Terwilliger plaza Reviews

Witnessed elder neglect and abuse. No cameras and no background checks on employees make it so workers sit and hide in the residents rooms while smoking vapes.

It has been over 6 years ago since I moved to Terwilliger Plaza. Over this time frame this is what I discovered:

For me, I am glad that I moved in while I was healthy, physically and mentally able. Why? Because I have seen first hand what happened to other people when they waited until they were physically unable to move themselves, mentally unprepared to make the transition and had to depend on others to help them do everything, from the paperwork, to physically doing the move. It was good that I was able to do everything for myself.

It is good that I was able to take my time to find doctors and dentist, banks, beauty salon, whom I liked that I could get to conveniently by public transportation.

It is good that I was able to get acquainted with this city and the public transportation system, and my surroundings while I'm still in good shape.

It is good that I have made a new circle of friends that I could count on as "family" as opposed to not knowing a soul.

It is good that I learned how things are run at Terwilliger, who does what and when and how to handle different situations. I learned how the self-governance aspect works. How many people can say that they actually participate in the decision making process of a corporation as a resident of the very retirement community where they live? Here at Terwilliger, each member has this privilege.

I feel that I was able to actually help make this a better place to live in for myself as well as for others simply because I did move here while I am still physically and mentally healthy. I feel that taking a pro-active approach empowers each person who participates in this; we each are still a formidable entity who help in the continuing evolution of Terwilliger Plaza. This is a very important aspect of living at Terwilliger Plaza.
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Because I am often asked about what I mean by "self-government" here at Terwilliger I have written the following paragraphs.

Self-Governance? means that
-- I have a voice in making some of the major decisions that are made for my community;
-- that there is a system in place to allow me to make my voice heard in a democratic way where I, as a member, can trigger changes to aspects that concern all of us. This is also known as Representative Self-Governance.

I, as a member, can go to my Floor Representative to voice an issue that I want to address or change. My Floor Representative will bring it up to the Resident Council to be resolved. If the issue is not within the scope of the Resident Council, it is referred to our Board of Directors and they, in turn, will discuss, study, recommend and/or make changes that affect all members who live here. I d say this is quite powerful if you know that MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS actually live here with us, they will fully understand any issue I raise.

Our rules and regulations were proposed by people who actually live with us in our buildings here. Hopefully this explanation makes sense to you.

Who made your rules and regulations where YOU live? I believe this is NOT the case with most other retirement communities.

Since we moved here in December 2010, we have found that the Members have a wide range of backgrounds and interests. This has allowed us to make friends and have intellectual stimulation. The staff is outstanding. They enjoy working here, and they enrich our lives. They are good at facilitating the transition from independent living to assisted living when that time comes. Although at this time there is no Memory Care unit, the staff is trained to work with most Members with dementia. A Memory Care unit is in the planning stage. We are close to downtown Portland with the No. 8 bus stopping at our door.

I highly recommend Terwilliger Plaza.

They take care of my mother- n - law very well. The dining room is nice, food good. The staff is wonderful....there are weekly jaunts to the store, some field trips to the beach and other places...

I have worked here for almost 3 years. Great environment for people looking for a relaxing or exciting retirement. Great food if I do say so myself. The atmosphere is elegant and the workers are always helpful.

My husband and I moved to TP 3 years ago and we are totally happy. Moving from Idaho, our goal was the easy availability of a major airport, major public transportation and major medical. Leaving friends of 45 years was hard, but we now have dozens of new friends, wonderfully warm and interesting people. Our activities here include 5 days a week of exercise programs, involvement with the eclectic art collection, the Green Team (recycling), weekly movies, lectures and much more. The location, self governance and lack of a required meal plan and location attracted us. Moving by the time we were 75 enabled us to downsize ourselves and adjust to our new setting with ease.

I give Terwilliger Plaza the very best rating....5 stars. I have lived here 5 years, and have never regretted my move from the Pearl District here in Portland. I have a lovely studio apartment with lots of light. The windows are wide, opening up fantastic views. I never looked for retirement anywhere else, as I knew of the good reputation here. The people are very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful, fully engaged in the many activities that are offered...all covered by your maintenance fee. Housekeeping twice a month and linen service are pluses! In my Studio Apartment, I have a BIG stove, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher, and I do most of my own cooking. Taking and paying for your meals here is NOT required, so the cost of living is kept down. The dining room and the deli are excellent choices when I do not wish to cook. I take advantage of the grocery runs, the tours to outlying places, and the exercise classes, including pool aerobics and prime movers. I no longer have a car, so I use the #8 bus (right out in front,) the streetcar and the MAX to travel downtown, or I walk. The Sat. Market is at PSU...easy walking distance. Then, there are all the cultural activities in the downtown. Downsizing was not that hard, in fact it is a relief! I even have storage on the ground floor for the things that I don't keep in the apartment. I truly feel that I am LIVING FORWARD. I invite you to come and visit!

We really love living at Terwilliger Plaza (TP). When my wife and I moved to TP in February 2015 I was recovering from a stroke and our two medical daughters who live in Portland believed TP would be a great place for us to move. They continue to be increasingly impressed by how important our active physical and mental life at TP is for our physical and mental health. The TP wellness staff has been extremely helpful in continuing to develop exercise routines in our beautiful pool and spa and our large and well stocked gym that are helping us change from disappointment to enthusiasm for my physical and mental capabilities. I had been a serious long distance runner and triathlete and a successful Architect and Urban Developer in Palo Alto for fifty years. We love the varied social possibilities at TP from Happy Hours to thoughtful discussions after our monthly documentaries. The original members who created TP realized that being on the higher elevation side of Portland was an ideal location allowing TP members to view their beautiful city and the mountains beyond. The continuing expansion of the TP campus is proceeding extremely well.

We have the best members and wonderful employees. We are a happy family.