Mill Valley Living Magazine Jan. 2022 — David Dow is one of those people with an indomitable spirit.  He loves to sing and share stories of his adventures.  He is a founding member of The Redwoods’ own Rock the Ages chorus and a frequent featured soloist.

David and his wife first moved to The Redwoods into a Headlands apartment.  At that point they were still getting “out and about” a good bit. Plus, as he put it, “We did everything.  In fact, we had our names on the list for about 5 years and wanted to start a line dancing class.  We came in to talk about that, they said our name came to the top of the list and so we moved in and started the class.  It was great.”  David said he and his wife took on major roles.  She as the head of the Resident Council and he as a founder of the resident singing group, Rock the Ages.  “We did so much we won the resident of the year award.”

Unfortunately David’s wife passed in 2019 and his children convinced him to move to Hawaii to be with them.  David loves his children, but missed The Redwoods.  When he returned, he found he needed more support and moved to an assisted living apartment in Creekside.  According to David, “That was very good.  I enjoyed it very much.”  As time passed, David decided that the Health Care Center could better meet his needs and he moved there a year or so ago.

He said he still loves reading and listening to books on tape as well as participating in the daily New York Times discussions.  He looks forward to the exercise programs because they “help me stay active.”  What David said he likes best about The Redwoods is that “everybody is so friendly and generally liberal.  I don’t think I could be anywhere else.”  David is a special person and we are so happy that he is part of The Redwoods, A Community of Seniors.

Mill Valley Living Magazine Jan. 2022 — It’s not easy to keep up with Elizabeth Merriman.  She is one of those people who only knows one speed and it is full steam ahead.  Whether it is teaching an art class, meeting prospective residents as an “Ambassador” or taking on a new project, you can always count on Elizabeth to do a great and thorough job.  She was a professional organizer and life coach and really enjoys helping people, “one-on-one.” She is often on the go. We were fortunate to have her share a few minutes with us recently.

Elizabeth has been at The Redwoods for, “oh my goodness, several years now.  In fact I tell people I marched forth on March 4^th, 2011.”  She loves her apartment and her ability to “live my lifestyle.  You can be as active as you want to be or secluded as possible.  People are sometimes surprised to hear that from me, because I like to speak in public and get things done, but I am really an introvert.”

She enjoys her private time but also has taken on several leadership roles and loves to share about living here.  In fact, she was one of the first residents to volunteer to talk to people considering a move to The Redwoods and recently stepped down from being the head of the resident Welcoming Committee.

Elizabeth has a particularly creative side.  She had been teaching an art class prior to the pandemic.  Wanting to continue to support and nurture fellow artists, she worked with The Redwoods Program team to help people continue their works remotely.  You can find her “Easy Art” series videos (Bunnies, Birds, Puppet People and Others) on The Redwoods YouTube channel where they are available to residents and everyone else as well.

Elizabeth is so thoughtful.  She often paints personalized cards for other residents.  She also creates special notes to commemorate holidays or thank team members.  She says, “I have felt safe here and love that I can get in my daily walks on level ground.”  When asked about what she likes best, Elizabeth said, “The down-to-earth people who work here and the impromptu one-on-ones with fellow residents.”  We think she is a special person and are so happy she is part of The Redwoods, A Community of Seniors!

Mill Valley Living Magazine, Jan. 2022 — You are likely aware of The Redwoods, or at least the Seniors for Peace rallies on the corner of Miller Avenue and Camino Alto, but there is probably a good bit about this “Community Gem” that most of us who live in Mill Valley don’t know.  For example, did you know that it is a locally managed, one-off, non-profit that started their 50^th year of operations last December 3^rd?  Did you know their campus is about 10 acres in size and serves over 300 residents?  Did you know they are one of Mill Valley’s largest employers and the largest provider of affordable housing?  To those of you who are really “in the know” and said yes to all the above, keep reading and we bet you will find a few facts new to even you.  For the rest of us, here’s a surprising primer on a wonderful asset in our own backyard!

In the mid 1960’s a dedicated group of members of the Community Church of Mill Valley saw there were a lot of people in town who no longer wanted to keep up their homes, but didn’t want to leave our idyllic area.   They decided we needed a retirement community.  They developed a preliminary plan, pooled some resources and, thanks to one member taking out a second mortgage, were able to buy about 10 acres across from Tam High.  That got the ball rolling and soon more funds were raised, initial buildings were built, and on December 3, 1972, The Redwoods, A Community of Seniors became a reality by admitting its first residents.

Based on the ideals of the founders, The Redwoods, was set up as a non-profit retirement designed to meet the needs of area citizens for high quality residential care for seniors at a cost all could afford. The mission was, and continues to this day, to be: to promote good health, well-being and security to a diverse group of seniors.   Of course this is Mill Valley, so that wasn’t all.  The founders also wanted to transform attitudes and practices so that aging was recognized as a dynamic phase of renewal, discovery, service and choice, so they wrote that into the mission as well! This philosophy was, and is, attractive to life-ling activist who don’t want to slow down (see more on some of them in the related articles).

This approach, combined with excellent programs, services and staff, has led The Redwoods to be named a “model facility” by LeadingAge, the nation’s top education, research and advocacy organization for nonprofit aging services. Over the years The Redwoods has grown and adapted to meet residents’ needs and current desires.  In part, that is why it has consistently won the Marin IJ Reader’s Choice Awards for Best Retirement Community, and Pacific Sun’s “Best of Marin” for Best Senior Living Facility.

So what exactly is The Redwoods?  Well it is a multi-level retirement community that provides rental housing, services and care to more than 300 seniors. They offer three living styles: senior apartments in the Headlands; Assisted Living Apartments in the Creekside; licensed skilled nursing services in the Meadows and Grove portions of their Health Care Center.  The Redwoods provides a full spectrum of programs to enhance residents’ health and well-being including fitness classes, spirituality discussion groups, organic gardening, chair yoga, political lectures, music groups, an artist’s studio and local sight-seeing and cultural excursions.  Residents’ ages range for the 70s to several well over 100 with 88 being the average.

All residents have direct access to an outdoor patio and many have their own personal gardens. In addition, residents maintain both an outdoor succulent garden and a much larger organic fruit, vegetable and flower garden.  Recent additions include a “Wellness Center,” called the Dynamic Center for Aging that is home to a gym equipped with modern, computer-programmed weight machines, a large and naturally lit classroom studio, a therapy pool and a hot tub.  Also, The Redwoods converted a portion of their Health Care Center into the North Bay’s only in-patient hospice center, the Grove.

The Redwoods long-standing commitment to affordability is alive and well. When compared with similar communities in the area, they are consistently offer a high value and they are the only one in Marin County that offers a continuum of care without a large, up-front commitment.  More than a third of the Headlands Apartments are occupied by residents using a federal subsidy and usually about a third of Health Care Center residents have their charges covered by Medi-Cal.  Plus, the Redwoods provides additional aid through their internal Support Housing Assistance at the Redwoods, or SHARE Program, which assists residents facing unexpected financial challenges.

Many retirement providers approach to serving seniors is to congratulate them for getting to 80 years of age or older, then say, “We’ll take it from here.”  The Redwoods turns that concept on its head.  They celebrate the rich, full lives people have led and then ask:  What would you like to do to enhance The Redwoods community? They pride themselves on being able to provide the resources to nurture the interests and passions, talents and abilities of the residents.  In fact they have a 26-page guide to programs that is regularly updated as new items are added.  Further residents, yes the residents, run more than half of the over 100 different programs and events that occur each week.

Also The Redwoods encourages, reaches out to, and embraces people of all ages and interests within the surrounding area.  This includes programs with children in the nearby pre-school, as well as those in the Middle School and at Mount Tam.  They are actively engaged with many of the area’s music, entertainment, religious, business and educational groups.  Some of the unique programs the residents engage in include: Seniors for Peace weekly meetings, discussions, lectures, films and Friday afternoon protests on the corner; fundraising events such as the annual Bazaar; and the Student Scholarship program in which Marin high school seniors are recognized and given awards.  Truly, The Redwoods and its culture are intertwined in both formal and informal ways within the very fabric of Mill Valley and beyond.

That was a lot of information.  We bet even the most informed of you learned something new.  If you want to know more, please give them a call, visit their website at www.theredwoods.org or yes, you can check them out on Instagram, Facebook and even their YouTube Channel which contains lots of fun videos! Also keep an eye out this year for your opportunity to celebrating The Redwoods – 50 years young.

Mill Valley Living Magazine, Jan. 2022 — You are likely aware of The Redwoods, or at least the Seniors for Peace rallies on the corner of Miller Avenue and Camino Alto, but there is probably a good bit about this “Community Gem” that most of us who live in Mill Valley don’t know.  For example, did you know that it is a locally managed, one-off, non-profit that started their 50^th year of operations last December 3^rd?  Did you know their campus is about 10 acres in size and serves over 300 residents?  Did you know they are one of Mill Valley’s largest employers and the largest provider of affordable housing?  To those of you who are really “in the know” and said yes to all the above, keep reading and we bet you will find a few facts new to even you.  For the rest of us, here’s a surprising primer on a wonderful asset in our own backyard!

In the mid 1960’s a dedicated group of members of the Community Church of Mill Valley saw there were a lot of people in town who no longer wanted to keep up their homes, but didn’t want to leave our idyllic area.   They decided we needed a retirement community.  They developed a preliminary plan, pooled some resources and, thanks to one member taking out a second mortgage, were able to buy about 10 acres across from Tam High.  That got the ball rolling and soon more funds were raised, initial buildings were built, and on December 3, 1972, The Redwoods, A Community of Seniors became a reality by admitting its first residents.

Based on the ideals of the founders, The Redwoods, was set up as a non-profit retirement designed to meet the needs of area citizens for high quality residential care for seniors at a cost all could afford. The mission was, and continues to this day, to be: to promote good health, well-being and security to a diverse group of seniors.   Of course this is Mill Valley, so that wasn’t all.  The founders also wanted to transform attitudes and practices so that aging was recognized as a dynamic phase of renewal, discovery, service and choice, so they wrote that into the mission as well! This philosophy was, and is, attractive to life-ling activist who don’t want to slow down (see more on some of them in the related articles).

This approach, combined with excellent programs, services and staff, has led The Redwoods to be named a “model facility” by LeadingAge, the nation’s top education, research and advocacy organization for nonprofit aging services. Over the years The Redwoods has grown and adapted to meet residents’ needs and current desires.  In part, that is why it has consistently won the Marin IJ Reader’s Choice Awards for Best Retirement Community, and Pacific Sun’s “Best of Marin” for Best Senior Living Facility.

So what exactly is The Redwoods?  Well it is a multi-level retirement community that provides rental housing, services and care to more than 300 seniors. They offer three living styles: senior apartments in the Headlands; Assisted Living Apartments in the Creekside; licensed skilled nursing services in the Meadows and Grove portions of their Health Care Center.  The Redwoods provides a full spectrum of programs to enhance residents’ health and well-being including fitness classes, spirituality discussion groups, organic gardening, chair yoga, political lectures, music groups, an artist’s studio and local sight-seeing and cultural excursions.  Residents’ ages range for the 70s to several well over 100 with 88 being the average.

All residents have direct access to an outdoor patio and many have their own personal gardens. In addition, residents maintain both an outdoor succulent garden and a much larger organic fruit, vegetable and flower garden.  Recent additions include a “Wellness Center,” called the Dynamic Center for Aging that is home to a gym equipped with modern, computer-programmed weight machines, a large and naturally lit classroom studio, a therapy pool and a hot tub.  Also, The Redwoods converted a portion of their Health Care Center into the North Bay’s only in-patient hospice center, the Grove.

The Redwoods long-standing commitment to affordability is alive and well. When compared with similar communities in the area, they are consistently offer a high value and they are the only one in Marin County that offers a continuum of care without a large, up-front commitment.  More than a third of the Headlands Apartments are occupied by residents using a federal subsidy and usually about a third of Health Care Center residents have their charges covered by Medi-Cal.  Plus, the Redwoods provides additional aid through their internal Support Housing Assistance at the Redwoods, or SHARE Program, which assists residents facing unexpected financial challenges.

Many retirement providers approach to serving seniors is to congratulate them for getting to 80 years of age or older, then say, “We’ll take it from here.”  The Redwoods turns that concept on its head.  They celebrate the rich, full lives people have led and then ask:  What would you like to do to enhance The Redwoods community? They pride themselves on being able to provide the resources to nurture the interests and passions, talents and abilities of the residents.  In fact they have a 26-page guide to programs that is regularly updated as new items are added.  Further residents, yes the residents, run more than half of the over 100 different programs and events that occur each week.

Also The Redwoods encourages, reaches out to, and embraces people of all ages and interests within the surrounding area.  This includes programs with children in the nearby pre-school, as well as those in the Middle School and at Mount Tam.  They are actively engaged with many of the area’s music, entertainment, religious, business and educational groups.  Some of the unique programs the residents engage in include: Seniors for Peace weekly meetings, discussions, lectures, films and Friday afternoon protests on the corner; fundraising events such as the annual Bazaar; and the Student Scholarship program in which Marin high school seniors are recognized and given awards.  Truly, The Redwoods and its culture are intertwined in both formal and informal ways within the very fabric of Mill Valley and beyond.

That was a lot of information.  We bet even the most informed of you learned something new.  If you want to know more, please give them a call, visit their website at www.theredwoods.org or yes, you can check them out on Instagram, Facebook and even their YouTube Channel which contains lots of fun videos! Also keep an eye out this year for your opportunity to celebrating The Redwoods – 50 years young.

Many seniors have gone a long time without seeing loved ones, but this holiday season there are ways everyone can have a good, safe time together.  It helps to have a plan when deciding how you and your family will interact.  The following are a few key elements to consider.

1. Consider COVID testing prior to your gathering. There are many places in Marin County to get a free COVID-19 test (like your local pharmacy, grocery store or a clinic).  The “PCR” tests are the most reliable, but you would need to take it at least a day or two before your get-together because the results usually take 24-48 hours.  Of course another option is a “Rapid” test.  Those can generally be purchased from the same providers and also on websites like Amazon.  While not quite as accurate, they generally are easy to self-administer and give results in about 15 minutes.  Both options are a great way to feel relatively secure that your family and friends are COVID-free especially if any guest is unvaccinated, has travelled from riskier areas, or has been in large groups.
2. Before attending or hosting a holiday event, consider the COVID-19 situation in the area. Fortunately, Marin County is leading the nation in vaccination rates and cases are low, so the risk is lower if everyone is from the area.  Other portions of the state and country have higher number of cases and going to them, or getting together with people from those areas increase your risk.  So you might want to make other plans and/or be extra careful about wearing a mask, keeping some distance and washing your hands frequently.
3. It makes a big difference where people will be gathering. There’s one thing everyone agrees on, and that is that get-togethers are less risky outdoors and fortunately we are blessed with often fine outdoor weather in Mill Valley. If the plan is to spend a significant amount of time indoors, you should consider/suggest good ventilation, such as open windows or doors.
4. Think about how many people will be there and how long. Often, the more people the better, but this season smaller gatherings mean less risk for seniors.  The same is true of the length of time everyone is together.  Sometimes it is great to just sit back, relax and watch the action, but this year you might want to skip the games or encourage several shorter visits.  Our area is doing well so limits on the number of people are not stringent, but some community COVID-19 guidelines allow much fewer people to gather in one place.
5. Encourage family, friends and guests to follow safe practices. While there is no way to be 100% safe, you can significantly reduce your risks.  Since the start of the pandemic, the key recommendations have been to:  wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose; try to stay six feet apart as much as possible; and wash your hands frequently.  Asking others to do so may be a little uncomfortable, but those that love you will understand.  If they do not, or will not, the risks are higher and you will need to decide what is best for you.
6. Find out if anyone attending has symptoms or has been recently exposed to someone who has COVID-19. If the answer to either is yes (meaning they have a temperature, cough, aches, loss of sense of smell or taste or have been exposed), that doesn’t mean you cannot see them, but it would be better to wait about 10 days before getting too close.

Thinking about the items listed above will help you develop a plan to protect yourself, other seniors and loved ones of all ages.  Here’s wishing you the best this holiday season.  We hope this helps you keep safe and have fun!

Science has shown that gratitude can boost both mental and physical health. People who are grateful feel less stress, less pain, have fewer bouts with insomnia, and have stronger immune systems. Learning to live with a more positive outlook helps people have healthier relationships and do better both academically and professionally.

We have all been through a stressful and challenging year and a half. Some have suffered more than others, losing jobs, businesses and even health or loved ones to this virus. At minimum, each of our lives, plans and social relationships were interrupted. Weddings, graduations and social gatherings postponed, sports seasons rescheduled or played in empty stadiums, and holidays spent alone.  So how can we reframe that experience?  How can we live with gratitude at Thanksgiving and through the holiday seasons?

Gratitude is spontaneously generated from within and is an affirmation of goodness and warmth in our world.  Even with loss, we can be grateful and appreciative for all we still have.  Gratitude comes easily to some, but the good news is, that it also can be cultivated. The following are sixteen suggestions to help each of us experience more gratitude:

• Try to focus on what can be controlled vs the “uncontrollable.”
• Live life with purpose. Find a way to feel value added or of service.
• Focus on an uplifting moment from a recent event or a lesson you learned from a book, or a photo of a place that brings you joy.
• Put life in perspective, like the fact that pandemics have been a part of our collective history and we, as human beings, are incredibly resilient.
• Practice mindfulness.
• Spend time with family and friends even if the contact is through internet.
• Engage in volunteer work, helping others can help us feel good about ourselves.
• Keep a journal of or in some way note big and little joys of daily life.
• Every day identify three positive things to be grateful for.
• Write thank-you notes or cards to others to brighten their day.
• Think about people who have inspired you and what about them was most significant.
• Imagine what your life would be like if some positive event had not occurred.
• List future goals to look toward.
• Complete projects you never had time to address.
• Spend quality time with pets. They can reduce blood pressure and decrease loneliness.
• Commune with nature and enjoy the outdoors.

The last one comes easily to those of us fortunate enough to call Mill Valley home and/or live or work at the foot of Mount Tamalpais and the edge of Richardson Bay. We hope some of the others on the list will resonate with you, or a friend that needs to hear them.  Caring and sharing is a way to cultivate gratitude.  Here’s wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

A recent study in The Journals of Gerontology highlighted how daily contact with friends in the community is linked to higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. The study looked specifically at how interacting with friends resulted in increased pleasantness, less talk about stressful experiences, and an overall better mood. The study found that such interactions played a strong role in enhancing daily emotional well-being in seniors.

This research is a pleasant counter-balance to a study by the late Dr. J.T. Cacioppo of the University of Chicago who found that older adults who find themselves alone are at particular risk. Dr. Stephanie Cacioppo’s research reveals that loneliness automatically triggers behavioral and biological processes that contribute to a series of health concerns.

In fact, research supported by the National Institute on Aging by Dr. S.W. Cole in 2015 showed that loneliness can actually breed other diseases. “The biology of loneliness can accelerate the buildup of plaque in arteries, help cancer cells grow and spread, and promote inflammation in the brain leading to Alzheimer’s disease. Further, it was found that loneliness promotes several different types of wear and tear on the body,” said Dr. Cole.

After months of increased isolation due to COVID-19, it may not be surprising to learn that recent research linked social isolation to a variety of physical and mental conditions, including: heart disease; weight gain; high blood pressure; weakened immune system; as well as mental conditions such as depression; decline in cognitive function; and Alzheimer’s disease.

The good news is that Dr. Cole’s findings also showed that having a sense of mission and purpose in life is linked to healthier immune cells. Caregiving and volunteering diminished loneliness. He noted that, “Working for a social cause or purpose with others who share your values puts you in contact with others and helps develop a greater sense of community.”

In addition Dr. Cole found that, as compared to married older adults, unmarried research participants were reported to have more pleasantness and positivity when they were with friends. Another key finding was that that even interaction with people on the periphery of one’s community, may be beneficial in terms of social interaction, companionship, and having fun.

No matter what your individual situation is, it appears that you can live a happier, healthier life if you participate with others in the community.  So slip on that mask and get out there.  Your mind and body will thank you.

Cacioppo JT and Cacioppo S. Older adults reporting social isolation or loneliness show poorer cognitive function 4 years later. Evidence-Based Nursing 2014;17(2):59-60.

Cole SW, Capitanio JP, Chun K, et al. Myeloid differentiation architecture of leukocyte transcriptome dynamics in perceived social isolation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 2015;112(49):15142-15147.

Ng, YT, Huo, M, Gleason, ME, Neff, LA, Charles, ST, & Fingerman, KL. Friendships in old age: Daily encounters and emotional well-being. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B 2021;76(3):551-562.

We are so grateful to everyone who participated in our 49^th Anniversary Celebration yesterday. We enjoyed spending time with each of you who attended the event last night, and we’re grateful to those who were not able to make it.  It turned out to be a beautiful evening with a wide assortment of fine beverages, bites for every taste and good times with the wonderful friends and family that make up this special community known as The Redwoods.

We are very proud to have been able to bring together so many amazing individuals committed to preserving and enhancing The Redwoods as gem of Mill Valley and a truly unique and outstanding home for seniors of all means.   As a direct result of the event we were able to significantly close the gap on the funds needed to revitalize the Meadows (the long-term, skilled nursing wing), as well as build up the  SHARE Fund which provides assistance to residents who start to outlive their resources.

As we look ahead, we are excited to embark on our 50^th year of operation.  There is more work to be done and we know we can count on you to help ensure we are able to provide top quality care in a modern environment that matches it.  We will also keep the focus on providing some fun and interesting opportunities for engagement and hope you will  mark your calendars for next year’s even bigger Anniversary Gala that will be held on November 5!

There are so many individuals to thank for creating such a successful event that we cannot possibly mention each individual but we would be remiss not to mention Christian Mills, Kendra Pollack, Shannon Coleman, the entire Event Committee and the team at The Redwoods.  Most of all though, we want to offer our sincere and heartfelt thanks to all of our supporters.  We couldn’t have done it without you.

Did you know there are many ways you can support your favorite charity without spending your funds right now? By including a gift in your estate or financial plans, your support for their work lives on for generations.

“The most popular way to make a planned gift is through your will or trust,” explains Christian Mills, Director of Fund Development at The Redwoods, A Community of Seniors, a non-profit in Mill Valley, “but no matter the type of planned gift you choose, it is reassuring to know your gift will allow you to extend your impact into the future.”

“My mother, who recently passed away at age 107, spent 12 wonderful years at The Redwoods, blossoming and growing with the love of the staff, and with such activities as line dancing, spiritual yoga, movie nights and musical events. I am making a planned gift to The Redwoods so that future generations, including those with low income, can continue to enjoy these experiences.”  —Judy Dick

Although an outright gift, such as cash or a check, can be used right away, sometimes an immediate gift isn’t the best option. A planned gift is a perfect solution to this problem. There are many different types of planned gifts and each offers unique advantages.

Some planned gifts are revocable—a gift in your will or living trust, for example—so you can change your mind at any time. Or, they can be irrevocable—just as outright gifts are—so that you qualify for an income tax deduction. Many irrevocable planned gifts are attractive because they are deferred. You part with an asset today, but the actual giving of the asset is put off for a while—often until after your lifetime (and that of a surviving beneficiary, if you wish). Until that time, you enjoy the benefits from the gift. For example, with a charitable remainder trust, you receive lifetime income from the asset after it’s placed in a trust, and then the non-profit receives the remainder of the trust after your lifetime. Or, you could deed a remainder interest in your home and still retain the right to live in it for life. The key feature of planned gifts like these is that they provide important benefits to you as well as the charitable organization.

For more information about The Redwoods and Planned Giving, visit our website at www.theredwoods.planmylegacy.org, or contact Christian Mills at 415-383-2741 or cmills@theredwoods.org.

The Redwoods has been a pillar of Mill Valley, an active participant in the vitality of the area, and an affordable option for seniors since 1972.  We are a locally managed, private, non-profit, continuing care retirement community.  We offer Independent Living and Assisted Living apartments as well as Skilled Nursing in our Health Care Center, inclusive of short-term rehabilitation services and Marin’s first, and only inpatient hospice center.

Residents are able to enter directly the area that meets their needs best.  Some are with us for a short period and others for many years.  The residents represent a diverse range of experiences, backgrounds and interests. The common denominators are friendliness, being supportive of their neighbors and a desire to engage in the world around them.  We are home to singles and couples as well as a variety of well-behaved pets.

We are innovative and strive to transform attitudes so that later years are recognized as a dynamic phase of renewal, discovery and choice.   It is paying off.  The Redwoods has been named a “model facility” by LeadingAge, won the Marin IJ’s Reader’s Choice Award for best retirement community and the Pacific Sun’s best of Marin award every year.

Located on 10-acres of flat land adjacent to the Bothin Marsh and Richardson Bay, the Redwoods has an amazing location with beautiful views of Mt Tam, the Headlands and the city,  It also boast the convenience of nearby shopping, restaurants, schools, the Community Center and walking trails.  In addition, we provide regularly scheduled transportation for appointments, shopping, events and excursions around the area.  We offer a full spectrum of programs to enhance residents’ health and well-being.  We have a 26-page catalogue of the programs and events that occur each month, many of which are led by residents.

Meals are a key part of health, enjoyment and a social life.  Our Dining team offers a variety of nutritious and delicious meals prepared by our in-house chefs.  Meals are enjoyed in the dining rooms, or on our beautiful outdoor patios, and room delivery is available. There is also a catering menu for special events.

Safety and security are paramount. The Redwoods was one of a few communities in the US to have no COVID-19 positive residents in nursing or assisted living.  We offer round the clock security, emergency call systems in each apartment, and well-trained staff to handle any situation. Our smoke detection system and sprinklers provide excellent fire safety.  Our new generator will power the entire campus in the event of a PSPS or other outage.

Our team members are hired and trained according to The Redwood’s “Heart Values” of Helpfulness, Excellence, Attitude, Respect and Teamwork.  Our exceptional culture, excellent benefits and competitive pay allows us to attract and retain an outstanding workforce that is passionate about the residents and families we serve and been with us for an average of 9 years.  We also rely on a dedicated group of volunteers who provide a range of skills and services for our residents and campus.

If you or someone you know is interested in life at The Redwoods we urge you to call today for a tour and further information.  Our wonderful residents and team, excellent reputation, moderate prices, convenient and beautiful location, engaging programs, delicious meals, safety and security means vacancies are rare.  It is best to plan ahead and consider joining our wait list.