Fairhaven Denton
Anyone can read what they have in print on their website so I am going to give you my gut feelings of this place!
Fairhaven Denton
I wanted to see what our options are once we make the decision to downsize from our homes in
Robson Ranch so I set out on a quest.
I immediately was drawn to Fairhaven Denton because of the super cool architecture that identifies as Mid Century with it’s long lines and low roof height. To the right of the front entry was a shiny plaque with Fairhaven’s designation on the National Register of Historic Places! The grand opening was in 1965 but it’s was completely redone in 2020 and it is gorgeous inside.
The entry is light and bright as was the welcoming receptionist! I didn’t have an appointment and they welcomed me just the same. Robyn Jensen is the Sales Director and was on a call so the receptionist offered me a drink and said Robyn would be able to give me a tour in a few minutes. Wow! a tour and I didn’t even have an appointment-very nice!
She reached out with great eye contact and a solid handshake and asked if I’d like to look around. She proceeded to take me on a tour that lasted about 30 minutes. As we walked she explained why Fairhaven is a good option when it’s time to downsize or when you are just sick of cooking for yourself!
The dining room and coffee bar area are far more intimate than most and feel quite personal. Residents get 3 squares a day and the way it works here is that there are 2 choices for your main course at each of the 3 meals.
There are also several large rooms that I’d equate with a living room in my home and lots of little ‘dens’ to do a puzzle, attend bible study or just sit with others and watch a movie.
Then Robyn took me to see the residence apartments; they measure about 350 square feet and have a kitchen (long granite counter, refrigerator, microwave & sink), large bathroom and an open area that easily fits a bed, a love seat, a recliner, end tables and a t.v.
...but i'm coming from 2500 sq ft...
Yep, these apartments sound small-and they are! but if you can picture yourself going to eat with others in the dining room, sitting by the fire in one of the living rooms and working a puzzle in one of the dens, you could probably start getting your head around a move like this.
Your personal apartment is there for you to sleep, shower and have personal time. All the rest is there to keep you socially active like most of us stay here at Robson.
Consider the following (sure makes the sacrifice of personal space seem easier to swallow)
- 3 prepared meals
- weekly housekeeping
- laundry and linen services
- emergency call pendant & full time nurse on staff
- utilities, cable & wi-fi
- full service salon (charged separately)
- library
What about my dog/cat?
What about them? Robyn asks… She says this is your home-enjoy your pets here as long as you are able to take them out when needed. The entire facility is basically on one level so taking your pets out to go to the restroom is easy.
You can also come and go as you wish! Many of the residents go for walks in the hilly neighborhood and drive themselves to run errands. The doors to the lobby get locked at 5:00 pm but there is a doorbell and staff on hand 24/7!
what does it cost?
This place was the brainchild of two women wanting a better place for their moms. One was the president of the Denton Business and Professional Women’s Club and the other an English professor at North Texas. They named it Fairhaven because they wanted it to be affordable for those on a pension.
That being said, Fairhaven runs about $4500 per month. This includes all the bullet points listed above. There is a Community Fee of $3800 with $500 deposit. They do NOT typically have rooms on the ready so plan ahead and reserve an apartment.
There are, of course extra charges depending on the level of care needed, if you have a pet, etc. Click the link to go to their website. https://fairhavendenton.com/
Levels of care upcharges:
- +$500
- +$900
- +$1300
- +$2200
Levels of Care are determined by a needs assessment completed prior to admission and are on a points system. (This was the case at the 2nd place I visited and may be the case everywhere…still learning.)
Below are pictures I took of their Salon services available and pricing.
