Overview

Unlike Anthology of the Plaza (No. 3 on our list), which focuses on city access, Senior Star Wexford Place is located in a quiet area, though convenient to Kansas City International Airport. In short, daily life at Senior Star Wexford Place is removed from the hustle and bustle of more congested parts of town, similar to The Gardens at Barry Road (No. 2 on our list). This makes it perfect for older adults looking for a more low-key setting.

The resort-style property opened around 30 years ago and prides itself on serving generations of families as they age. It has been updated cosmetically with well-maintained infrastructure to provide residents with ease of living. The property also features a courtyard, terrace, and garden area, perfect for enjoying nature or taking a stroll. One unique feature we love: Every apartment has a walkout patio or balcony, so residents can get some fresh air, even on days they don’t feel up to leaving their home.

Offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care, Senior Star Wexford Place provides seniors the opportunity to age in place. The community offers a calendar full of events to keep seniors engaged, including watch parties for Chiefs fans. Staff makes it a practice to acknowledge everyone by name, getting to know them from day one. This creates an environment where residents feel like family: a key component of healthy aging.1We love intentional staff that really value their residents!

Senior Star Wexford Place features independent and assisted living apartments, including studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom units. Memory care apartments are available in private or companion (shared) floor plans.

Featuring 24-hour supervisory services, the continuum of care allows residents to transition from independent living to assisted living to memory care without ever having to leave the community. Still, it’s an excellent option for those who don’t anticipate needing higher levels of care.

Reviews are generally excellent, citing “dedicated caregivers” who are totally invested in a high standard of care. One review credited the community with an ongoing high level of care as their loved one transitioned from another (memory care) facility, where the family claims they almost lost her due to substandard care. Another review referenced daily emails updating them on their family member’s well-being, and immediate calls should a problem arise. Prompt and reliable communication with family members is important for providing peace of mind, so we love to see this in reviews!

A staff review cited the great diversity of employees and that, like the residents, they are treated like family, something we endorse as it speaks volumes about the culture of caring. Happy employees generally lead to better care for residents, so this is a big plus. Any negative reviews mentioned a higher cost than some communities.

» Related Reading: Luxury retirement and senior living

The Gardens at Barry Road is a nonprofit community that operates with a mission of people first, not profit. Its parent company, Bethesda Senior Living Communities, was founded in 1959 by small-town Pastor Charles Turner. The facility’s faith-based foundation is articulated through daily chapel services, holiday observances, and clergy visits. There’s a focus on mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual pursuits, which support the challenges of aging. Studies show that actively practicing one’s faith in a network of like-minded people can provide strength, inspiration, fellowship, and a sense of fulfillment, especially for older adults.2 The community also emphasizes its focus on ministry, providing funds for Kansas City charities that serve children and adults.

The Gardens at Barry Road is conveniently situated for family visits and outings. It’s located within easy access to I-435, Highway 152, I-29, Highway 169, MCI Airport, North Kansas City Hospital, St. Luke’s North, Zona Rosa’s shopping, restaurants, attractions, and nearby parks. A full weekly calendar of activities, both on-site and off-site, gives residents a choice about how to spend their time. The community offers many ways for seniors to socialize with other residents and family, including a country kitchen for cooking classes or family gatherings, a private dining room for special parties, and scheduled transportation to events.

Unlike Senior Star Wexford Place (No. 1 on our list), there are no options for independent living at The Gardens at Barry Road. However, we like the fact that private and companion apartments are offered in both assisted living and memory care, which isn’t typical. This allows budget-minded seniors to share the rent, reducing living costs. The property also emphasizes the social aspect of sharing an apartment, helping older single adults reduce feelings of isolation. Staff is on duty 24/7.

Most resident, family, and staff reviews reference a first-rate experience. One review stated: “The entire staff made this already good place a great place to be.” One family member said the property is a “safe, clean, secure, happy place for mom.” Staff is referred to as “polite,” “courteous,” and “compassionate.” Food is repeatedly mentioned as being very good to excellent. One negative review was from an angry employee who didn’t go into detail.

Unlike Senior Star at Wexford Place and The Gardens at Barry Road, Anthology of the Plaza is located in the heart of bustling Kansas City. With the city’s abundance of shopping, dining, entertainment, sporting events, and museums, savvy seniors who enjoy urban life have unlimited options for outings with family and friends — many of which are just steps from the front door. Anthology of the Plaza is a new facility, at around three years old. It features a full roster of on-site services and amenities, including a fitness center, yoga, massages, educational seminars, book clubs, movies, art classes, poker, and a bistro and coffee bar. With this variety of amenities and activities, residents can stay social, pick up a hobby, and enjoy their favorite pastimes. The community also offers scheduled off-site trips to enjoy the best of Kansas City with fellow residents and staff.

Anthology of the plaza offers assisted living with studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans, along with memory care. The community is known for its Spanish-style architecture and elegant, contemporary interior design.

Like most of the properties on our list, including Benton House of Staley Hills and Addington Place at Shoal Creek, Anthology of the Plaza features assisted living with 24/7 staff and memory care. What distinguishes this community from others is its careful attention to design. The memory care unit is intentionally decorated with familiar photos of local landmarks and nostalgic images. Studies show those suffering from dementia connect more easily to familiar images and feel a sense of calm, validation, and comfort from them.4 We appreciate how this attention to detail benefits those with memory loss.

Reviews are outstanding, with comments from family members praising the “energetic and superbly credentialed staff” and highlighting how caregivers are “warm, caring, never too busy to stop and chat with everyone.” Reviews also mention “apartments that glow with natural light in view of the plaza.” One family member said his brother had to leave his home of 50 years and was quite resistant; but now, at the end of a day away from Anthology he proclaims, “I’m almost home!” Physical therapy is also cited for its leadership and impact on family members.

Benton House of Staley Hills has won awards for its customer service and workplace environment. The community features studio, studio deluxe, one bedroom, and one-bedroom deluxe living units, ranging from 330 to 552 square feet. There’s also a memory care area called The Beacon Neighborhood. It’s dedicated to housing those experiencing Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. People with memory loss need their own type of care, living quarters, and activities geared toward their abilities, so dedicated memory care is important.

The entire community is on one level. We applaud the ease of access and mobility that this provides. Patio and courtyard options for individual apartments allow residents to experience nature, which can have a positive affect on mood. The community also has an activities calendar to help residents build relationships and stay involved, along with a country kitchen for gatherings and recipe sharing.

The community offers assisted living, memory care, and adult day care. We applaud the fact that, unlike other communities on our list, such as Brookdale Wornall Place and Anthology of the Plaza, Benton House of Staley Hills offers an adult day care option. This means family caregivers who need to work, run errands, or just take a break, have the option of enrolling their loved one in a daytime program. This program provides care and enrichment activities to keep seniors happy, stimulated, and involved. We see this as a win-win situation for all.

» Learn About: Senior caregivers

Reviews cite clean apartments and staff that are caring, skilled, and responsive to resident and family needs and requests. One negative review from two years ago mentioned staff were slow to respond to issues, including a broken air conditioning unit, missing personal items, and an incident involving soiling. We didn’t see any negative reviews of this nature in recent months, which is a good indication of the community’s quality of care.

Brookdale Wornall Place has a long list of amenities for residents to enjoy, including gardens and walking paths, a sports bar, a game room, an arts and crafts studio, a theater, and more. Given Missouri’s four seasons, we’re big fans of the indoor pool and therapy pool. It’s not often you’ll find pools, especially indoor ones, at assisted living communities. including the other properties on our list like Benton House of Staley Hills or Anthology of the Plaza — though they still offer a substantial list of amenities. The community is also close to St. Joseph Medical Center, restaurants, and shops.

» Related Reading: Brookdale Senior Living review

The community features one and two bedroom apartments, ranging from 750 to 950 square feet, which is larger than many assisted living communities. These apartments are all designed with abundant natural light. They also offer the choice of semiprivate units to reduce individual costs.

Brookdale Wornall Place features independent living and assisted living with 24/7 staff. While this is standard at most communities, it bears repeating that amenities like the indoor therapy pool are not. We love the advantage that residents — who may be under the care and guidance of a physical therapist — can use this smaller option to aid in their health and wellness.

One thing we really like is that reviews for Brookdale Wornall are largely current; sometimes, reviews for other properties are years old. Most residents and family members cite the high and consistent level of care provided to residents, the kindness of the staff (mentioned often), as well as the cleanliness and beauty of the environment. With a couple of exceptions, staff reviews mention the community is a great place to work. One employee said she “hasn’t ‘worked’ a day in three years” because she “loves working there … due to the best residents and associates.”

A negative review mentioned a 10-day resident eviction, which the family stated is nowhere near enough time to find and explore another facility. (We don’t profess to know the basis of this eviction, except to say they’re sometimes issued when a resident’s needs exceed the facility’s licensing. Again, we have no information as to why this eviction notice occurred.)

Noted for its “cozy ambience,” Addington Place of Shoal Creek features one and two bedroom apartments with options for shared, companion living. These shared living options are available to help reduce costs for single residents, just like at Brookdale Wornall Place. The community is just a few minutes’ drive from Hodge Park and the Shoal Creek Golf Course, perfect for those who love golf or getting outdoors.

The community offers a full agenda of amenities and activities, including a fitness room, game room, religious services, music programs and concerts, cooking classes, and walking paths to get out in nature. These amenities round out a community where the focus is on supportive care and a balanced lifestyle. Like many of the other communities on our list, residents can bring their furry friends! Owning pets offers many health benefits to seniors, including social and emotional support, so we love when facilities are pet-friendly.

The community offers assisted living, memory care, and unlike the other communities on our list, it also provides respite care. This kind of short-term residential care provides recovery and rehabilitation support following injury, surgery, or illness. It also reduces the possibility of costly and debilitating hospital readmission. Respite care is key to preventing caregiver burnout and ideal for caregivers who need much-deserved rest.

Reviews going back four, five, and six years tend to be quite negative, including comments about rudeness and neglect. But in the past couple of years, there are several exceptional reviews from residents, family, and staff. We believe management must have heeded previous issues (a good indicator of the level of attention) and created a better operating model.

More than one review cited the level of respect staff has for residents. One family member in particular mentioned that when they first toured another facility, they explained her mother would be expected to conform to a specific “rigid” regimen. But at Addington Place, staff meets her where she is and adjusts the care to her needs and wants. “Warm,” “welcoming,” “friendly,” and “caring” are terms that come up often in reviews.

The Madison Senior Living offers a wide variety of amenities, including restaurant-style dining, a pool, a shuffleboard court, and access to area parks, gardens, and golf courses. These amenities keep exercise, camaraderie, and fresh air on the agenda. Group exercise and personal training at the fitness center and in the pool offer opportunities to socialize and maintain good health. Not all assisted living communities feature a pool, though each community offers its own variety of resources and activities. Restaurant-style dining at 18th & Vine — named for the famous Kansas City jazz district — means residents can choose when and what they eat, including breakfast for dinner!

The Madison Senior Living boasts fine interior finishes, which promote a feeling of luxury, and the community takes pride in the attention it pays to each resident’s comfort, needs, and desires.

The Madison Senior Living offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Assisted living apartments are featured with studio and one bedroom options. Units include walk-in showers and wide doorways to accommodate assistive devices, making safety, comfort, and ease of mobility paramount. We appreciate that the community offers a variety of care options for those who wish to age in place as their needs change.

» Further Reading: Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Reviews are generally excellent, including one commenting on a “5-star brunch” and another saying the property is the nicest she has ever seen. One family member cited an immediate need for their loved one’s move to the community. The Madison expedited all the details, including liaising with a moving company. Staff reviews include gratitude for management recognizing their contributions, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, and prioritizing the quality of life for all residents.

A couple of negative reviews mention the word “unprofessional,” but they don’t provide any detail about the incidents. When vetting assisted living facilities, we always encourage personal visits where you take the initiative to ask a lot of questions and interview the staff as comprehensively as possible.

While good reviews don’t guarantee good care, we take into account assisted living communities that receive consistently good reviews from residents, family, and employees.