I decided to remain at Riverwalk by River Spring Health. It's working out very well. I get excellent care. The staff is very caring. I have a lovely apartment, and I get two meals a day. There are many activities. I'm going to an art class in a few minutes. I'm organizing a singing group for the residents and I do a lot of writing. Some lecturers come in. Some films are shown. The location is spectacular. We're right on the Hudson River overlooking the Palisades in New Jersey. I can get a call for Access-A-Ride to take me into the city for doctors' appointments. They have vans that take us within Riverdale for doctors' appointments and shopping and things of that sort. It is an awesome place. The residents are from varied backgrounds and nationalities. It is a kosher facility, even though that's not my background. They just hired a new chef, and the food is improving and it improved. They're using me as a spokesperson for prospective residents, and I'm happy to give a wholehearted description of my experience here. Many people here have aides. I think they have an office that takes care of that. There are over 100 residents in the independent living facility at Riverwalk, and I observed the aides and how they interact. There's also physical therapy and O.T. that we get and they are wonderful. They're all trained in the Philippines and have excellent training. They care. They've helped me tremendously. They're helping me to start using a cane for getting around as opposed to only my walker. I can't say enough about it. I am very enthusiastic. I think they need to do more hiring in the kitchen, getting meals out in a timely fashion to serve over 100 people waiting to get their dinners. You have the option, at least so far, to have breakfast brought to you in your room. I don't go down to the dining room for breakfast. I fill out a menu every day and they bring me what I have ordered in a small shopping bag, and everything is always in it. I can use them for my lunch, for instance, because we're not served lunch. They're kind people, they care, they establish close friendships, and they take their work very seriously. I can't say enough about it. The scenic setting on the banks of the Hudson and the fact that I can get into the city quickly and because of the MTA, I only pay under $3 each way, and often I'm the only one in the car. I can get into the city for my doctor's appointments or whatever, even to have lunch with a friend in 40 minutes. The location is important to me and it's working out very well. There is a warm water pool that's available to the tenants three days a week. They have lifeguards, and it's just across the driveway. I have looked into one or two other places and I think Riverwalk at least for my apartment is lower than what I've been quoted by a few other places. I pay a little more than $4000 a month, but I get the two meals, someone comes and makes my bed every single day, and they do my laundry. I think I get very good value. The new chef has only been here for a few days, but already everyone around me is saying the food is better and there are more choices. He's making an effort. If he's here longer, he'll improve on that as well.

I took a tour of Riverwalk by RiverSpring Health, but they're a little bit expensive for me. The apartments looked great, and everything was nice and clean. If I could afford it, I would have loved to stay there. It was just too expensive for me. I was looking at their independent living. They're so expensive because they cover everything, and I didn't need that. The staff who walked me through the tour was great. She answered all my questions. What's good about this place is that if your situation changes, they have in-house services. So that if you need them, the services are there and they can update your status. The apartments were very clean, up-to-date, and with utensils and everything. The staff who gave the tour was very courteous and kind.

This is the worst facility: rude and disrespectful staff and they don't care about the patients or the patients' families. And they don't listen to the patients to help them. The food is absolutely the worst and mostly unpalatable. Plus the phone didn't work and it took 2 weeks to have it fixed. Horrible gulag-prison standards.

Riverwalk is the Hebrew Home's Independent Living Facility. On balance, it is probably one of the best values in the Bronx/Westchester area. The staff is excellent, especially Katy and Regina who run the place. The rooms are ok, it is an older converted apt bldg so don't expect a modern look/feel (although the apts are all renovated as needed). The windows are old/heavy and the heating system is not easily controllable or modern. The food is good, not bad ... not excellent either ... and it's Kosher. There is a definite slant towards Jewish heritage, culture, and ethnicity. In my Mom's case, this is one thing that was very important to her. There are daily activities, transportation to local shopping and doctors (only in the immediate area), and two meals daily included. However, in my mind ... the best feature of the facility is the staff. If you are looking for a facility where the staff becomes like family to you, where the staff knows not only the tenant's name, but your name also ... if you are looking for a homey place where everyone from the maintenance staff to the security guards are extremely friendly, kind and treat you like family ... than this is the place for your loved one. So prioritize your needs, and decide what is important to you. If having a homey, friendly environment where you are treated like family is important, consider Riverwalk.

Riverwalk by RiverSpring Health was very nice. The staff was very professional and very good. I would recommend this place. The dining area was beautiful because the place was near the water, so there was a river view. It was like a hotel. While I was there, some residents were in the exercise class, some were in the computer room, and I also saw a pool table. The food quality at the cafeteria was surprisingly very good.

Riverwalk has different levels. You have independent living, assisted living, and a nursing home in the same development so it's easier and it's continuous care. The staff is very professional. The grounds were neat, well-kept, and there was easy access to get from one facility to the next. I saw one single bedroom, which was small, like a studio, and had resources and easy access to whatever you'd need. It has cable alarms if you need assistance. They also have linen service and there's an individual to check on the residents periodically. They also have food service at noon and in the evening. I didn't try the food, but it looked very good. They have deli sections and little areas where the residents can buy snacks and sandwiches, which is really good.

At Riverwalk by RiverSpring Health, if you need assistance, they have the features to take care of it. The important thing to me was the walk-in tubs, which were good. They had doctors on-call and provide transportation to hospitals and doctors. The few staff members I met were very friendly. I'm sure it's part of their job, but they do it well. They were attentive and helpful. I saw a room with a microwave and a refrigerator, like a little kitchenette. There was also access to cable TV. I was very happy with it.

My mom is going to Riverwalk. It was just kind of homey, which was nice, and you see people walking around. For a senior residence, that is a good thing. Katy Murphy was great. She was friendly and knowledgeable. The dining area looked nice. It was very open looking and had a view of the Hudson River. It has great grounds.

Riverwalk at RiverSpring Health was beautiful but very expensive. It was out of my realm. The staff were very nice.