Why Choose Winchester Gardens for Assisted Living in New Jersey?

The first thing you’ll notice at Winchester Gardens is it doesn’t look like your average assisted living community. 

That’s because it isn’t.

Founded in 1927 Winchester Gardens was designed by famed New York architect John Russell Pope. In addition to many private homes, Pope notably designed the Jefferson Memorial and the West Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Winchester Gardens comprises three interconnected Gothic structures centered around an octagonal rotunda. The buildings boast leaded glass windows, slate roofs, hand-hewn stone, copper awnings, and multiple elaborate chimneys.

With wood wall panels and beamed ceilings, the interiors are equally impressive — and serve as a fitting backdrop for the quality of programming, first-class amenities, and level of service offered at this luxurious senior living community.

Activities and Outings in Maplewood

A look at Winchester Gardens’ community calendar shows just how endless the options are. Most days are filled with at least a dozen scheduled activities.

Typical offerings include watercolor classes, history lectures, trivia nights, shopping trips, tai chi, movie nights, bridge groups, technology help sessions, open swims, discussion groups, yoga, and more.

Winchester Gardens also offers regular transportation to Maplewood attractions such as the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, Paper Mill Playhouse, and fine dining at places like Lorena’s Restaurant & Bar. Maplewood Village, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022, boasts a quaint downtown where art walks, festivals, and parades are held throughout the year. The Maplewood Farmers Market is the place to go for fresh produce, artisan bread, pastries, preserves, and cheeses. 

Assisted Living Amenities

As enriching as a good book club or theater performance can be, it’s all the unstructured moments that add up to a good life. At Winchester Gardens, there’s always someplace to go and something to do, including the following:

• The great hall where residents can enjoy planned activities or simply gather for a chat.
• Fine art studio offering classes and studio space to work on your own
• Stonewall Marketplace, which is stocked with essentials, as well as items like greeting cards
• Newly renovated fitness center with a heated indoor pool
• Full-service onsite health and wellness clinic
• Library stocked with classic books, bestsellers, newspapers, and magazines
• Private onsite movie theater
• Woodworking shop
• On-site beauty salon

Outdoors at Winchester Gardens

One of the most pleasant things to do at Winchester Gardens is to simply take a stroll, admiring the work of landscape architects John Charles Olmsted and Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. (Fun Fact: Their father is known for designing New York’s Central Park and the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.)

Walking paths wind around the gothic buildings and into more natural areas of the 37-acre community. Spring, perhaps the prettiest season, is tinged pink by saucer magnolias and other blooms, but each time of the year offers its own distinct beauty. 

Dining at Winchester Gardens

The heart of dining at Winchester Gardens is the recently renovated and expanded Oak Room, which seats up to 76 guests and includes a station for chef demonstrations. The room is graced with 1920s-era French doors with arched tops that lead to the Manor House Lounge, where drinks, tapas, and bar fare are served. Another set of doors opens out to the Olmsted Courtyard, where outdoor dining is offered during warmer months. The Stonewall Cafe, meanwhile, makes a nice stop for morning coffee or a quick bite, and the weekly complimentary happy hour offers an easy excuse for socializing. 

More About Assisted Living at Winchester Gardens

Winchester Gardens offers spacious studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom assisted living apartments, ranging from 295 to 723 square feet, with private baths and kitchenettes. As a Life Plan Community, Winchester gardens offers a full continuum of care, meaning that if needs change, residents can trust they will be completely supported by a team of licensed nurses, therapists, dietitians, and certified therapeutic recreation specialists to help them through the next steps.. We also take care of light housekeeping, laundry, and even running errands.

Assisted Living at Winchester Gardens makes life a little simpler. Residents also have access to a full continuum of care, offering the peace of mind that comes with knowing a plan is already in place should it be needed. It’s this foundation of high-quality care that enables residents to live vibrantly and enjoy everything this historic property has to offer. Contact us today to schedule a visit or with any questions you might have.