Silver Maples of Chelsea — Local services in Chelsea

Google review for Silver Maples:

A couple of years ago, I started thinking it might be a good idea to have a Plan B, just in case the day ever comes when I’m no longer able to ‘do stairs’. Silver Maples is one of our local senior living communities in Chelsea, MI and was offering a tour and opportunity to chat with current residents, so I thought ‘what the heck!’ and reserved a spot. I’m so glad I did. Very informative. I went back for a 2nd tour 6 months later and decided to meet one on one with a member of their sales staff and plunk my refundable deposit down to join their waiting list, but stay Inactive. Because Silver Maples is very active in our Chelsea community, I’ve come to know several of their residents and attended some events.

Recently, I had the opportunity to experience a ‘field trip’ with the Silver Maples senior community. I have been wanting to see the musical Hamilton for several years and this summer, the opportunity presented itself! I was so excited to get an email from our Chelsea Senior Center saying they’d been offered some extra tickets from Silver Maples to attend this event. I’m a member of CSC but don’t regularly attend. Nonetheless, I responded that I’d love to join them and finally was offered a ticket. I know several people who live in this Senior Community so looked forward to attending with a friend. I was initially worried about the amount of sitting on the bus and in the theater but that concern faded quickly. We left Silver Maples around 9:30AM and stopped halfway for a rest stop and to pick up their new CEO who was joining us (She is lovely!). Once we resumed the trip, the SM crew broke out the lunch from Jimmy Johns and the trip resumed until we got to our destination. Our reserved seats were amazing! As was the play! We boarded the trip to come home, but before departure, the staff provided ample yummy snacks and beverages to get us to our mid-trip rest stop before we arrived home. It was a great trip and my concerns about too much sitting on a bus were ill-founded! All in all, it was a wonderful outing and a great chance to get a feel for a possible future senior living site.

None of us knows what the future holds. I may never move over there, but I love knowing that I have these years to explore this option, get to know people who live there, their staff, how it operates, and vicariously experience their living environment. I would definitely suggest exploring Silver Maples if you share the same concerns. They can explain the process of adding your name to the waiting list and associated cost and help you, too, have a Plan B. There really is NO pressure to do this. (And no, I do not work for Silver Maples! 🙃)

It’s very comforting knowing that whatever way my life unfolds, I have a very good back up plan! Thank you, Silver Maples for making me feel welcome, even if I never come and live...

My wife and I had the pleasure of having our parents (her father and mother, and my mother) as residents at Silver Maples. My wife's father and mother lived in independent living for four-and-a-half years, then her mother lived on the assisted side for about six months. My mother lived on the independent side for six-and-a-half years, then on the assisted side for a short time.

As children of residents, we would recommend Silver Maples most highly. The amenities and services at Silver Maples (such as food, cleanliness, activities, and so forth) are excellent. What really makes Silver Maples stand out, however, are (1) its culture and (2) the competence of its staff.

The Silver Maples culture is evident if you chat with any employee. Not only are the managers, receptionists, and events coordinators friendly and helpful (as one would like to expect), but you can approach absolutely any housekeeper, operations crew person, or food server and that person will immediately stop and help you knowledgeably and cheerfully. This leads to a warm, attentive culture between residents and staff and among the residents themselves. The words "neighborhood" and "community" are not just buzzwords at Silver Maples. They have carefully created a truly warm, interactive culture.

The competence of the staff at all levels is impressive. Over the years we have had occasions to talk to managers, staff, and caregivers, both on the independent and assisted sides, on a wide range of residential and healthcare topics, from strategic care issues to nitty-gritty, where-do-I-find-this questions. All of the Silver Maples staff have been unfailingly knowledgeable and informative. And they never miss an action item or follow-up.

In summary, based on extensive experience, we very strongly recommend Silver Maples. The two key criteria for judging a senior residence community are its culture and the competence of its staff, and Silver Maples shines in these areas. We feel very fortunate that our parents were Silver...

My parents and my wife's mother greatly enjoyed living at Silver Maples of Chelsea for more than a decade. We visited them often and occassionally joined in activities there. I wormed my way into the Men's Lunch once in a while and I would often join my Dad for card games with other residents.

During those years we were impressed by how well the Silver Maples' staff ensured our parents were comfortable and active. In particular, the young people Silver Maples finds to work there are all exceptionally nice and always attentive.

Another thing for which I was extremely grateful was how well the Silver Maples staff coped with the pandemic. Silver Maples created a special plastic conversation enclosure. I would enter the enclosure from through an outside door and converse with my Dad on the other side of the plastic wall.

In the years we were visiting our parents at Silver Maples, so many residents told us they wished they had moved to Silver Maples earlier than they did. I cannot think of a better endorsement.

So, when contemplating our own retirement years, Silver Maples of Chelsea was a no-brainer decision for my wife and me.

Looking back at my review, I want to note that for being so positive about this retirement community I was not paid, I wasn't offered a discount, and I wasn't moved up the wait-list.

In fact, my family appreciates Silver Maples so much that in honor of our parents we've created two scholarship funds for the great young people who work there....