Independent Living

Simply put, a Life Plan Community (also known as a continuing care retirement community or CCRC) is a community for older adults that offers independent living residences and access to higher levels of care all on one campus.

Independent residences are typically renovated with the latest in home fits and finishes and offer the freedom of maintenance-free living. For a set monthly fee, so much is included: fresh dining, housekeeping, engaging amenities, and a myriad of cultural, social, educational, fitness and wellness programs.

Should a time come when extra support would be beneficial or required, a plan is in place. Specialized care, such as assisted living, memory support, short-term rehabilitation and long-term nursing, right on campus provides just what’s needed when it’s needed in welcoming environments.

Choosing to move to a Life Plan Community is about more than a maintenance-free lifestyle and having a plan in place for future care needs. If you are a proactive person, it’s about setting yourself up to ensure you are living life to the fullest. By having more time to do what you want to do — not what you have to do. By expanding your opportunities to be socially connected. By living in an environment designed to support total wellness. And ultimately, by having security and peace of mind for you and those who love you.

A 55+ community offers independent living homes that usually include a maintenance-free lifestyle and a campus with common spaces and amenities. A Life Plan Community such as Hillside does the same, and in addition, it offers various care options on campus. This means that if the health of you or your spouse ever changes, a plan will be in place. You won’t need to move or be separated.

Hillside offers independent living apartments and a neighborhood of single-story cottages, country homes and villas in a wide range of sizes and floor plans. All homes are in close proximity to the local vineyards and historic downtown McMinnville. And, of course, all residents have access to a wealth of amenities across our 57-acre campus.

Yes, pets are welcome! Dogs enjoy our dog park and the walking paths throughout our campus. Some restrictions may apply, so please talk to a sales counselor about your specific situation.

Absolutely not. Independent living at Hillside is just that: independent. You decide how to live your life, structure your day and pursue what’s most important to you. And your residence is your private space. We believe strongly in the benefits of living in a community setting with easy access to new friends, neighbors, interest groups and social events. But there is never any pressure to participate. You can partake in community life to whatever extent you desire.

Our 57-acre campus is loaded with amenities. Our fully equipped fitness center, walking paths and array of fitness classes and wellness programs make it easy to stay active. Spaces such as our arts and crafts studio and woodworking shop provide creative outlets. Social hotspots include our dining rooms and bistro, a billiards and game room, community gardens, meeting rooms and beautiful common areas. See a full list of amenities.

Eating well is a cornerstone of our total wellness approach. This means healthy food prepared from scratch with fresh ingredients that are locally sourced whenever possible. We serve meals in The Grille and The Fireside dining rooms and also have a casual bistro.

Hillside residents are very active with a wealth of interests! Between the work of our Life Enrichment team to create programs and excursions and more than 20 resident-led clubs, interest groups and committees, there is something for everyone.

Some examples include:

• Excursions to restaurants, wineries, concerts and other points of interest
• Book clubs and card groups
• Hillside Adventures in Learning lecture series and classes
• Book clubs
• Poetry and writing groups
• Walking and hiking groups
• Fitness programs, such as balance classes, tai chi, aerobics, line dancing and yoga
• Personal training sessions with fitness director
• Painting, quilting and woodworking groups
• Technology education classes
• Wine pairing dining experience
• Happy hours
• Choral groups, bell choir and Strummers
• Card groups
• Spiritual and religious gatherings

As an independent living resident with a Life Plan contract, you will pay a monthly fee and a one-time entrance fee. Both types of fees vary considerably depending on the size and type of home you choose. In addition, entrance fees vary by whether you select a rebatable or nonrebatable entrance fee option. (Rebatable means a portion of your entrance fee is returned to you or your estate when you leave the community.)

Please contact our sales counselors to learn more about available floor plans, contract types and fees.

If you would like to understand what type of home you could afford at Hillside, take this simple financial fit quiz.

We are familiar with many local resources and can make referrals to moving companies and downsizing and move management companies that help with sorting, organizing, disposing of unwanted items and packing for the move.

The benefit of a Life Plan Community such as Hillside is that you have a plan in place for possible future care needs. On our campus, we offer not only independent living residences but also care options such as assisted living, memory support and a skilled nursing center that can help with short-term recovery from a health event or a long-term care need. 

We can also assist you with adding home health services while living independently. As needs change, we work with you to determine what options are best and to add support only as needed to preserve autonomy and independence.

No, Hillside is not a traditional nursing home. It is a Life Plan Community, where the majority of our residents live independently. We offer independent living residences and a continuum of care options — assisted living, memory support and skilled nursing care — should they be needed on one campus. Our care options include short-stay rehabilitation nursing for people who have been discharged from a hospital stay but are not yet strong enough to return to their homes.

In our independent living homes (sometimes also called “residential living”) no caregiver assistance for help with activities of daily living is included as part of the standard monthly fee. No one is precluded from our independent living homes based on any protected category. We welcome everyone. Each independent living resident has the ability to make separate arrangements for caregiver services either by hiring private in-home caregivers or contracting for additional services through their HumanGood community (if such services are offered).

It’s normal to wonder if you’re ready to move. Understanding what being ready really means will help you make a decision that feels right for you. At times, people feel like they are waiting for a sign, a special birthday or circumstance. But the truth is, once you understand what a Life Plan Community is — and, just as importantly, what it’s not — the decision will become less fraught. Don’t forget to ask other people who have made the move about how they came to their decision — no doubt what you will hear is that they wish they had done it sooner.