Everyday life at Friends House is pretty much like everyday life in any neighborhood in Santa Rosa, CA.
Residents get started according to their own clocks. In the kitchen they put on the coffee or brew tea, step outside their apartments to get the paper, walk the dog, or let out the cat. Some head for the fitness center for a workout, or perhaps to the library for a time of silence together by the fire with friends.
For some residents of Friends House the day begins at the breakfast table with companions in the dining room of the Assisted Living Center.
And for others with more immediate medical needs, their morning at Friends House begins together in the dining room of the Health Care Unit, under the care of skilled nursing professionals.
Residents get started according to their own clocks. In the kitchen they put on the coffee or brew tea, step outside their apartments to get the paper, walk the dog, or let out the cat. Some head for the fitness center for a workout, or perhaps to the library for a time of silence together by the fire with friends.
For some residents of Friends House the day begins at the breakfast table with companions in the dining room of the Assisted Living Center.
And for others with more immediate medical needs, their morning at Friends House begins together in the dining room of the Health Care Unit, under the care of skilled nursing professionals.
Independent Living
Friends House Residential (Independent) Living is made up of four clusters of one and two-bedroom apartments and a few multi-bedroom houses. All are one-story units. Each of the four clusters has a Commons area with a fully equipped kitchen, dining area with multiple tables, a large living room, and a laundry room. Meetings and gatherings are organized regularly in the Commons areas and residents also make use of the Commons for reading, working on a jigsaw puzzle, watching TV, using a computer, or hosting family parties and dinners. There is a salad bar for lunch with soup and daily entr?e, and a dining room for the evening meal with sit-down service five days per week. Residents may purchase meals at a modest cost.
The Apartments
The 64 apartments are designed for simple, comfortable living for single, married, or partnered individuals. Each has a living area, an efficiency kitchen, a bathroom, and one or two bedrooms. There is a small patio and garden in front of each apartment.
Some apartments have garden areas in the back, and a second exit. Residents can choose to plant and maintain their garden area or have Friends House care for low maintenance planting.
Apartments are air-conditioned and weekly housekeeping, maintenance, and emergency call assistance are included in the monthly fee. Overnight visitors may be accommodated in one of three guest rooms for a small fee. Residents may keep friendly pets in accord with our Pet Policy. Dog walking is a popular activity and cats can be found napping in sunny spots. Most apartments have an uncovered designated parking place for a vehicle. Ten apartments have carport parking.
The Houses
Residents who wish more spacious accommodations may choose to live in one of the houses, which are on a residential street and connected to the campus by short walkways. Two of the houses have three bedrooms, two baths, a full kitchen, laundry facilities, and garage parking. One house has two bedrooms in addition to the amenities listed above. House residents have the same services, benefits and responsibilities as apartment residents.
Life as Independent Living Residents
Residents may choose to participate as much or as little as they wish in Friends House activities. The residents have developed many special interest groups including: book reviews, poetry, art, singing, food interest, games, walking, Chi Gung and Tai Chi, peace-and-justice, and public policy. One committee of residents selects a weekly movie, and another arranges art exhibitions. Several residents keep the library of over 5500 cataloged volumes accessible. Other residents volunteer in community organizations; still others participate in the many volunteer opportunities at Friends House.
For those residents who wish to have vegetable gardens, some plots are available in the community garden. Over 100 fruit bearing trees and vines are located throughout the campus. Residents enjoy this bounty with their neighbors. They also enjoy the beauty of over 100 rose bushes.
A Resident Services Coordinator assists residents when they enter Friends House and helps to arrange for services such as in-home assistance, transportation, and meals as necessary.
The residents have formed an association for community and self-governing purposes. The association, meeting monthly and with elected officers, acts on recommendations brought by the (Friends) House Council, which is a smaller elected resident group. The association has many committees, including Program and Buildings & Grounds. The House Council deliberates on issues important to resident welfare and selects the agenda for the association meetings. These groups invite the Executive Director to their meetings as part of their effort to stay informed on relevant issues for Friends House. Two residents, with equal rights to other members, are elected by the association to serve on the governing board of Friends House. Other residents volunteer and are selected by the board to serve on each of the ten governing committees of Friends House.
New residents are warmly welcomed and settle into an informal lifestyle. Most are relieved to leave behind home maintenance, focusing their time and energy on interests and community.
Independent Living
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Independent Living — Apartment & House Fees
Friends House offers residential, health, and social services for the elderly in a manner designed to provide high quality services at the lowest feasible cost. Friends House is a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) offering three levels of care. Fees are determined by the services provided.
Fees for the residential apartments and houses range from $112,300 for a one bedroom, one bath apartment to $240,100 for a three bedroom, two-bath house. Entry fees are paid in two installments after a person or couple is accepted for admission. If a resident leaves Friends House within six years, a prorated portion of this fee is returned. A full entry fee refund is available for 90 days.
Monthly fees for an apartment are $688, single occupancy, and $1034, double occupancy. The monthly fee for a house is $1135 per month. This covers certain housekeeping, maintenance and all emergency call services. Meals are available and may be purchased separately. Telephone service is $12 per month plus toll calls. Ancillary services are available for additional fees. A full list of services and fees is available. Rates are effective July 9, 2009.
For more information regarding residential living apartments and houses, contact Soonamai Dessai at 707-573-4525, or send an email message to fase@friendshouse.org.
Assisted Living
The Friends House Assisted Living Center is warm and inviting with a family-like atmosphere. It is located across from Friends House main building and accommodates six residents. The Assisted Living Center offers 24-hour per day help with activities of daily living, medication management, and assistance arranging appointments and transportation. Each resident has a private room with her or his own bathroom and patio. Residents are encouraged to furnish their rooms as they wish with their own furniture and decorations. They share a sunny and spacious living room and adjoining dining room where they have meals, watch TV, and visit. Weather permitting a patio area is used for outdoor dining and visiting with friends and relatives. Residents enjoy celebrating birthdays and other holidays together. They attend events in the main building, in the library and lobby, especially the weekly community tea and the evening weekly speaker series. We have regular volunteers who provide reading, visiting, or walking with residents, and provide musical entertainment.
Assisted Living Facility
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Assisted Living - Residential Care Facility
Friends House offers residential, health, and social services for the elderly in a manner designed to provide high quality services at the lowest feasible cost. Friends House is a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) providing three levels of care, but residents from outside of Friends House may live in the Assisted Living Center, if space is available. Fees are determined by the services provided.
A monthly rate of $ 5,450 is charged for a private room with a patio. Each room has a private lavatory. Both ambulatory and non-ambulatory residents are accepted. Rates are effective April 1, 2009. For more information regarding the Assisted Living Center, contact Nola Falis at 707-573-4523, or send an email message to fase@friendshouse.org.
Skilled Nursing Facilities
The Friends House Health Care Unit accommodates 34 residents in four private rooms and fifteen semi-private rooms. It is open to anyone, not just residents of Friends House. Residents include those requiring skilled short-term nursing care and rehabilitation; those who are especially frail and require long-term nursing care; and those who are terminally ill and receive palliative care, often with the aid of hospice providers.
Advantages of Friends House Health Care Unit include the high staff-to-resident ratio, small size, very low staff turnover, and wonderful camaraderie exists between staff and residents. Since we have an eight-acre campus with multiple lounge areas, there are great places for residents to visit with family and friends. For more information regarding the Health Care Unit, contact the nursing station at 707-573-4517.
Skilled Nursing Facilities
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Skilled Nursing Facility
Friends House offers residential, health, and social services for the elderly in a manner designed to provide high quality services at the lowest feasible cost. Friends House is a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) with three levels of care. Fees are determined by the services provided.
Current rates are $270 per day for a semi-private room (two to a room) and $325 per day for a private room. Ancillary services and medical supplies are extra.
Friends House conceived and operated the Adult Day Health Services program beginning in 1984. In 2004, Friends House turned over operation of the program to the Southwest Community Health Center that continues to operate Adult Day Health on the Friends House campus. This link will take to information about Adult Day Health Services on the Southwest Community Health Center web site: www.swhealthcenter.org/AdultDayServices.html.