Galloway Ridge at Fearrington

Galloway Ridge is an outstanding community, that exemplifies its mission to provide each resident with superior quality of life and care through their core values of integrity, caring, empowerment and commitment. The staff and residents soar above and beyond your desires and expectations, and it is truly a fabulous place to call home.

My husband and I began looking for a CCRC when we turned 70. We were both healthy, active and engaged in our community. Some of our friends were beginning to do the same thing but many were shocked that we were going this route. Our search took almost eight years. We actually looked at 6 different CCRCs. When we visited Galloway Ridge we knew we had found the right place for us. When we get asked what convinced us we had made the right decision, we give several reasons, but the main ones are: -Access to great medical service through both Duke and UNC Hospital systems --Located in a great location for continuous learning opportunities --Planned monthly activities in and outside Galloway Ridge --Proffessional, knowledgeable, friendly staff --Beautiful facility and grounds, surrounded by trails and gardens so residents can be close to nature. --Beautiful exercise and fitness center with expert trainers and counsels. --Last but not least, wonderful, interesting residents that have become like family.

My husband and I believe that life at Galloway Ridge (GR) has met our expectations and gone beyond. The outdoor activity options, as well as the cultural and creative arts programs are exceptional and enabled us to develop a new range of skills and experiences. Because of this, we believe that GR offers residents a true "value added" model without a constant stream of extra charges. Instead of feeling like our life got smaller after we down sized our home, the exact opposite has become the reality . My husband and I enjoy the simplicity of apartment living, yet our new life style has freed up time to partake in friendships and activities at GR, in the extended Fearrington Village community and in near by towns like Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, Apex and Cary. Nothing feels too far away even though we live in a beautiful country setting. Galloway Ridge living has been the ideal retirement choice for us.

We have been residents at Galloway Ridge for three years and two months. For us, living here has been a mixed blessing, but all the negatives are with the inevitable process of aging, not with Galloway Ridge which has performed in an exemplary manner. We have extensive experience in attempting to live as normal a life as possible when a chronic disease progresses in an inexorable pace, finally leading to a move to assisted living in skilled nursing a couple of months ago. My wife has had Parkinson’s Disease (PD) for 15 years, and the disease has made her less and less independent with time. We moved to Galloway Ridge at 12 years of PD after she became largely disabled (details aren’t necessary here), and I (her husband of 54 years) found it necessary to hire home care personnel to assist me in caring for her. This evolved into 5 days per week, typically 6 or 7 hours/day (while still in Independent Living). I believe there was justification for requesting that she live in Assisted Living after the first year, but we both were committed to maintaining her independent life style as long as possible. Recently she choked on food and was taken to an emergency room and hospital, and it was clear that upon discharge from the hospital, she would require advanced care. She was admitted to the Galloway Ridge Arbor and skilled nursing, where she receives 24 hr/day care. In short, we have experience with the full range of service at Galloway Ridge. The transfer to the Arbor was an amazing process and experience that is worth telling. Realize that we had established relationships with Galloway Ridge staff and felt comfortable communicating with them. As my wife lay in the hospital, I came to the realization that she would require at least some time in skilled nursing upon discharge from the hospital. I called the social worker at Galloway Ridge and explained our situation. She told me to contact the case worker at the hospital and to request a transfer to the Galloway Ridge Arbor. That was all it took! At the hospital’s recommendation, she was transported to Galloway Ridge by ambulance. When I arrived (a few minutes after her), she was comfortably situated in a new apartment in the Arbor, with very thorough care and assistance. I visit her two to three times a day, and have had many opportunities to observe the level of care she has received. In my opinion, the nursing staff is exceptional, and the services are comprehensive. It pains me to see the consequences of Parkinson’s Disease, but it is especially comforting to observe the exceptional level of care she is receiving. Frankly, the quality of care is so exceptional, it is in complete contrast to what some reviewers have reported on this website. It is worth commenting on the whole CCRC experience (and Galloway Ridge in particular). The senior(s) and their family must take the lead in establishing the daily life experience in their new residence. Certainly there are introductory interviews and assistance, but the CCRC basically provides quality facilities and physical environment (and the opportunity to participate in many activities), but the residents must make many daily choices. There is a tradeoff in protecting privacy and independence of the residents, versus directing their life style and care. The residents and their family are responsible for seeking out services and making critical choices. The staff at the CCRC (Galloway Ridge in particular) is here to help, but their role is not to control your life. If a resident becomes highly dependent, then the appropriate level of care will be recommended, but the resident and family must make the essential decisions and actions. Given an appropriate level of resident and family engagement, life at Galloway Ridge can be a wonderful experience with many opportunities for fulfillment and optimal health. Finally, it would seem appropriate to offer a view regarding expenses at Galloway Ridge. We analyzed the costs before choosing Galloway Ridge, and have generally experienced that the costs are in line with the benefits received. Of course it would be less expensive if one “stayed at home”, but frankly that trivializes the task of maintaining and managing a CCRC and assuring continuity with quality staffing over the years. The management at Galloway Ridge and the very active Residents Council (which contributes to governance) does a very good job. That is one reason why occupancy here is close to 100%. It is a very nice place and community in which to retire.

I would highly recommend Galloway Ridge to anyone searching for a community. The connection between staff and residents are what make Galloway Ridge a great place. In addition, there are a variety of programs and activities onsite and offsite that residents partake in. The Duke Center for Living is amazing. It's truly a great place.

Met many of the folks there. Very fascinating and hyper intelligent. It’s not about the food but about the people.

My parents have lived in Galloway Ridge for 11 years. Oh sure, as other reviews say, it's a nice place to VISIT - unless you are the relative of a resident who's "visiting" to take care of your relative because Galloway Ridge won't. Think very carefully about if you want to live here though, because once you have handed over your life's savings you are stuck here. It looks lovely on the outside, lovely on the inside, and they talk a good line. But what you get once you're in isn't exactly what was advertised. Plus, the fees and the extra charges for a lot of little things like laundry, companions for doctor visits or just to get you to the dining room, in home nursing visits in independent living, and so on really start to add up. My parents have lived at Galloway Ridge for 11 years. My father is in The Arbor permanently (skilled nursing) and is being treated by outside doctors for a stage 4 MRSA infected bedsore he contracted here in The Arbor at Galloway Ridge. My sister had to set up a camera in his room so we could all take turns watching and call the nursing station whenever it was 45 minutes past the time he was supposed to be turned. The other doctor's instructions we've had to fight to get them to follow are too numerous to mention. My mother is still in an independent living apartment. She recently had a fall, actually in the waiting room of the outside doctor my father goes to for the treatment of the bedsore, and while she didn't break anything she does have bruised ribs, bruising all over her face, and 4 stitches in her chin. The hospital ER wouldn't let her leave unless she was going to have around the clock care. Galloway Ridge said she did not need skilled nursing and wouldn't accept her in the Arbor. At that time my mother could not even stand up on her own. Not at all. But Galloway Ridge insisted she didn't need care and could go back to her apartment. The hospital refused to release her. This nonsense went on for FIVE DAYS while my mother was in an observation ward at the hospital - not a room. When she could get up and down from a chair on her own and walk a short distance with the walker the hospital couldn't keep her any longer. But she still couldn't get in and out of bed unaided and Galloway Ridge still refused to take her in The Arbor. I had to come down here from Maryland to do Galloway Ridge's job. FOUR DAYS LATER she still needs help to get in and out of bed. When you see Galloway ads that say "Unlimited Care" and "Get everything you need with a flat fee and a set monthly rate." don't believe it. My family's experience shows that to be false advertising.