Testimonials | lakeforest

Testimonials

My mother lived in Lake Forest from 2012 through 2020. Initially, she was on the waiting list for Lake Forest for many years, at her own behest. She loved her home on the lake in Cliff Haven, the neighborhood a stone’s throw from Lake Forest. It had been her dream to have lakefront property. While she knew Lake Forest had lake views, she had no idea the list of tremendous assets they had in store. She procrastinated far too long. Wow, she was thrilled once she made the decision.

She went from having to cook or have a local chef, prepare her meals to dinner and brunch and often lunch prepared for her—with selections to choose from. That was huge for her as she was not one to love to cook. Her apartment in Lake Forest had a lovely kitchen, but we tease her that the stove/oven may have been turned on twice in the eight years she lived there.

The friendships forged at the dining table were second to none. She was alone in her own house and while family and friends visited often, the opportunity to have people to chat with, to build connections with was a new delight.

Mom loved the arts in every form and took advantage of the numerous music, theatre, arts, and lectures both in the Activity area and joining field trips. She also enjoyed the chair yoga, the movie nights, bingo and other games and activities.
She would always correct me when I would say, “let’s go to your “room” as we would leave the activity area or dining room. She said it was her apartment, and it truly was. Lake Forest isn’t an assisted living or skilled nursing environment; it is a relaxed living community that provides so much to its family of residents.

I can’t recommend Lake Forest highly enough. They provided an ideal living situation for my mother.

-Dana Jeweler

There comes a time in your life as an individual or as a couple, when your family and friends no longer live near you and you need some help. You wish to live in a place where you can get the help you need. There are multiple things such as transportation, caring for the yard, grocery shopping, housework, laundry, etc. and being able to have both privacy and a sense of community and security in your housing is important. Access to entertainment and daily meals is most helpful. Where do you find such a place? Lake Forest. I have been here more than seven years. I found all those things, and a very competent and caring staff. You may wish to find out about Lake Forest, I did, and both my family and I am happy I live here.

-Leah Drown

My brother and I needed to move our mother, Carol, from Florida closer to our home. After looking around the Plattsburgh area we found Lake Forest to be a perfect fit. Our mom liked the roomy apartment, the big common room and especially the view of Lake Champlain. The dining room with a fireplace and the view of the lake, provided a great ambiance for supper. In the event she chose not to eat in the dining room, she had the option of receiving her meal in her apartment. Over her 10 years stay, she made many friends and enjoyed all of the in house activities Lake Forest offered. She also appreciated the other services offered, such as shuttle services to appointments, shopping and organized outings and activities. Her favorite was the Sugar Shack! The staff were always attentive and friendly. They, as well as the residents of Lake Forest became like a second family to our mom. She remained at Lake Forest until her passing in 2023. At the time of her passing the staff were very helpful and supportive. For us, Lake Forest was the best choice for our mom.

-The Woltz Family

Lake Forest Senior Living Community is Independent Living at its best. As a duplex resident, I have a lovely home in a beautiful area without the worry of added expenses for upkeep of my home or property.

-Helen Redmond

After my father died, my mother stayed in the family home for four years. She was completely independent, but she had little left in the way of family and friends in the immediate area. She was not going out very much, which was a concern. She needed stimulation. My husband and I wanted to move her closer to us, and so we found Lake Forest. It turned out to be an excellent choice.

Upon moving in, my mother began to join in activities, and she made friends quickly. Having her evening meal supplied was a bonus as she and her friends often stayed on in the dining room in the cold weather or went out to the patio to chat and to take in the view of the lake. She very much enjoyed dinnertime and the social time afterward.

My mother was at Lake Forest for twelve years. The staff was kind, attentive and supportive. When she was no longer able to drive, the car service offered was very helpful for shopping and appointments, as was the cleaning service. Neither she nor I ever regretted making this move to a whole new environment. She was able to stay at Lake Forest until the end, for which I am very thankful.

-Carol Manning

Minnie took her light into the world all her life and so brought love, friendship, and gardening when she moved into Apt 401 in November 2004. Minnie planted and tended thousands of flowers in her almost two decades at Lake Forest. And as a member of the welcoming committee for new residents, cultivated deep circles of friendship with her neighbors. If you enjoy the sight of snowdrops near the activity room windows or deep pink roses blooming in June, remember that Minnie had a hand in planting them there.

Throughout her years at Lake Forest, Minnie had great appreciation for the kindness of the staff, for the cleanliness and decor in the building, for the carefully prepared meals, for the maintenance “magicians” who could fix anything, for the many varied activities, and for the caring facility leadership. And especially for the solarium! Minnie was safe, treasured the friendships in her community, and was at home.

From her children, March 2025

Lake Forest is my home now and I truly feel like I am at home. My neighbors are my friends that I enjoy, and they keep me busy. There is always something to do! Playing cards, movies, books in the library, and activities of all kinds. People come in and play our beautiful piano, and artists display their great artwork. We are so lucky! Dinner is a time to visit and see everyone and do some socializing. Meals are very good; and the service is top notch. I feel like I am dining out every night. Our Resident Assistants are a plus! They are there to help no matter what we need. My family is so happy I am here, they all have a peace of mind because their Mom is okay.

- Lou McIntyre

Choosing a place to move a loved one that is in need of a new home is important. The transition was from individual living to group living for us, and Lake Forest was our choice. They have spacious living quarters, a lobby, and a dining area with a spectacular view which was an

unexpected game changer, the view is therapeutic. A feeling of culture and personal growth emanated from our first visit. They have different social activities, which are available for all that want them. After 12 years of our mom living at Lake Forest, friendships were created and the feeling of support was shared throughout the community. The care from staff and friends at Lake forest reassured us that our mom was safe. We do not regret our choice and would strongly recommend Lake Forest.

- Andre & Git Desrosiers

When it came time to make this major decision, while I still had a choice, I began to research “senior living” facilities in the area. I wanted to be near my family, my doctor, and related medical facilities. So, I arranged to visit Lake Forest in Plattsburgh. My original request was a duplex verses an apartment. I liked what I saw on the tour and the answers to my many questions, so I asked to be put on the waiting list and gave my deposit. As I was reading the literature, while I waited, I realized a two-bedroom apartment and a garage would be adequate. Not long after I changed my request, I received a phone call asking if I wanted to come back to see a two-bedroom apartment that was to be available within a week. When I asked if a particular piece of furniture would fit, Vicki measured where I wished to place it, and called back to say “yes”. That “sealed the deal”. I gave her a firm yes and began packing! That was the bigger challenge! I have lived here since June ’22, and I have never regretted my decision. I enjoy the diversity and support of the residents. The staff is capable, responsive, and patient. No more TV dinners! Supper is served 6 evenings a week, with brunch on Sunday. With advance notice, family and friends can join you for a nominal cost. Each apartment has a kitchen with a full-size range and refrigerator. My linens are changed weekly, and my apartment is cleaned on a rotating basis. The large Activity Room is used for a variety of in-house groups on a regular basis. Occasionally individual/groups from the local community; usually musical talent, entertain in the evening. Movies take place each Sat. evening on the large screen TV. Our well stocked library, which is maintained by one of the residents (who is a retired librarian) is sometimes used for a small group activities. The CEF Library provides large print books on a rotating basis. Learn the history of Lake Forest and come see what the community at Lake Forest Senior Community has to offer!

-Janet Ward

A Warm and Wonderful New Chapter at Lake Forest Senior Living-

When our mother made the move from her big, beloved family home to an apartment at Lake Forest Senior Living, it was a deeply emotional transition for all of us. We had so many memories tied to that house, and naturally, we were nervous—worried about how she would adjust, and a bit sad to see her leave a place that meant so much. But we were also concerned. She had been living alone, and while we called and visited as much as we could, we knew she spent far too much time by herself and often felt lonely. Now, our only regret is not making the move sooner.

At Lake Forest, our mom has her own cozy apartment, thoughtfully decorated with all the things she loves. She has the independence and privacy she values, but also a vibrant community right outside her door. She absolutely adores having dinner in the dining room, and she frequently enjoys lunch there too—often with new friends she’s made. The setting couldn’t be more beautiful, nestled on the edge of Lake Champlain with stunning views of the Green Mountains. It brings her (and us!) so much peace. She’s become involved in a number of clubs and activities—something she never had living on her own—and she’s even taken on a leadership role by running Saturday movie nights!

We love visiting and seeing how happy and engaged she is. The staff at Lake Forest are truly exceptional—kind, attentive, and they feel more like extended family than anything else. Knowing she is safe, supported, and truly thriving brings us so much peace of mind.

Lake Forest has turned what we feared would be a difficult adjustment into a joyful new chapter. We’re beyond grateful.

- The daughters of Betty Collins

Like most people, my parents envisioned staying in the home they purchased in 1970 and lovingly restored to a pristine condition forever. They knew every nook and cranny of the house in which they lived for 30 some years, they knew every plant and tree they’d planted in their beautiful garden over those years, and aging together in the home they loved seemed a foregone conclusion. But life had other plans…

Mom began to forget things, and while Dad wasn’t overly concerned, us kids who came around 2-3 times a year, noticed. We convinced our parents that some cognitive tests might be a good idea, and our fears were confirmed: Mom was at an early stage of Alzheimer's disease.

After the initial shock wore off, Dad began to seriously think about what the future would look like. Ever the engineer, he drew up a lengthy list of “pros” and “cons” of staying in their home and came to the inevitable conclusion that he and Mom had to leave the house behind and find a place that would be more suitable to their needs going forward. Thus began the search – he was determined to stay in Plattsburgh, they needed a place that allowed pets because abandoning their beloved dachshund Peppy was not an option, and there were a host of other issues and conditions. I do not remember who suggested to them to take a look at Lake Forest, but I do remember receiving the excited phone call from Dad ( a rare occasion) after his visit announcing that he “found the place”. It met all his requirements, and he loved the location by Lake Champlain.

Mom and Dad moved to Lake Forest in the Fall of 2006 – first to a one bedroom apartment, which was a cause of some grumbling - Mom insisting that “she was fine back in the house”, and Dad saying he didn’t work all his life to wind up where he started (back in Prague, Czechoslovakia our family of four lived in a 5th floor walkup one bedroom apartment). But in January 2007, a 2-bedroom apartment opened up, and they swapped/upgraded to a larger place, and began to truly settle in. In those first few years, I believe they both enjoyed the maintenance free living Lake Forest offered; no more worrying about roof and gutters, snow removal, groundskeeping and the like. Mom made friends quickly, and enjoyed other residents’ company. At one point she likened living at Lake Forest to living at a fine hotel: “Not only they do the cooking, and clean the place, but would you believe they come once a week and launder the linens. Can you believe it?” Dad, on the other hand, felt a bit overwhelmed at first by the amount of free time he all of a sudden had at his disposal. Although he has retired from SUNY Plattsburgh some 15 years prior to moving to Lake Forest, he kept busy every day. Now, with no house to take care of, and with his wife safely ensconced in their new living quarters and many of his worries addressed, he began to cautiously explore what Lake Forest had to offer. He enjoyed taking Peppy on long walks along the Lake, spent a good deal of time at the Lake Forest Library, and slowly but surely began to get himself involved with both the Lake Forest residents and Lake Forest administration.

Never reticent to express his opinion and give advice (whether wanted or not) he joined the Resident Council, started to lobby for changes in the kitchen, agitated for a resident garden and a landscaping plan, decorated hallways with his collection of photographs, became the Lake Forest self-appointed resident photographer, took on the management of the “Friday Night Movie Club” where he would select the film or TV Series to be watched by interested residents, tried to form a Chess Club –the list is too lengthy to continue. Suffice to say that he more than managed to fill up the free time!

As Mother’s cognitive decline began to accelerate, Dad had to shift his focus more and more to take care of her. He managed to keep her next to him well past the point where most would opt for an assisted-living facility, and when he finally had to relocate her from Lake Forest, he was heartbroken beyond measure. He told me it was one of the worst days of his life, and coming from a man who survived Auschwitz concentration camp where he lost his entire family, that was saying something.

Mom passed away early in 2015 from complications of Alzheimer’s, after battling the disease for 12 years. After her passing, I tried to convince Dad to move in with my family in Chicago, thinking that the memories of his beloved wife of 66 years would be too much to bear in the apartment where they lived for the past 7 years, and that a fresh start may be in order. He politely told me he “would consider it”, but as months went by, it became apparent he had no intention to leave Lake Forest. And who could blame him? He knew the community in Lake Forest and in the City of Plattsburgh inside and out, and the community knew him. He had a multitude of friends – some that he has known for many, many years, others that he made recently at Lake Forest. And even though he just turned 90 years old, he had the mental agility of a man half his age. His zest for life remained undiminished.

It was around this time he embarked on the project that he’s likely to be remembered by some of Lake Forest’s present residents – wine lectures and tastings on Sunday afternoons. Wine was his passion ever since I remember. Always the teacher, he prepared detailed notes on the wines to be tasted, struck a business arrangement on behalf of Lake Forest with a local wine purveyor/distributor, and began a series of lectures to interested residents about the joys of wine. Starting with the basics, he steadily increased the level of complexity and nuance so that by the end of each “course” the attendees had deep knowledge and better appreciation of the topic at hand. These sessions became quite popular, and Dad continued them for the better part of five years, until he had to undergo heart valve replacement surgery at the age of 95 (I believe he remains the oldest patient on which this surgery was successfully performed in the UVM Health Network).

Dad lived happily in his Lake Forest apartment for another three years, finally succumbing to old age in the Fall of 2023, after residing at Lake Forest for 17 years. Although the last few months of his long life were challenging, the caring and understanding staff and management made it possible for him to remain in the place he called home, and live out his days in peace. I will remain forever grateful to everyone at Lake Forest for the grace they showed my Father and his family, and I hope that Kitty and Vladimir’s memory may be a blessing.

- Paul Munk