Appealing gardens and tall trees surround the brick and stone building that houses Atria Riverdale. Chandeliers and recessed lighting illuminate the upscale interior. Bold colors infuse the drapes and upholstered furnishings in the spacious living room, which features a piano, dark wood bookshelves and matching tables topped with brass and glass lamps. During our visit, a fire warmed the room. French doors access the spacious patio, outfitted with a barbecue and lots of comfortable seating. A poker table and a pool table furnish the handsomely decorated game room, complementing the dark green color scheme. Windows and high ceilings lend residents’ spacious apartments an airy feel. Two secured floors house the dementia program, Sharing the Way, which includes regular assessments in addition to care tailored to each resident. Family support, familiar routines and reminiscence activities are the backbone of the program.
Atria Riverdale’s resident population is predominantly Jewish. All meals are glatt kosher. On our midday visit, lunch was beautifully presented and smelled delicious! The elegant dining room is complete with white linen, brass chandeliers and upholstered dark wood chairs. One charming gentleman resident flirted with a member of our group by playfully asking her what “such an attractive woman” was doing at the facility! We were honored to meet another resident, whose Holocaust experiences are being incorporated into a movie by Steven Spielberg.
Activity staff considers residents’ interests in determining the activity schedule; there is truly something to suit every taste. Residents congregate for an opera group and a Yiddish club. Other activities include exercise, beading, poker, religious services, pet therapy, history discussions and outings to libraries, restaurants, shopping destinations and local attractions. Ice cream socials take place every Sunday. Alzheimer’s residents may take part in activities with the general population if they are cognitively able.
