Refund Plans: 90%; Declining Balance 4% per mo. to 0; 50% after 6 mos.; 0% Refund Entry Fee (Price: approx. 20% of Entrance Fee). 50% Refund (Price: approx. 50% of Entrance Fee). Assisted Living and Nursing Care on Fee-for-Service basis.

(Provided by Gilbert Guide's on-site reviewer)

Deer Meadows Retirement Community embraces the core values of compassion, creativity, integrity, quality and respect, and strives to continually improve their care. All staff members receive ongoing training to nurture an evolving understanding of residents' personal and medical needs. The large brick building is conveniently located on a busy main road near local senior centers and low-income senior housing. Rocking chairs on the two side porches lull residents into relaxation. Several attractively landscaped courtyards feature additional seating. The beautifully appointed interior showcases elegant furniture and earth-toned accents. An art center invites residents to explore their imaginations. Various aviaries throughout the facility contain lovebirds, parakeets and doves. Independent and assisted living apartments are quite spacious. Walls were collapsed to expand resident rooms five years ago, decreasing capacity but vastly improving living spaces. All apartments have tall windows with wide windowsills, creating well-lit areas to display mementos. Most residents mix their own furniture with the dark wood pieces provided. The restaurant-style menu, on a five-week rotation, includes fresh meat, seafood and vegetables. A large dining room on the top floor is reserved for parties and entertainment.The skilled nursing facility contains several sitting areas and dining rooms. Large windows allow plenty of natural light to enter the rooms. Memory boxes filled with personal items are displayed outside resident rooms. All residents who need rehabilitative therapy use the rehab room in this section of the building. Dementia residents live in shared rooms in a separate section of the skilled nursing facility. These residents have their own dining room and engage in sensory games and activities. If able, they also participate in activities off the unit. Religious services take place in a chapel with a beautiful stained-glass window that is visible from outside the facility. The Wanamakers, an esteemed local family who owned one of the country's largest musical organs, donated an organ to Deer Meadows. Activities include trivia, games, arts and crafts and trips to stores and restaurants. The impressive gym hosts group exercise programs. When we visited, we saw an ambitious bunch of residents twisting to an instructional yoga tape. Rabbits in hutches keep them company in the gym. Watching sporting events on a big-screen TV and playing pool in the game room are both popular. A series of connected rooms with a saltwater fish tank, more rabbits and a soothing waterfall invite relaxation and contemplation.