The Avenues Courtyard in Salt Lake City, Utah is licensed as Assisted Living Type 2 and holds fifty-four residents, and you'll notice right away it feels smaller and more intimate than some of the bigger places, with people knowing each other by name and staff seeming to really care, and they have this thing they call "Aging in Place," meaning people can stay even as needs change, which gives some peace of mind. There's complimentary transportation and parking for residents, plus rules like no indoor smoking but folks can have pets, and everywhere's set up for wheelchairs including the showers, and apartments are furnished, private, and each has its own bathroom, which many find comfortable. The place serves different care types like assisted living, memory care, hospice, and respite, and most residents need pretty heavy help, though some might just need a bit of day-to-day support, and you have to be at least fifty-five to live here. Meals are included with options for kosher and vegetarian diets, and there's always a nurse around full-time, a doctor on call, and sometimes a nutritionist or physical therapist comes in.
Activities fill up the days, with onsite and offsite events, art projects in the bright atrium with skylights (though coloring happens in certain areas), and trips into town for things like the ballet or symphony, which a lot of people look forward to, and they offer "brain aerobics" group classes for folks with dementia or Alzheimer's. There are indoor and outdoor spaces to visit with friends, libraries, club rooms, activity centers, and a beauty salon and barbershop, plus onsite massages, group fitness classes with personal trainers, and all sorts of social and recreational activities, so most folks find something they enjoy. Meals are provided three times a day and there's always common spaces where people gather and visit, and if someone needs help bathing or dressing, staff can help with that, but they let people do as much for themselves as possible. The building sits where you can see the skyline and the mountains, and in general, the place feels friendly and warm, though the owner can sometimes be strict with both staff and residents. Staff treat residents more like friends than clients, and many say there's a happy atmosphere, with a focus on helping residents stay independent while getting the help they need.
