Terrace Communities

A vibrant sense of community is proven to boost wellbeing and significantly promote healthy aging and longevity among seniors. They thrive and maintain their self-sufficiency for a longer period when surrounded by people they can connect with daily. The presence of a genial atmosphere and elevated quality of care further enhances this experience, allowing seniors to truly enjoy their ‘golden’ years. Terrace Communities exemplifies these characteristics, making life in retirement an elevated experience for seniors. Its premier assisted living and memory care communities offer residents the perfect blend of socialization and daily supportive care that are needed to live an independent and engaging lifestyle.

The family-owned company believes in creating a responsive and enriching community atmosphere for residents to call home, enabling them to age with dignity. Its communities promote strong personal relationships between residents, families, staff, leadership and management, which translates into a higher level of care.

A Senior Living Community with a Difference

Terrace Communities’ six senior living communities are located across Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, with the scenic landscape of New England as the backdrop. The communities are lively hubs of quality living, where residents lead a lifestyle that values mental stimulation, physical activity, nutrition, socialization, emotional fulfillment, supportive services and health care. Its tastefully designed communities exude beauty and homey vibes. While many new-construction assisted living communities are very large in scale, making them feel impersonal and difficult to navigate, Terrace Communities’ prides itself on architecturally pleasing buildings that are smaller with intimately proportioned common areas, and housing many fewer residents (eg., up to 70, instead of two to three times that number). This makes for a more intimate and homelike experience, and helps residents manage their surroundings more easily, especially if their faculties decline. Residents can select from diverse apartment styles, including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom layouts, with deluxe options, in line with their preferences and budgetary considerations.

The allure of Terrace Communities, including Equinox Terrace, the first of the Terrace Communities group of senior living communities, is validated by satisfied reviews from residents and their families. Nestled in the lush Green Mountains in Manchester Center, Vermont, Equinox Terrace is artfully decorated, yet comfortable. Community living rooms and recreation areas offer the perfect opportunity to engage in activities and form social connections, while its restaurant-style dining room serves healthy, freshly prepared meals.

Words from a client highly impressed by the top-class care, environment and amenities experienced by her mother are: “We chose to place Mom at Equinox Terrace because of the warm, positive and welcoming atmosphere, the ‘aging in place’ philosophy, and the great variety of events. My husband and I have concluded that we’d be very happy at Equinox Terrace. I feel confident recommending it, absolutely—in a heartbeat!” Families of residents have heartfelt words of gratitude for the Terrace Communities staff for their kindness and proactive approach to being a pillar of support for their loved ones. Another family expressed their great appreciation for the staff for enhancing the last few years of their father’s life through exceptional care, and informing them when the end was near. Being able to spend the final hours by his bedside is a memory they continue to be thankful for and cherish.

The ‘Aging in Place’ Partners

Rooted in the vision of its founder, Jack Heaton, every aspect of Terrace Communities is an expression of his passion for serving seniors in their golden years. Initially venturing into the realm of developing affordable, subsidized senior housing with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, he later turned his focus to developing assisted living and memory care communities. Since his passing in 2012, his daughter Kate Heaton carries his legacy forward with the same energy and passion. Terrace Communities dispels any common notions surrounding senior living communities as a last resort for seniors, a place where independence fades and isolation amplifies. This misconception leads many to prefer the familiarity of home during their golden years, which comes with difficulties.

Relieving residents of the complexities of managing a household while facing health challenges, Terrace Communities and its staff become their 24/7 ‘aging in place’ partners. The seasoned staff members many of whom have spent two decades working for the company, are predominantly comprised of empowered and supportive women. The driven and close-knit team becomes the residents’ second family.

A relaxed ambiance is fostered with care available around the-clock and assistance with daily tasks including dressing, showering and medication management. Complementing these services are courtesy transportation, housekeeping and laundry services, freeing residents from daily chores and enabling them to easily get to appointments. “Our highly committed and long-term employees contribute to the higher level of care and elevated quality of living in our communities. I am truly grateful for the dedication of the Terrace Communities’ team,” says Heaton.

Old-World Charm Blended with Modern Amenities

A blend of old-world charm and modern amenities greets residents. The communities feature a tasteful mix of antiques, authentic artwork, and refined decor—all reflections of the founder’s love for artistic splendor, architecture and gardening, and his daughter’s penchant for fine art and décor.

Situated in picturesque settings complete with walking paths, the communities offer breathtaking vistas of mountains, meadows, and wooded areas, enabling residents to stay connected with nature. Carefully tended gardens, including some vegetable and raised bed gardens, add to the setting.

A cornerstone of Terrace Communities’ service is chefprepared meals served with a focus on freshness and nutrition. Residents can also enjoy on-site beauty salons and indulge in spa sessions to lift their spirits.

Prioritizing the health of residents, Terrace Communities’ clinical care teams collaborate with renowned medical institutions (e.g, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and University of New England’s Mature Care doctors and nurse practitioners) to provide in-house medical visits, and with rehabilitation services to provide physical therapy to support residents’ health.

To ensure residents benefit from the positive impact of social connectivity, a rich array of activities is offered, including lectures, arts and crafts, games, religious services, and exercise classes like yoga. Special events include classical and contemporary music concerts, themed holiday parties, afternoon teas, cocktail socials, as well as outings to theaters, museums and restaurants. Terrace Communities actively encourages family involvement as part of its drive to foster social connections. Families who cannot routinely visit, receive regular updates on their loved ones’ lives.

Redefining Care with Social and Environmental Responsibility

A keen sense of social responsibility sets Terrace Communities apart from many other senior living providers. While many other private pay communities resort to discharging residents if they spend down their finances, Terrace maintains a number of assisted living beds available for long-time residents to go on Medicaid and remain in their home at Terrace Communities. The owner’s commitment to serving seniors in need also extends to operating subsidized, low-income housing for seniors. Following its core principle of ‘aging in place,’ Terrace Communities tries to assure that residents within their scope of care can spend their later years within the community even as their circumstances change.

Another important feature is the company’s support for its employees reflected in initiatives such as emergency loans, grants for education, and financial support in times of need.

Terrace Communities also offers support and job opportunities for refugees, leveraging their compassion and dedication to enrich its senior living centers.

Additionally, Terrace Communities upholds the principle of environmental consciousness, stemming from Kate Heaton’s background in environmental science. Its initiatives include: 1) purchasing electricity derived from solar power arrays and investing in energy efficient lighting and heating, ventilation and cooling system upgrades in order to reduce energy costs and curb carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming; 2) composting; 3) use of an environmentally friendly cleaning solution; and, 4) use of Forest Stewardship Council certified office paper by headquarters. These proactive efforts showcase a commitment to fostering a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable environment for residents, staff, and future generations.

An embodiment of compassion, responsibility and commitment, Terrace Communities continues to stand as a model of excellence. An award-winning pioneer in assisted living with over 25 years experience, it is crafting environments where residents thrive, employees are valued, and the community at large benefits.