ZZFairlawn Heights Assisted Living is a senior living community in Topeka, Kansas, found at 5400 SW 7th St, that's been around for over 50 years, and it's built so folks can get help with things like dressing, bathing, and moving around if they need it, though the place is pretty big and can handle about 45 residents or so, but before it closed, there were about 35 to 40 people living there and at least 15 staff members who worked there. The facility offered several levels of care including assisted living, memory care, and even some nursing home support as part of its Fairlawn Heights Residential Center, so there was always staff around 24 hours a day in case anything happened, and some staff could help with insulin shots and even two-person transfers from bed to wheelchair. People who lived there could pay a few ways, whether it's cash, check, long-term care insurance, private pay, or through military or VA benefits, and the costs started at about $3,000 a month, but that could change depending on what kind of support or apartment was needed, and nothing was set in stone pricewise. Folks could get help with things like showering, picking out clothes, using the bathroom, washing up, and getting groomed, and if anyone needed special meals for things like diabetes or high blood pressure, the staff could handle that too. The place is pretty well set up for seniors who want to be active and independent but like knowing someone's nearby to help, and because it's licensed by Kansas's Department of Social Services, there's a certain level of oversight and rules that keep things safe and fair, including a 30-day notice if someone decides to move.
There were common indoor areas for reading or social activities, and the amenities included things like a barber or salon, spa or wellness rooms, a steam room, special yard spaces, places to watch movies, and community rooms for board games or crafts, plus transportation was available for going to medical appointments, running errands, or getting to religious services. The staff organized outings to see the local area and put together entertainment like music and pet therapy or exercise programs, so there was always something going on for folks who wanted to stay busy or relax outside. Laundry and housekeeping got taken care of along with meal prep, and if families wanted to look around or see if there was space available, they could ask for a tour or look at what amenities might be getting changed or updated, since nothing was fixed and things could get swapped out now and then. There was always a push for each resident to have the right amount of help, tailored just for them, which meant not everyone got the same services because they focused on what each person needed, and people had to meet a minimum age to move in.
With a social model of care in mind, Fairlawn Heights Assisted Living worked to find new homes for residents during its closure, showing the management stayed involved in making the transition easier, and folks who lived there could also move to other places in the Midwest Health network if needed. The community earned good reviews and sat at about a 4.0-star rating, with families often pointing out the home-like setting and sense of support, even if the building itself was older and updates happened over time. Meals, laundry, medication help, and health monitoring were part of daily life there, and while not everything was perfect or brand new, the focus stayed on helping older adults live as independently as they could, no matter what help they needed every day.
