Best Assisted Living in Pittsford, NY

Overview of Brookdale Pittsford

Nestled in Pittsford, New York, Brookdale Pittsford is an Alzheimer’s and dementia care community that takes a person-centered approach to memory care. The community, also known as Clare Bridge, helps residents find a sense of belonging and purpose while preserving their individuality. Brookdale Pittsford offers a gentle daily structure of planned programs, supporting residents’ current abilities and skills through brain games, dancing, cooking classes, and music programs.

The trained staff is available on-site 24/7 to provide personalized care and support. The community’s memory care program is designed to help residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia feel a sense of belonging and purpose. Residents can enjoy a variety of activities, from art classes and gardening to devotional services and social events like Jazz Music Mondays and Sock Hop happy hours. Brookdale Pittsford also helps residents stay connected through the InTouch touch-screen computer system. The dining program focuses on creating a sense of belonging by offering dementia-friendly menus and personal dining assistance.

Located in Pittsford, New York, Highlands Living Center is an assisted living community operated by Samuel Busari and his team. It serves older adults who need support with daily activities while maintaining independence. The community accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, giving families flexibility in arranging coverage.

The community is home to 120 residents and typically operates at an occupancy rate of about 95%. Residents stay for an average of 201 days. Some come for short-term respite placements, while others are long-term residents. Located on Hahnemann Trail in Pittsford with a Walk Score of 64, the neighborhood is moderately walkable. Some errands and activities can be managed on foot, but most trips require a car.

Clinically, Highlands Living Center focuses on rehabilitation services. It offers short-term rehab alongside daily licensed nursing and certified nursing assistant support. This makes the facility a practical choice for residents recovering from a hospital stay or needing structured rehabilitation.

Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 28 minutes of total care per resident each day. Registered nurses contribute approximately 28 minutes, and certified nursing assistants provide around 1 hour and 55 minutes of hands-on support.

Dining is a notable part of a resident’s daily experience. The community operates three distinct venues: The Oneida Restaurant, The Bistro, and Cupcake Café. Each offers fresh, thoughtfully prepared meals, so residents have plenty of choices and variety.

New York’s Department of Health has conducted inspections over the past five years. The findings were centered on health and life-safety matters. The facility promptly corrected those issues, reflecting its responsiveness to regulatory oversight.

Families considering Highlands Living Center should take a tour to see the dining venues, meet the nursing staff, evaluate the community’s approach to rehabilitation and daily care, and determine whether it aligns with their loved one’s needs.

Laurelwood at the Highlands is a 75-bed enriched housing program at 300 Hahnemann Trail, Pittsford, Monroe County, New York, owned and operated by Highland Community Development Corp. Part of Rochester’s only university-based retirement community, it provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care. The New York Department of Health, Office of Aging and Long Term Care, conducts inspection oversight.

The August 14, 2024, relicensure survey by the New York Department of Health identified 7 deficiencies: resident services (two violations covering care documentation and delivery), environmental standards (three violations for facility conditions and safety), medication management, and personnel. The November 1, 2022, inspection found 1 deficiency for records and reports. A September 21, 2022, complaint investigation resulted in zero violations.

Deficiency rates average 4 per year, 22% better than the New York average of 5.1 per year. All violations resulted in approved plans of correction. No enforcement actions, fines, or immediate jeopardy findings were recorded. The facility reported 1 complaint, equating to 1.3 per 100 occupied beds versus the New York average of 49.9.

Services include nursing services, licensed nurses and CNAs, rehabilitation services, and dining in two restaurants. The facility is affiliated with a university-based retirement community structure.

The August 2024 relicensure inspection documented a notable increase in cited deficiencies compared to the November 2022 inspection (7 versus 1). Environmental standards citations across three separate regulatory provisions and personnel deficiencies warrant inquiry.

Families should ask for detailed documentation of corrective action completion, particularly regarding medication management protocols, resident care documentation, and staffing credentialing.