Andara Senior Living Community
July 12, 2026…read moreAn Independent, Assisted Living, Memory Care
Community
What drew me here and what keeps me here!!!
Covid changed the direction of my life and became the catalyst for my move to Scottsdale, Arizona. My son, who lives in north Phoenix, invited me to come and stay with him and his family for a couple weeks after my bout with Covid. I took him up on the invitation, but little did I know that he had an ulterior motive. He and my other son had seen the effects of Covid on me physically. Consequently, he felt I needed to reassess my life and my future. And that is where my story begins.
I came to Andara, not willingly, but with a caveat. I would try Andara for a month and if I was unhappy with my circumstances, I would return to California and continue life there. Well, one month led to another and so on and nearly five years later, I am still here.
When I was staying with my son, he brought up the subject of all inclusive Senior communities, that is communities that included food, utilities, housekeeping, internet, television, just about everything that you would incur living on your own plus activities to keep you engaged most of your day and assisted living if need be. We followed that conversation with visits to six communities and frankly I was not taken with any community other than Andara, which we visited twice. What struck me about Andara was its ambiance. It was appointed nicely from the outside, but what made a significant impression on me, was the lobby area adorned with a beautiful chandelier, curved staircases, one on each side of the lobby to the second floor and a huge fireplace that could be seen visually from the lobby into the dining room. It was like a scene from the movie, Titanic. That impression was lasting. There were other features of the community, such as a library, card room, several areas for socialization and so on. The residents and staff were very friendly. The apartment I chose was very nice. After two weeks of considering what was best, I picked Andara. However, not without trepidation and the ability to leave Andara, knowing there was a thirty-day clause allowing for that possibility.
Today, almost five years later, Andara is a thriving community and home to Independent residents, Assisted Living residents and Memory Care. Approximately 160 residents call Andara their home. Nestled quietly off Via Linda, just a stone's throw from Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., it is close to all necessary shopping as well as eateries, banking, doctors, entertainment etc. Yet, its location provides a sense of serenity from the hustle and bustle that is normal everyday living.
Residents hail from every part of the United States. They have brought their talents, personalities and heritage to a community where residents are considered number one. Their backgrounds have provided so much to Andara's feeling of openness, acceptance and true fellowship.
I can talk about a vibrant activity program that meets the demands of most of our residents. Whether it is a craft activity in the Art studio, playing Poker in the Card room or Mahjong in Bogarts or the Record room, physical fitness classes in the fitness room or gym, Drum fit in the fitness room, water aerobics in the pool, movies in the theater, weekly speakers, religious services, monthly men and women luncheons, board games, puzzles, brunches on special occasions, book club, Happy hour highlighting entertainment for residents, outside events, you name it and we most likely have it.
How about the dining room and kitchen! They are open to serve our residents from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM every day with breakfast, lunch or dinner and in between and the food offerings are plentiful. Topping that, we are so fortunate to have a Chef with unparallel experience in the kitchen who is intent on making our dining experience memorable every day.
Resident Services are extremely important for our residents, and we are blessed to have a Director of Resident Services who is working hand in hand with residents and through care givers and Med Techs to provide the best level of service for our Assisted living and Memory Care residents. She is driven, focused and very caring.
Now, I want to talk about the management team at Andara. The Executive Director of Andara has surrounded herself with a staff of professionals that enjoy what they do and take their responsibilities seriously with care and empathy for all our residents.
Like anything in life, Andara is not without its problems. The community is a microcosm of what we all bring to its doors each day. Sure, there will be days of frustration for some, days of sadness for others, days where we wish we were back in our former surroundings, days that seem unsettling, but like I said previously, our residents are our most important asset and that is what keeps me here among other assets. Andara is my home and it has been a great blessing in so many ways.
Mike Rivera, Resident, 11-108.
