We received a warm reception at Atria Kew Gardens when one staff member wrote our names on the “welcome” board, where visitors are announced for everyone to see. The facility is adjacent to two synagogues and within walking distance of a small shopping center. Upholstered chairs and couches furnish the comfortable lobby, where we noted a lot of traffic, as residents came and went to various activities. We noticed everyone—both staff and residents—greeted each other as they passed; it was a friendly crossroads.
Residents’ spacious rooms overlook tree-lined streets. The neutral-colored walls and carpeting are easy to complement with one’s own possessions. Kew Gardens boasts numerous common spaces, including a library, a multimedia room complete with a big screen, a parlor and a craft room—in addition to private and community dining areas. All meals are kosher. A mouthwatering spinach soufflé roused our appetites! A small café serves assorted beverages and snacks throughout the day. The extensive main patio is the site of many summer parties and barbecues. Residents in the Alzheimer’s unit reside in cozy studios and have a separate dining room. The unit boasts a spacious activity area, home to four colorful parakeets and a bright aquarium, as well as its own secured patio.
Activity mainstays include chair exercise, belly dancing, game nights, themed parties, movie-viewing, reminiscence and memory games. The activity calendar listed the Hopeless Romantic string band as well as an opera and a cabaret singer who were slated to perform. Religious services are also held onsite. Kew Gardens residents were alert and sociable on our visit. Several stopped to chat with our guide and introduce themselves to us. One excited resident informed us that we had missed the cast and crew of Law and Order, who had just shot a scene in the lobby. Several residents served as extras! We also noticed a photo of a sweet couple and learned that they had met at Atria and later tied the knot. Kew Gardens has a genuine feel of community. In fact, management is so confident about the program that they encourage prospective residents to try Atria for a week or even a month before signing the lease!
