This walkable neighborhood around Webster House provides those fortunate enough to live in this boutique community easy access to both cultural and culinary experiences that will fill your days. Whether you are interested in the evening concerts at the local Methodist Church or simply want to linger at a local café, the activities you enjoy are only a couple of blocks away.

A stroll down University Avenue provides a wide range of restaurants and shops to choose from. Local favorites for Webster House residents include Café Mademoiselle Colette, Verve Coffee, Redwood Café and Café Venetia, which are all within easy walking distance of their low-rise apartment homes. This accessibility highlights the essence of independent living in Palo Alto, where convenience and community go hand in hand.

For those interested in expanding their horizons or showing their support for the Cardinal, Stanford University is only one mile away, presenting even more opportunities for engagement and exploration. This proximity to such a prestigious institution further enhances the appeal of Webster House as a premiere choice for senior living in the Palo Alto area. You can also participate in community events, such as the local farmers market or community garden.

Living in a walkable neighborhood is increasingly recognized as a key component of healthy, sustainable living. The essence of a walkable community lies in its ability to support an active lifestyle, foster social interactions and provide easy access to daily necessities and amenities. Webster House, nestled in the heart of downtown Palo Alto, exemplifies the pinnacle of walkable living, offering residents a unique blend of convenience, community and wellbeing.

Research has consistently shown that walkable neighborhoods contribute significantly to physical health by encouraging physical activity. Moreover, the Webster House community itself provides residents with a host of wellness activities, an outdoor heated pool, fine dining and access to care and support. The intimate community ensures that you’ll know your neighbors and find connections and camaraderie. 

In addition to the rich amenities and cultural opportunities highlighted, Webster House is also at the forefront of offering luxury senior living in Palo Alto. Each apartment is designed with the comfort and convenience of its residents in mind, ensuring a high standard of living that caters to the specific needs of seniors. The modern finishes and thoughtful layouts provide an unmatched level of elegance and functionality, making it easy for residents to feel truly at home.

Beyond the physical comforts, Webster House places a strong emphasis on creating a vibrant and supportive community atmosphere. Regularly scheduled social events, classes and gatherings encourage residents to engage with one another, fostering a sense of belonging and community spirit. This aspect of social interaction is crucial for a fulfilling senior living experience, allowing residents to form meaningful connections and enjoy their golden years to the fullest.

Safety and security are paramount at Webster House, with measures in place to ensure that residents feel secure at all times. From emergency response systems in each apartment to the presence of attentive staff around the clock, every detail has been considered to provide peace of mind for both residents and their loved ones.

The commitment to wellness extends to the dining experiences offered at Webster House. Nutritionally balanced chef-prepared meals are available, featuring a variety of cuisines to cater to diverse palates and dietary needs. Dining together not only provides nutritional benefits but also serves as another opportunity for residents to connect and share stories over delicious food.

Palo Alto is a culinary haven with an impressive array of dining options all within walking distance. From the comforting ambiance of Fambrini’s Café to the innovative dishes at Son & Garden and the exquisite Mediterranean flavors at Evvia Estiatorio, there’s something to satisfy every craving. The diverse and vibrant restaurant scene around Webster House ensures that residents have access to some of the best dining experiences Palo Alto has to offer, making every meal and adventure waiting to be discovered.

Choosing Webster House means embracing a lifestyle where every need is met with care and every day offers new possibilities for joy and fulfillment. It represents the pinnacle of senior living in Palo Alto.

Come take a walk around Webster House! Schedule a tour and see for yourself how life here seamlessly blends comfort, culture and community, major factors when looking for senior living in Palo Alto. Experience firsthand why Webster House is not just a place to live, but a place to thrive.

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When we talk to residents about what they appreciate most about life at their Covia community, time and again we hear one thing: the people. Of course, that includes their neighbors and friends in the community, but we always find it heartening how much our residents appreciate the staff. From our activities, dining, and housekeeping staff to our facilities and nursing professionals, we have a first-rate team, and it shows.

At Canterbury Woods in Pacific Grove, Wei Chang heads up transportation and helps make sure residents get to appointments and activities around town without hassle. He joined the Canterbury Woods staff after more than 30 years as a commercial photographer because he loves working with people. And after helping his father navigate the area, he also understands the challenges transportation can pose as we age.

In Palo Alto, Ann Lee, Webster House’s Wellness Nurse Supervisor, is a great example of a team member residents count on. Originally from Laos, Ann emigrated with her family to Southern California as a child. She has been in the medical profession for more than 16 years. In addition to being a nurse, she is a trained EMT and phlebotomist. We are grateful to have her expertise on our care team, and our residents enjoy hearing about her motorcycling adventures and the symbolism of her tattoos.

The Director of Facilities Services at San Francisco Towers, Martin MacLeod, heads up our maintenance and housekeeping staff and enjoys working with residents to keep everything operating up to their standards. He started working here after relocating to the Bay Area from Santa Monica at the recommendation of his mother, SFT’s Director of Nursing for 19 years. When he’s not keeping everything here in tip top shape, you’ll find him enjoying a round of golf or hanging out with his wife and two English bulldog puppies: Bonnie and Capone.

These are just a few examples of the great people who work at our communities, and who make such a difference to our residents.

One of the advantages of moving to a Covia community is the many people looking out for you. Whether they are attending to daily details like meals or maintenance, organizing events and activities, or providing onsite health services, you always have a team of people ready and willing to help. And we pride ourselves on the consistency of our staff. You can look forward to seeing the same faces and counting on trusted people to help when needed or to simply say hello each day.

Bottom line, where you live as you age is about finding a place that becomes home inside and out. Surrounded by friendly faces and caring, compassionate team members adds that all important final touch to our beautiful communities.

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Dick S.

My two-room cave with balcony has several activity centers.

Dining Table: Read morning NY Times (2 hrs.) and magazines, open and discard mail, seating area for TV, eating.

Balcony:  Portable camping barbecue, occasional steaks or salmon.

Computer Desk: Check email, compose responses, delete spam, read Microsoft News, look at cartoons, open abstracts more detail, review financial data, color edit old travel slides (default activity).

Garden Room (low bench at bay window): Some 22 miniature orchids live in a vivarium (plastic storage box), grow-lights above and algae sludge swamp pond below.  A daily mist spray and checking for flowers takes about ten minutes a day. On the bench, in room conditions, is an African vine with a new 8-inch growth tendril, seeking a twig to wind around. Before it finds its twig, a hair clip will attach it to a circular frame – a very occasional event for this.

J. A.

Quiet. Staying at home is peaceful, with time to think, to meditate even. No need to be sociable, or to go to meetings. No need to dress appropriately. But visiting my little balcony is no substitute for walking freely outside. I miss our exercise classes, and swimming.

By the time we are released from sheltering-in-place, I will most likely have had more than enough of this nice quiet. For now, I am enjoying rereading the first two of Hilary Mantel’s books on Thomas Cromwell and looking forward to starting her recently published final volume.

Judy & Dave C.

We’re reading posts from our grand dog.

Jean B.

I am doing fine and determined not to get depressed. Rainstorm was needed and welcome, and now the sunshine is pouring in my window and I’m listening to my jazz station. A good lunch in the apartment, thanks to our great cooks and servers.

Joan U.

The view from our apartments is a huge help in combatting “I’m trapped” syndrome – trees and sky in an ever-changing panorama. I loved last night’s rolling bar.

Also, I’ve been walking.  One Palo Alto walk near Webster House is:

San Francisquito Creek

San Francisquito Creek is the dividing line between Palo Alto and Menlo Park – a placid little trickle of water until it occasionally goes wild and inundates whole neighborhoods, causing a great deal of property damage.  Walking up Palo Alto Avenue you will find several small grassy clearings where you can peer through the undergrowth and see the creek meandering over rocks between sandbagged banks.  Where Palo Alto Ave. joins Alma Street at the rail crossing there is a small park with a footpath that leads to a pedestrian bridge over the creek and into Menlo Park.  Follow the path to read signage about the history and ecology of the creek, the wildlife that is being restored, the people who lived here before us and El Palo Alto, the redwood tree that our city is named for. Crossing over the creek, you can turn right onto East Creek Drive and walk back along the creek through a neighborhood of older ranch homes with pretty gardens and whimsical sculptures. Continue right onto Willow Road toward Middlefield.  Look for the signs for the pedestrian bridge that will take you back across the creek close to Waverley Street. Don’t miss the owl box suspended over the bridge, and the pig sculpture at the corner of Waverley and Ruthven!  Turn right on Cowper and you will find yourself in front of Colette.  At this writing they are still doing take-out.

Magnus the Magnificat graciously agreed to record his impressions of containment:

“Life for me is pretty good. My human has to stay home so there are many opportunities for pets, cuddles, scritches, and lots of snacks. I need yowl but once to prompt my lowly handmaiden to hop up and accede to my every whim. I still get to go outside on my patio any time I care to. Finally, I am getting my due.”

During this time as we shelter-in-place, it can be helpful to remember all of the things we can be thankful for and the positives that surround us. Sunshine coming in the windows. Rain that is nourishing the spring flowers. A good book. Technology that allows us to connect to loved ones even as we stay home. What small things are brightening your day and bringing you joy?

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Covia is pleased to report that there are no additional cases of COVID-19 at Lytton Gardens after the case first reported one month ago. The resident who was initially diagnosed has fully recovered. Thank you to the staff and residents whose efforts and cooperation supported the health of all. 

March 18

There has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 (also called Coronavirus) at Lytton Gardens, Covia’s Affordable Housing Community in Palo Alto, in the Arbors neighborhood. Covia, the owner of Lytton Gardens, was informed of this today, March 18th. 

Since the pandemic started, Covia has been following guidance provided by state, local, and national officials along with long-standing established protocols for infection control.  We continue to take steps to ensure the wellbeing of our residents, staff, and the public.  We have informed the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health and are following all of their recommendations.

Here is what we know:

Last Wednesday, March 11, the resident reported difficulty breathing and went to the hospital which administered a Coronavirus test and instructed the resident to return home and remain in isolation.

On Wednesday, March 18, the resident’s son reported the positive test result to Lytton Gardens’ Housing Administrator who immediately reported the case to the County and began implementing their recommendations. The resident reports that he has not had any other contact with any residents nor has staff been in his apartment for any work orders for the past 7 days.

We continue to take all available steps to control the spread of infection, based on the recommendations of the Department of Public Health and our own best practices for infection control and prevention.  This includes:

• Proper staff usage of Personal Protective Equipment;
• Best practices to reduce infection; and
• Additional deep cleaning routines at the community and in all public areas.

As an affordable community, Lytton Gardens provides housing and social support and is not a health care provider.

March 26

Since the initial report of March 18, Lytton Gardens has taken the following actions:

• Implemented all of the measures requested by the Santa Clara County Department of Public Health, confirming those steps with a representative from the Department.
• Lytton Gardens staff members are getting their temperatures checked daily at Webster House before they begin their shift.
• The Lytton Gardens staff is sanitizing the buildings daily according to the protocols set by the Centers for Disease Control.
• Starting Friday, March 27, a service that specializes in managing sanitation services will be on site to dispose of trash safely.

To our knowledge, there have been no other cases of COVID-19 in Lytton Gardens. One other resident tested negative for the virus. Residents have been told to call their health care provider and to keep Lytton Gardens staff informed if they exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19.

Covia will provide further updates as they are available, as well as on our COVID-19 Response webpage. 

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“The first thing that I think I noticed about Webster House is that people care,” he says. “From the line staff to upper management, everybody cares about the residents who live here, which is great. Everything else can be learned. People caring is something you either have it or you don’t.”

After emigrating to the Bay Area from Iran in 1988 at the age of 15, Rod attended San Jose State University, getting a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy. His first job was as an Occupational Therapist in a Skilled Nursing Facility in Alameda. After that, he moved to San Francisco where he worked first as a rehabilitation manager, then became a case manager and director of case management while at the same time earning his MBA. Meanwhile, he learned of an opportunity to enter an Administrator in Training program: “I applied, I got in, and got my Masters and became an Administrator at the same time.” After getting his Administrator’s license and MBA, Rod managed Skilled Nursing Facilities for about 16 years.

Because Rod’s prior experience has mostly been as the administrator of places like Webster House Health Center, one of his first goals is to get more exposure to the Independent Living side of the community. In his short time here so far, he’s visited the dining committee, the financial study group, and presented at his first Fireside Chat – an all-community update that happens monthly – as well as getting to know individual residents.

“We have the greatest residents,” he says. “They’re very welcoming. They’re very casual. They’re more than happy to converse with people that are interested and letting them know why they’re here,” such as the fact that they can walk half a block to get to downtown Palo Alto.

His first impression of Webster House Health Center, which provides rehabilitation services and skilled nursing, is that “for the size of the health center, it’s a smooth running operation. And that’s typically not achievable unless you have competent people in place. Room for improvement? Always. But looking at it from a global perspective, it’s a smooth-running operation.”

“Because I have the background and experience in the health center side, I would confidently tell people that the care they will receive here is by far much better than 85-90 percent of the skilled nursing facilities in the area,” he says.

Rod was drawn to the position because Webster House and Covia have a good reputation as an employer in the area of senior living. The Assistant Executive Director of St. Paul’s Towers, Maggie Youssef, and Rod had worked together previously and “she spoke very highly of the company,” Rod says. “I can tell you that everyone I have met so far has been great. And I do get emails saying, ‘Everything OK? Do you need anything?’ Knowing that I’m newer to the position, knowing that I may need something, they’re taking the first step to reach out to me before I reach out to them, which is wonderful.”

Being the Executive Director of a Life Plan Community is not an easy role to fill. “You need to be able to wear multiple hats. You need to be able to think on your feet. You need to be able to put out fires right away. And you need to be able to remember that you’re dealing with people’s lives,” Rod says. “It is a tough business. Different personalities, different challenges, different situations. That’s what’s tough about it.”

At the same time, “You can make a difference in people’s lives and well-being,” Rod notes. “What I like about it is that there are no two days that are the same. It never gets boring.”

Especially with so many interesting people around. “I love and welcome conversations. I live by the fact that I have an open-door policy. I invite people to come in and say hi to me in my office. I’m enjoying every day that I’m here and I’m learning a lot.”

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It is money grubbing time again. Buy, buy, buy, and then buy more. For those of us who stress about what to buy, discombobulation can smash our frames of mind. Mettle is challenged. Yet it need not be that way. Here are some ways of giving that are guaranteed to please and leave your purse or wallet untouched. Rank and randy commercialism be damned! Embrace the wonders of giving simply. Curiously they are worth more than money could ever buy. They are fun for you too.

First. Make two phone calls per day to friends or family that you have not spoken with for a long time. This is personal and profound. It is not a mass-produced card. The personal touch is rarely practiced in this era of electronic babble. You too will be enveloped in the warmth and surprise of the call. If you don’t know the person’s phone number, it is easy to find and free. Ask me and I’ll teach you how to do it.

Second. Write three short hand-written notes daily for 30 days. The message need not be long. Just one sentence or phrase – just like on the $2 cards. Example: “I appreciate hearing your cheerful voice when I call. Thanks.” It’s the personal touch that does the trick. Such touches are scarce these days. A written note takes a minute or so to write. By the end of 30 days you will have brought some warmth into the lives of nearly 100 people! That’s a quiet antidote to the current climate where insults, blame saying, arrogance, and egotism seem to flourish unchallenged.

Third. Here’s some gifts for close friends and family. Write a simple story about an earlier experience, perhaps shared or perhaps not. Each of our apartments is full of things with stories. I’ve given some in my family treasured seasonal decorations along with stories about what our family was like when we used the decoration. I described some of the traditions and the circumstances of that earlier time. Scooter wrote a story about her family and the world during the year before each of her kids was born. Whew! What a treasure.

Think simple giving. That may just be our way to put the human spirit back into the holidays and to penetrate those thick bastions of religious traditions and beliefs.

This is a season when many faiths celebrate the good in us all. A leader of the Hasidic Jews observed: “Everyday life is hallowed, and each of us is responsible for the bit of existence that has been entrusted to our care.” Let’s keep the traditions of giving centered on people.

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Housing Administrator Doris Lee says, “Affordable Housing usually only has independent living, so to have the assisted living and the nursing home on the same campus is truly unique.”

“Many people know about Lytton Gardens independent living and Webster House Healthcare Center. The assisted living is not as widely recognized. Our assisted living is more affordable than others in the area, and we want to spread the word out that we have affordable assisted living,” adds Lee.

Assisted Living allows residents to remain independent in many areas while provide support for activities of daily living, such as dressing or bathing, that may require additional support. A typical Assisted Living community can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000 per month or more, far out of reach for many seniors.

At Lytton Gardens, however, the cost is far less. In fact, the maximum allowable income to qualify as determined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is currently set at $66,150 for a single person or $75,600 for a couple. Once income-qualified, residents at Lytton Gardens Assisted Living pay 30% or less of their monthly income for rent, a meal fee of $642.60, and a personal care fee of $1350. For this, residents receive three meals a day, housekeeping and laundry services, and 24-hour staff assistance. The rest of the resident’s rent is subsidized by HUD. 

Located only blocks away from downtown Palo Alto, Lytton Gardens offers not just a place to live, but a community, with many activities and special events as well as a weekly Market Day. “Having the different levels of care on one campus allows the resident to still live amongst the friends they have cultivated and in the place they have called home for so long,” says Lee. “Although the resident needs to move to a different apartment, they are still part of the Lytton Gardens community. Also having the nursing home on site has given some residents the extra motivation to be able to look out their window and see their apartment and work extra hard to be able to return to their apartment safely.”

One resident who has been living in Lytton’s Assisted Living for three years says, “I love the central location of the community, so close to all the shops and restaurants on University Ave. I love my apartment. Having maintenance crew on site is a plus. All the caregivers are great and they personalize the care.”

Lytton Gardens Assisted Living is currently accepting applications. Please contact Lytton Gardens to schedule a tour or call (650) 617-7338 to speak with the Assisted Living Manager, Anahi McKane.

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“I thought, ‘Oh, I’ll just have a little volunteer program. They can work with the residents, meet them, talk to them,’” she says. “But it evolved into so much more.”

Now in its third year, Healthy Connections partners with Stanford University’s Office of Undergraduate Advising to provide pre-med students with a setting to gain clinical experience as well as giving residents in the Health Center the personal connections that studies continue to show are beneficial to people’s health and well-being.

Webster House and its affiliated Health Center are located just a mile away from Stanford University. With physicians from Stanford and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation making rounds at the Health Center daily, the program offers valuable experience for students interested in exploring the medical field.

In addition, the program exposes pre-med students to the need for, and importance of, geriatrics as a medical specialty. According to the American Geriatric Society, 20,000 geriatricians are required to keep up with the need right now, and that need will only grow as the population ages. There are currently fewer than 7,300 certified geriatricians practicing nationwide.

Volunteers for the Healthy Connection program must spend a minimum of three hours each week with the residents and at least 100 clinical hours at the Health Center. “Most of the students, though, work well beyond the hundred hours and some have gone on to two hundred hours,” according to Lau.

Students must be 18 years old, pass a criminal background check, be screened for tuberculosis, and attend an in-depth orientation. “There’s a number of regulations and things they need to know about if they’re going to be in a health care setting and working with a vulnerable population such as older adults,” Lau explains, including the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), patient rights, elder abuse, infection control, and safety procedures.

So far, 12 students have participated in the program. Four of the 12 students who have been through the program have been accepted to medical school.

“Everyone seemed to benefit,” Lau says. “The student was exposed to a clinical environment, but most of all, there was a very strong, caring, and reliable relationship.”

Healthy Connections recently received a Sereno Group 1% For Good grant from the Palo Alto office. 1% for Good provides grants to local organizations that are active in improving our communities. Sereno Group Palo Alto will be supporting Healthy Connections from July through September 2018.

Brian Chancellor from the Sereno Group says, ““We were intrigued and touched by the inter-generational experience between the students and the residents. It’s exciting to support them all in their care and cultivation of such a relationship when it is so greatly needed and appreciated.”

As the new school year begins at Stanford, students can anticipate another benefit of participating in the Healthy Connections program: Dr. Peter Pompei, a professor at the Stanford Medical School, general internist and geriatrician with 20 years of clinical experience, will serve as the program’s medical director, providing mentorship and support for the students.

But it’s the relationships built between the residents and students that most impresses Lau. “These students really help support these older adults. They improve the quality of their lives. And for me, I can’t tell you what I feel when I see some of these individuals smile.”

For more information on the Healthy Connections program, please contact Pat Lau at plau@covia.org.

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