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Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine

Senior Living in Norfolk, VA

At Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine in Norfolk, VA, “We Listen. We Love. We Care. We Serve.”

Those aren’t just words. It’s the promise of a dedicated group of caregivers committed to providing the very best senior living experience for our residents and their families.

Offering assisted living and memory care, Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine has a rich tradition of supporting seniors with respect and loving care since 1896.

24-Hour Support

For complete peace of mind for our residents and their families, our caregivers are on site 24-hours a day and ready to provide support and assistance at a moment’s notice. From helping our residents with activities of daily living, such as getting dressed or taking a shower, we are here to make life easier, safer and more enjoyable.

An Engaging Lifestyle

Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine invites residents to enjoy the best of both worlds. Our residents enjoy the quiet privacy of their own maintenance-free suites. But only steps away, within our vibrant community, are a variety of activities, amenities and services that fill each day with joy and fulfillment.

Convenient Location

Located in a well-established neighborhood in central Norfolk, Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine is just a short distance from Wards Corner and adjacent to Granby High School. Several shopping centers, parks and recreation facilities offer conveniences nearby. DePaul Medical Center is just a half-mile from Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine, with two other major hospitals and associated medical offices within 10 miles of our community.

A Proud Past. A Promise for Today.

Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine is an assisted living community with a deep and rich tradition of supporting seniors with respect and loving care. Established in 1896 as the Mary F. Ballentine Home for the Aged by our namesake’s husband, the “home for ladies of gentle birth” was committed to the “care and protection” of elderly women. In 1906, a stately four-story building in the then-fashionable Brambleton section of Norfolk was dedicated to that purpose.

With a legacy from Thomas Ballentine, the home continued to operate and grow. Relocating in 1952 to a newly constructed building in the Granby Park neighborhood, Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine continued its long tradition of caring for women, providing daily support for 30 “guests” in the home. Oversight for the home continued under a Board of Trustees led by Episcopal and Presbyterian leadership from around the state of Virginia.

By the time a major renovation was completed in 1987, Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine was able to accommodate 60 residents, including men – a first in 90 years of operation. Another renovation in 2000 added still more resident rooms and upgraded amenities, and care services expanded to accommodate all levels of senior independence.

Our “homes” and the model for senior care have evolved significantly over more than a century, but the central mission and tradition of care at Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine has remained steadfast and faithful to its roots.

Assisted Living

The perfect balance of support and independence. That’s assisted living at Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine.

This lifestyle option is perfect for seniors who need a bit of assistance with activities of daily living, such as getting showered, dressed or safely taking medications, but still want to live as actively and independently as possible.

Personalized Care

At Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine, we know that no two residents will have the same exact needs, preferences or abilities, so we develop and implement personalized care plans for each resident.

Care plan development begins with our specially trained caregivers meeting with residents, their family members and personal physicians. They determine the resident’s needs and also identify each individual’s abilities and preferences. Once they have assembled all the necessary information, they design the personalized care plan.

Designed for Living

There’s always something to do – and friends with whom to share the good times – at Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine. Our residents can choose to be as active and involved as they wish. With our full calendar, there’s never a dull moment. Numerous activities, specialized programming, off-campus excursions and more present a variety of opportunities to live a full, rewarding and vibrant lifestyle. We offer:

Travel the World program that brings the culture, music, food and art of different countries right to our residents
Holistic therapies, such as music, art and reminiscing
Off-site excursions
And more!

Worry-Free Living

Forget the worries and responsibilities of home ownership. At Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine, we take care of everything for you. You don’t have to worry about a thing. All you have to do is decide how you’ll spend your free time! We offer:

Housekeeping
Laundry
Home maintenance
Transportation
Cooking

Award-Winning Dining Experience

At Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine, we are renowned for our dining. Our chefs prepare varied menus featuring fresh, locally sourced produce and seafood, every day. All food is prepared on site and served with pleasure. Our dining services feature:

Today from the Bay menu featuring locally caught seafood
Farm-to-Table fresh flavors featuring fresh produce from local farms
Dining Delights, featuring monthly special dining themes
And more!

Assisted Living Services & Amenities

Private or companion suites with private baths
Regularly scheduled activities that stimulate the mind and body
Healthy, family-style dining options
Specially trained caregivers
Individualized care plans
24-hour staffing
Personal care services
Weekly housekeeping/linens
Medication management
Short-term respite stays

Memory Care

Sweet Memories^TM

Memory Care at Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine in Norfolk, VA

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia? You’re not alone. We are here to help.

Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine offers award-winning memory care – Sweet Memories^TM – that provides exceptional care, personalized support and an uplifting lifestyle for your loved one and complete peace of mind for you.

Our people – and our unique and specialized memory care training – make the difference. At the heart of Sweet Memories™ at Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine is a group of caregivers all certified in Virtual Dementia Tour^® training. This innovative training provides our memory care team with personal, insightful and practical understanding of the challenges presented by Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Their unique perspective enables them to deliver exceptional care.

Sweet Memories^TM

Innovative and thoughtful, Sweet Memories™ provides the most exceptional memory care experience available in the area.

Every detail of this program has been carefully created to provide unprecedented care with a meaningful lifestyle. From inviting memory care neighborhoods that feel like home and specialized programming developed just for those with memory loss, to our experienced management team that brings inspired expertise to our program, our residents are in good, loving and capable hands.

At Commonwealth Senior Living at the Ballentine, we know that no two residents will have the exact care needs or retained abilities. Each person is at his or her own place on this journey, and as such, requires and deserves personalized care.

To meet those individual needs and abilities, the Sweet Memories™ program embraces a personalized approach to care. By developing an individualized care plan, we can provide the most appropriate support, care, guidance and understanding.

Program Components

Sweet Memories^TMconsists of three components to work together to deliver the best possible experience for our residents and their families.

Move-in: Whether moving to The Ballentine from their home or from a hospital, we guide our residents through every step of this journey, meeting every need, from physical to emotional.

Evaluation through life history: To deliver the most personalized care possible, we start by learning each resident’s life story. We conduct a comprehensive interview with family members. We talk. We ask questions. We listen. We get to know our residents on a personal level. We learn about their medical, mental, emotional, spiritual and intellectual needs, as well as their habits and preferences.

Resident-centered care plan: With this very personal knowledge, our leadership team creates a customized care plan to meet the specific needs and promote the retained abilities of the resident.

Signature Programs • Signature Experience

Our signature Sweet Memories^TMprograms make a tremendous difference in the lives of our residents and their families. Purposeful. Inspiring. Comforting. These programs have been crafted and perfected by Commonwealth Senior Living.

One Sweet Memory: Winner of the Best Practice Award from the Virginia Assisted Living Association (VALA), for going above and beyond the standards of care. Our team members regularly capture highlights of each resident’s day in photographs that are shared regularly with family members.

Expressions: When verbal skills begin to fail, art can become a means of self-expression for residents. Conversational prompting stimulates memories which residents can interpret using a variety of mediums, including painting.

Special Touch: Designed specifically for those with late-stage memory loss, this program provides “special touches” that make a difference in care. In the morning, before breakfast, residents enjoy citrus scented towels to awaken taste buds; before dinner, lavender scented towels help to relax, reinforce the natural circadian rhythm and encourage residents to enjoy their meals.

Sweet Melodies: For those with late-stage dementia who have lost verbal skills, Sweet Melodies stirs memories by using nostalgic music selected by family members.

SMILE™ Technology: Through SMILE™, we can remain connected to your loved one every day. This computer program enables us to keep you updated on your loved one’s participation in and enjoyment of our programming, sharing photos and stories with you on a daily basis.

Memory Care Life Stations: Thoughtful spaces invite your loved one to reconnect and engage with past hobbies, professions and passions.

Sweet Memories™ Services & Amenities:

Healthy, family-style dining options that meet dining skill levels and nutritional needs
Regularly scheduled activities that stimulate the mind and body, as well as customized socialization programs designed to fit the cognitive, social and mental skills of the resident
Open and secure outdoor spaces such as courtyards and gardens
Monthly support group meetings for families
Private or companion suites with private baths
Personal care services
Medication management
Weekly housekeeping/linens
24-hour staffing
Open-door policy that encourages 24-hour visitation
Monthly family night dinners
Sweet Memories™ programming
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