perfect setting. For residents who require memory care, Reflections Memory Care suites start at $13,000 a month, which includes hands-on personal care assistance, care intervention, access to certified dementia practitioners, a specialized dementia care program and more.

VillageCare at 46 & 10

510 West 46th St.

212-977-4600

46and10village.org

Type: Assisted Living Program (ALP)

Facilities: 150 studio and two-bedroom shared apartments. In order to begin the application process, the following is required: residents must be 62 or older, with active NYS Medicaid and receive social security benefits. Medicare does not cover the Assisted Living Program. For rates, contact VillageCare directly

“It’s a great place to live,” scribbled Peter Blaxill on the brochure he sent me when I told him I was working on Our Town’s 2024 Senior Living Guide. I’ve followed Peter’s life at VillageCare since 2019 when I began writing about Manhattan’s senior living residences. He’s now 93, give or take a year, and has been living at VillageCare for going on 10 years and loving it.

VillageCare’s location in the immediate vicinity of the Theater District and the urban lifestyle it offers is perfect for eligible seniors who want to take advantage of being able to walk the neighborhood or use public transportation. There’s a great mix of ethnic and American restaurants for dining, fast casual, or good old grab-and-go. A Target’s nearby. Theaters are within walking distance or a bus ride or Uber away. A walk-in medical facility is around the corner and a pharmacy’s just across the street.

At VillageCare, residents have the personal and health services and emergency alert services (including medical and life alerts) that make life easier: 24-hour concierge and security service, housekeeping, laundry services, restaurant-style meals, and a calendar of activities to participate in, or not. A registered nurse completes a nursing assessment of each new resident and develops a personalized plan of care so that each resident’s needs are met. In addition to health and assisted services, VillageCare offers a full schedule of recreational activities on- and-off-premises. Monthly programs include a night of Broadway show songs, a guitarist singing 60s tunes and a nightly movie. A large TV fills the RecRoom. Apartments have a refrigerator and stove.

To Peter, I say, “same time, next year.”

Vista on 5th

1261 Fifth Ave.

Phone: 212-534-6464

Fax: 646-854-8568

www.vistaon5th.org

Type: Assisted Living

Facilities: 127 Studio apartments. Vista accepts private pay and then spend-down and transition into Medicaid. Medicaid-set rent is $1,388 monthly. Monthly private pay is $7,000, with additional charges, depending on the individual’s required level of care and financial resources. Cable, phone and wireless internet can be added for an additional fee. Vista provides new furniture, Alexa, and an emergency alert system pendant to each resident at no charge.

Next year — 2025 — Vista on 5th, a community-based, not-for-profit organization which is run solely on admissions and grants, will be celebrating its 25th anniversary. Through the years Vista on 5th has been serving a vibrant, diverse community of 65-plus senior residents in a 14-story residence overlooking picturesque Harlem Meer’s in Central Park. The environment is welcoming and engaging for residents from diverse backgrounds, income levels, and life stories who want to stay active, independent, and able to enjoy life to the fullest.

Earlier this year, Dorie Hubbard relocated from Kentucky to live closer to her daughters who live in Manhattan. Vista on 5th was her choice:

“The location is convenient and just across the street from the beautiful Conservatory Gardens in Central Park. I’m comfortable and feel well cared for. Vista’s staff is very good. My favorite thing is the view from the 14th floor dining room. I never tire of the view — it really is spectacular.”

Dori’s a poet and author, and through a grant, has published “Coming of Age - Writing & Art by Kentucky Women Over 60,” which was created with a writing group in Kentucky. True to her creativity and commitment to writing, she has spearheaded a similar group at Vista on 5th which meets weekly.

Vista on 5th has a team of caring professionals who bring an array of support services to make life comfortable for their residents — individual studio apartments, three fresh chef-prepared daily meals served in their 14th floor dining room, daily coffee, tea and snacks in their library, housekeeping and linen services, 24/7 security, concierge desk, a lobby sitting area for relaxing, and a grand piano. For health and wellness services — on-site physician, nursing services, mental health resources, podiatry, 24/7 support from personal care aides, case management support, occupational, physical and speech therapy, and professionally supervised exercise programs. Cultural and social opportunities and activities are part of everyday life with outings, creative writing, art-making workshops, bingo games, musical performances and a library with computers. There’s a walking club, holiday celebrations and cook-outs. Because Medicaid is accepted, pets are allowed only for visits, but there’s a Good Dog Therapy program for residents who want to enjoy some pet time with Fido.

When I met with Myra Ripley, Vista on 5th’s new Director of Community Engagement and grant writer and asked about her experience at the soon-to-be 25-year-old senior living residence, she said, “I’m thrilled to be part of the Vista on 5th team and am inspired by the mission of this diverse inclusive assisted living community. Everyone here is empowered to do their very best for the seniors we serve.”