Merriam Webster defines home as “one’s place of residence,” but home emotes so much more. It eludes a singular definition. It’s not just an address, not just a place; rather, it’s an amalgamation of place, feeling, and people. As we age, we may begin to wonder, and perhaps worry, about what home will look like in the future. The Terraces addresses these concerns by offering a community in which couples and individuals can feel secure in the knowledge there is a village where they can age in place. The campus offers a home that adjusts to your needs while maintaining those familiar aspects needed to ensure a sense of place. The community hosts a large number of independent living apartments, ninety units of assisted living residences, and thirty apartments dedicated to memory care. At The Terraces, there is a space and program for anyone, at any point in the aging process. Their website has beautiful pictures of the grounds and buildings. The site also has a wonderful way of painting pictures for the mind’s eye in words like this: “The Terraces were uniquely created to encourage lifelong learning, community involvement, and above all, personal satisfaction. Strut your stuff with ballroom dancing, explore a museum exhibit, 18
U P G R A D E D L I V I N G M AG A Z I N E M A R C H 2 0 2 1
volunteer at a local school, and relish the company of new friends—our welcoming amenities give you so many opportunities to enjoy your new life.” The Lodge at The Terraces is the independent living division, offering studios, along with one and two-bedroom apartments. Housekeeping, maintenance, and meals are included. They also include a vigorous activity program featuring movie theaters, exercise facilities, card rooms, craft areas, libraries, and a beautiful outdoor swimming pool and patio. The Inn Assisted Living branch of the campus offers the same features as the independent living campus but in conjunction with coordinated care. The Terraces provides medication staff and fullcare staff twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to cater to daily needs and help residents retain their independence. A full-time staff nurse is also present to assist in managing residents’ care. Compass Rose Memory Care also offers a variety of apartments to choose from in addition to all the amenities offered at The Lodge and The Inn. The individualized model of care is different from the other communities and is built to fit the specific needs of the residents. The cognitive
nurturing program is designed to focus on all the synapses of the brain daily. “We help our residents work their muscles and minds to preserve as much independence as possible. Our Compass Rose guides our residents through a purposeful day that highlights the dimensions of wellness.” The Terraces is the only community in Chico that allows individuals to move from independent living to assisted living to memory care if needed, enabling residents to age in place with dignity. The fact that residents fall across the continuum in the aging process means that The Terraces is able to provide every level of activity imagined, from independent swimming in the pool, to walking along the trails while enjoying the lake view, to Montessori based dementia programming with one-on-one nurtured care. The activity and care options at The Terraces are endless. As Maya Angelou said, “The ache for home lives in all of us—the safe place where we can go as we are.” The Terraces is that safe place. That unique blending of place, feeling, and people that is home. Stop by their website at www.westmontliving.com/ca/chico/theterraces-5/
WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON
The Terraces: The feeling of home
