Ardenwoods Retirement Community sits on 48 acres of wooded land near Asheville, North Carolina, where you can see the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains and walk nature trails or simply enjoy sitting outside on a balcony or in the gardens, and you'll find the place feels friendly and peaceful, something about having about 175 residents and being the smallest community a resident has visited makes it easy to know your neighbors, share a meal, or join group activities if you want. The apartments come in several sizes, from one to three bedrooms, and many have kitchens, private bathrooms, big windows, and balconies or outdoor space, and the rooms are set up to feel comfortable and easy to move around, with Wi-Fi, cable TV, and air conditioning. For those who like to keep busy, Ardenwoods has a fitness center, heated indoor pool, creative arts studio, woodworking shop, choir, music programs, art classes, game room, and all sorts of community events from social hours and movie nights to walks on the trails and gardening in the resident-tended beds, and the staff is known to be friendly, helpful, and quick to lend a hand or check in when needed.
Living here means you can eat in a community dining room with chef-prepared meals, and they have allergy-friendly and diabetic options, plus snacks and all-day dining, and it helps that housekeeping, laundry, and maintenance come included when you want them, so life's a little less hassle at any stage. Ardenwoods is a faith-based, not-for-profit organization and a life plan community, meaning folks can start in independent living and later move to assisted living, memory care, rehab, or skilled nursing without having to leave the campus, and their on-site Heather Glen assisted living community gives support 24/7-helping with things like bathing, dressing, eating, and medication-while keeping the atmosphere warm, safe, and homelike.
For health needs, there's a dedicated Wellness Coordinator and the Thrivemore at Home program, which lets folks stay independent longer with personalized help, as well as skilled nursing teams and therapists for physical, occupational, or speech needs after hospital stays. Ardenwoods has its signature Mindful Impressions program for memory care, focusing on keeping residents connected and secure, and plans are underway to bring North Carolina's first GREEN HOUSE® home to campus for even more homelike care next door to nature. The fitness and wellness programs, such as Pathways Wellness, encourage staying active and making friendships, and there are support services for medication management, transfers, supervision, and both ambulatory and non-ambulatory care. Pets are allowed, the whole place is handicap accessible, and there are safety features like emergency alert systems and 24-hour call buttons.
Leadership comes from a team including an Executive Director and other department heads making sure everything from dining to maintenance goes smoothly, and there's a foundation providing financial help and subsidized medications to residents if they need it, which is a relief to know. Ardenwoods holds a CARF accreditation since 1993, showing their commitment to good care standards, and a Fitch A- rating indicates financial stability and strong occupancy. ThriveMore owns and operates the community, with other senior communities also under their umbrella, but Ardenwoods stands out for being small, quiet, and close-knit, with all the amenities you'd find at a larger place tucked into the woods. Residents have access to educational programs, cultural events in the region, and community transportation for outings. The days can be as full or as quiet as someone likes, and there's help for every stage, from simple home care to advanced assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, so people can lead purpose-driven lives in a peaceful, mountain setting.
