By Tim Van Schmidt

Honest- I didn’t set out to be a secret shopper, or a writer in disguise. I really did tour a selection of Northern Colorado’s finest senior living communities because my parents truly are moving from their longtime home in Tucson, Arizona to Colorado. It was my job to find the best place for them to move to. That was the problem, though, because what I discovered on my journey through the various different designs of senior living facilities available in the area was a consistently high level of quality- and quantity. It seems it’s a buyer’s market right now in Northern Colorado as a plethora of new facilities have sprung up in very recent years. What there is to choose from in terms of value and service seems to be top notch- all relatively new and on the way up.

I actually do have a little experience and perspective on this. Just a few years ago, I did the same type of touring in the senior living facilities in the Tucson area. That’s how my parents ended up in the place they have been living in- Atria Bell Court Gardens. It’s a relaxed and elegant place and has been a good transition from my folks’ former lifestyle of owning and caring for a house. But the time has come to pull the family a little closer and the Colorado move seemed like the best option- hence the recent search.

What began as a shopping trip, became a general admiration for the level of services my wife and I encountered as we visited MacKenzie Place, the Winslow and Rigden Farms in Fort Collins, the Hillcrest in Loveland and Water Valley in Windsor. Really, any of these places would serve and our decision making process became more about splitting hairs about the details that most concerned my parents, than about any obvious differences.

It was just in the newspaper this week- the senior population is booming and is expected to keep booming for years to come. Based on my tour of area facilities and the recent news that the Fort Collins Senior Center was recently recognized for excellence by the National Council on Aging and the National Institute of Senior Centers, it seems Northern Colorado is a leading area in senior living. Here are some positive notes about each of the senior living communities we visited in our own personal search for my mother and father:

Water Valley- When approaching, the facility is impressive indeed- a mighty refuge in a spectacular little valley. Just as impressive are the views from inside- both on the “water” side and on the “golf” side. Located just a stone’s throw from the small town of Windsor, this Good Samaritan Society facility also maintains a gift shop, a bank and lit, underground parking.

The Hillcrest- No one knew their stuff better than the marketing representative we talked with about the Hillcrest. That attention to detail was evident throughout the entire facility- from the tasteful interior to special event planning (we returned a second time to the Hillcrest during their annual “Antiques Showcase.”) The apartments were truly gorgeous- I wanted to move in myself- and there was a sense of dignity and quiet in the Hillcrest’s hallways.

MacKenzie Place- The atmosphere at MacKenzie Place was elegant, projecting an upscale resort ambiance. To go with it is one of the finest restaurants I’ve dined in for a long time- anywhere. The apartments were beautiful, spacious and brand new with washing machine and dryer in the room. The movie theater is deluxe- pool table too!

Rigden Farms- The grand piano in the grand dining room at Rigden Farms says a lot about the facility. Rigden Farms seems to have spared no expense in providing enough space for a great fitness room, a beautiful patio and garden with a western view and, of course, that nice dining room with the piano. We saw award-winning resident art in the hallway and we loved the greenhouse and huge activity room.

The Winslow- Besides being located in the center of Fort Collins, situated in the midst of a top notch Columbine Health Care Systems medical campus and very near the Fort Collins Senior Center, the Winslow is supported by extra great management. Features include weekly housekeeping, fitness classes and, in some apartments, a mountain view.