Fern Terra of Owensboro, found at 1415 West First Street along the Ohio River, covers a four-acre landscaped campus and sits beside blooming gardens, walking paths, fountains, and old trees, and you can see wildlife from the porch swings and benches or enjoy the view from the living and dining areas that look out over the front lawn and fountain, so there's always a quiet spot to sit and rest. The community belongs to the Fern Terrace group and offers both assisted and independent living, along with personal care home services and specialized care for memory support and incontinence, so seniors with different needs can find support here, and they don't turn folks away because of race, color, or national origin.
There are several choices for living arrangements, including spacious apartments between 860 and 1,600 square feet, with nine-foot ceilings, private bathrooms that are handicap accessible, private patios or balconies, and sometimes even full kitchens and two or three closets, which means some apartments are great if you want to invite overnight guests or bring a pet. Some apartments come furnished and others don't, so residents can choose what's best for them. All apartments include emergency call systems, paid utilities except personal cable or phone, Wi-Fi, cable hookups, and either in-room laundry or free laundry on each floor. The campus is also fully handicap accessible, with ground floor units and ramped entries, interior and exterior maintenance, groundskeeping, and easy transportation and parking, including scheduled trips out in the community.
The assisted living services at Fern Terra include 24-hour staffing and help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, medication help, and bed checks if desired, and staff will assist with non-medical needs as well, because trained aides provide companionship and help when personal support is needed. The building also has smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, and a safe room, making it secure and ready for emergencies. They support residents' medical needs through medication management, non-ambulatory care, home health and physical therapy visits, and staff on hand at all hours. An executive director named Sylvia Martin oversees the site, and a Director of Community Data checks information for accuracy.
Meals are prepared with different needs in mind, so people who want vegetarian, vegan, low/no sodium, or organic can find food that works for them, and residents eat in restaurant-style dining rooms or order room service or even enjoy guest meals. The rotating menu includes homestyle favorites, soups, sandwiches, and daily specials. Seniors have access to a chapel, beauty salon, exercise and fitness rooms, crafts, card room, theater, library, and organized activities like crafts, card games, and regular trips, so there's always something to do inside or outside, and the activity director puts together social events from Halloween parties to Hawaiian luaus. They have a monthly brunch, quarterly dinners, and a "Taste of the Town" event where local restaurants share food, plus private dining rooms for special family gatherings.
Fern Terra works under a board of directors and is part of KALPAC, being one of the oldest and largest Kentucky chains, and follows state requirements for assisted living and care homes, and its base principle is service. There's a focus on supporting families in decisions, with a family-directed approach, and residents and relatives can use community resources like a member directory, support groups, public events, and answers to common questions. The campus is pet-friendly, offers both private and semi-private rooms, and sets up everything so seniors can enjoy an independent yet social living space if they're active and healthy or find extra support if they need more day-to-day help later on.
