Strongsville's Westwood Place Senior Apartments celebrates 40 years
By Patricia Nugent
A charming seven-story beacon in the downtown Strongsville skyline, Westwood Place Senior Apartments has served as a home-away-from-home for independent seniors since 1978.
When you walk into the lobby on any given day, you’ll find a flurry of social activity, whether it’s card games in the sunlit atrium, groups of ladies chatting over coffee, or a spirited match of Wii bowling in the homey library.
“Location and proximity to other places is an important part of what makes us unique,” says Marketing Director Tammy Kopystynsky.
To prove her point, during a tour of the delightful apartments, she enjoys pointing out all the places that lie just on the other side of their parking lot…the newly renovated Strongsville branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, the Strongsville Senior Center and an eclectic variety of restaurants, banks and shops, including the newly opened Mitchell’s Ice Cream.
For destinations not within walking distance, the Westwood passenger van takes people to thrilling hotspots such as Put-in-Bay, Creekside restaurant and the Rocksino, just to name a few.
There’s so much to do within Westwood’s brick walls as well. Activities Director Vivian Tench plans a jam-packed social calendar, from chair yoga and wellness classes to bingo, card games, monthly birthday parties and bible study. They like to bring in live entertainment, too, and throw a lively Happy Hour on Friday afternoons.
Wherever the mood takes you, it’s a cinch to look your best, as the building has a full-service salon on the first floor.
Making a Case for Staying in Place
With an umbrella of senior health care services, Tammy says many of their residents are opting to stay at Westwood long-term rather than move to an assisted living facility.
Those who might need a little help with daily care duties make use of ComForCare Home Care Services for everything from medicine checks to help with bathing, cleaning and transportation. Residents in need of PT/OT/ST therapies can receive them in house from Legacy Health Services.
At $1,045 per month, including all utilities and even cable, the one-bedroom apartments are a fraction of the cost of other senior living places around town, says Leasing Manager Kim Mannino. The newly refurbished units include a fully equipped kitchen, living room and bedroom, as well as ample storage closets.
A bright and airy laundry facility has become a social hub.
Fabulous fare is a consideration here, too. In addition to the meals residents can make in their apartments, they enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast each morning, and additional meal plans are available.
For peace of mind, the Westwood team started a Hall Monitor program, where each resident hangs an “I’m OK” tag on their doorknob at night and takes it in the next morning. It’s checked by monitors on each floor. There are also emergency pull cords in the bedroom and bathroom of each apartment.
Here’s What Residents Are Saying
Deciding to leave a bigger home for the safety, security and manageability of a one-bedroom apartment is a hard decision for many, Tammy reports. However, once folks move in, they wonder what took them so long.
For Winnie E., who moved here 18 years ago, the sense of home and family drew her in. She knows all the other residents, and their children’s and grandchildren’s names.
Bertha N. looked at facilities all over Cleveland and didn’t feel right in any of them.
“As soon as I walked in here, I knew I was home. The staff is wonderful. I’m much more active and involved than I used to be.”
Dottie R. appreciates the tree-lined eastward view from her apartment as much as the kind-hearted people, adding,
“It’s a beautiful way to wake up to the sunrise each morning.”
Westwood Place Senior Apartments is located at 18800 Westwood Drive in Strongsville. Take a virtual walk-through tour of the apartments on the website. For more information, call 440-238-1021 or visit WestwoodPlaceApts.net.