Riverside Presbyterian House

Mitchell

I like Riverside Presbyterian House because everybody seems to be friendly. The one-bedroom apartments are nice. And it has a nice view of the river. There's no downside because everybody seems pretty nice. I only connected with two staffers, but they were pretty helpful. What I saw of the building was really nice. Everybody was very kind. The layouts are very nice because you get an almost full kitchen and a full bedroom. The living room and dining room area is kind of smaller, but that's all I needed that's why I'm downsizing.

CaringResident

This is a "tax credit" property meaning private owners obtain a grant from HUD for various types of properties to be built or renovated in exchange for the owners following certain rules and criteria such as a percentage of restricted income or/and age restrictions. One small pet is permitted. This one has been around a long time and is part of the Westminster Communities of Florida. The entire staff seems to really love their jobs and are extremely responsive even to potential residents. That’s rare in my experience. Centrally located in Riverside, it’s an easy walk to everything including Memorial Park on the beautiful river, stores, restaurants, churches, museums, bus lines, doctors and hospitals. Delivery to the building is available of course, including Walmart In-Home which includes food AND their merchandise. So you basically can live here with no transportation and not miss a thing. This is a moderate-income community for age 62 plus, offering both full market rate and HUD subsidized rates. One meal is included with the option of three meals. There is a dietary manager. All utilities are included. You pay for your own phone and cable TV if you want it - but an antenna works fine for local channels. The rents are very reasonable considering the property is in a very desirable community with all your secure housing needs met, PLUS meals, PLUS social community activities, PLUS free transportation to various places, PLUS some visiting healthcare professionals on site. They just converted to 100% independent living; no more assisted living. There are emergency pull chains in the bath and living rooms and the front desk is securely manned 24 hrs. All the apartments are studios being renovated and modernized. The Dining Room and Lobby are about to be enhanced/renovated it was just announced but they are nice as it is right now. The 2023 ongoing apartment renovations include granite topped kitchenettes, flat top ceramic range, wood-look plank flooring, new appliances and fixtures, sinks, (no oven), and a large armoire. There is ample storage with two closets and a built-in wall of shelving in the dressing area by the bath. There's a beauty shop and two laundry rooms in the basement floor. One is huge with dining tables and chairs, the exercise equipment and a large wall mounted TV you can watch as you do the treadmill and laundry. There are lounges, meeting rooms, a resident store selling food and other stuff, and spacious group seating in the Lobby with free WIFI in the common areas. I enjoy the high-rise aspect. It's much EASIER to RIDE UP the elevator than to WALK FOR TEN MINUTES to reach your apartment if it's laid out flat. This is not memory care and IF you have memory issues finding your apartment, you'll have the same issues whether it's a HIGH RISE or separate ground floor apartment units. Outdoors is fountain area in the front with benches to sit, a side area with seating, and a HUGE screened porch nearly as wide as the building with tables and chairs in the rear of the building behind the dining room. Even though this is independent housing, there are planned activities. The monthly newsletter calendar is VERY busy and this month includes a trip to St. Simons Island for $15.00 and the bus is paid for by the HQ Westminster Foundation. There are various resident committees of interest like you find anywhere there are congregate communities or HOAs like book clubs. There are arts and crafts, games, visiting speakers and guests, a variety of musical interest activities, movies, exercise groups, health clinics, mobile vets, a Chaplain and faith-based get togethers/services. They even have a special service for Catholics on Sundays of Communion besides all the other faith-based activities and services. There are weekly trips to grocery stores, dollar stores and Walmart. There is a 24 hour manned lobby desk and the receptionist is very sweet and helpful as are all the staff including the maintenance supervisor. Who ever heard of a happy maintenance guy? LOL

Ronda

Riverside Presbyterian House is what we have found for my aunt. It's clean, and the staff is nice. They have a thrift store, a beauty salon, a laundromat, and a library. There's also an activity room, where they watch movies and do activities. I toured their independent living. What I like least about it is that they serve cafeteria-style, and the food is served on paper plates. Also, it's a high-rise building. There's no outside garden and not very many outside areas if they want to go outside. What I like the most is that it had lots of storage in the apartment. Right now, they're working on doing updates, but the apartment my aunt is moving into has not been updated. It's a studio and just one room. You walk in the door. If you go straight, it's the closet and bathroom area. If you take a left, that's the living room and kitchen area.