Getting your player ready...
After her husband passed away last year, Mildred Sallustio visited five retirement communities along the south I-25 corridor – but made her mind up after she walked in the door of Cranbrook Senior Living in Greenwood Village. “I’m making my own decisions,” she says. “This was the best; it had the right atmosphere.”
You can sense that for yourself today and tomorrow, as Cranbrook (S. Yosemite south of Belleview, across from St. Catherine Church) holds a ‘Confections at Cranbrook’ open house featuring dessert specialties of Chef Michael Campe — a former Chef-of-the-Year winner. I checked out his work over fettuccini Alfredo with Mildred and several of her friends, who talked about their lives and their large apartments (one resident has a baby grand in her unit) as well as the choice of activities. Sallustio showed me Cranbrook’s calendar for March – crowded with 90 or 100 events, with her own yellow highlighter marking thirty that she planned to do.
“Part of the reason we’re successful is the positive community environment,” said Rachel Gonzales, marketing director, adding that Cranbrook looks to provide six activities every weekday, balanced between cognitive, psychosocial, and spiritual themes. Matthew Wistreich, executive director, noted that residents are also reacting to the price-per-foot on Cranbrook’s apartments, including studio, one-bedroom, one-plus-den/balcony, and two-bedroom suites you can tour during your visit. “Your money will go a lot further here,” he added. “Rental for 500 square feet somewhere else buys 800 feet here.”
Cranbrook, built in 2004, was bought two years ago by the Damone Group, who brought in senior housing experts at Morningstar Senior Living to manage and make some very successful modifications (you can also tour their Dayton Place in Denver, off Parker Road at S. Dayton). Morningstar upgraded the dining, added a 24-hour ‘Bistro’ with coffee, cookies, and fresh popcorn right off the dining area; and took the theater to high-def with a 70-inch screen. (Residents packed the room for ‘Gone with the Wind’ last week. “Not one left,” said Wistreich.)
Meanwhile, Morningstar has every suite licensed for assisted living. “If you make a move to needing more services, it’s a non-event here,” Wistreich says. “You can stay where you are and keep your friends.”
“It’s worry-free living,” he added. “You can focus on your health and on enjoying yourself.” Cranbrook’s ‘Confections’ open house today is east of I-25 on Belleview a mile to Yosemite; turn right and take the second left to stay on Yosemite; watch for the church.
If you go…
WHERE: ‘Confections at Cranbrook’ Open house at Cranbrook Senior Living, Greenwood Village; large studio, 1-bedroom & 2-bedroom apartments, independent & assisted living, special rate on remodeled studios. 5565 S. Yosemite, Greenwood Village; from I-25 take Belleview east 1 mile to Yosemite, right 0.2 mi., then jog left to stay on Yosemite, 0.3 mi. Also, desserts open house at Dayton Place, Parker Rd. at Dayton
PRICE: Special today from $2,950/month
WHEN: Today and Sunday, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
PHONE: 303-327-7340
WEB: CranbrookSeniorLiving.com or MorningStarSeniorLiving.com
Mark Samuelson is president of Samuelson & Associates, a homebuilding/real estate communications firm. You can e-mail him at mark@samuelsonassoc.com.
