Frequently Asked Questions

When Kendal first opened in 1993, we had five basic floor plans for independent living accommodations. Now with new construction, renovation and combining of a few cottages, there are many more options.

Basic floor plan styles range from a studio cottage or apartment to a two-bedroom + den with two full bathrooms. There are 48 apartments and 175 cottages on our 110-acre campus. The apartment building is attached directly to the Heiser Community Center, and cottages are connected via a system of covered and lighted walkways.

Kendal began its first Master Plan expansion in 2006, with the addition of three phases of new cottages and updates to several community spaces. These 36 residences are situated along the perimeter road that surrounds the original cottages and feature larger rooms and taller windows for plenty of natural light.

We began our second Master Plan in 2012, with a focus on renovating the 139 classic cottages to include features residents felt would make them more appealing – larger windows for more light, expanded living space, and larger, open kitchens.

Complete conversion of heating and cooling systems, including geothermal where possible, better serves Kendal’s environmental initiatives. These renovations will continue over the next few years. Check out the floor plans here. Plus, community spaces were added and updated, with a focus on resident activity spaces, such as art, woodshop, horticulture and fitness.

The campus has changed a lot since the earliest Kendalites moved to Kendal in 1993. Come out and see for yourself if you haven’t done so already. We’d be happy to show you around!

This is a good question, since Kendal communities set themselves apart by encouraging residents to lead the way in programs and activities. Often, other communities have life enrichment directors who plan all programs and trips. 

Kendal’s independent residents are responsible for shaping their own community life, and their relationships with each other. This happens naturally when residents take responsibility for their individual and group enrichment. They do this through 90+ committees or interest groups.

On any day, you might find a morning lecture, a trip to a botanical garden, a group walk in the Metro Parks, a class in Kendal’s Art Studio and/or an evening recital… all planned and organized by Kendal residents.

All residents are members of the Kendal at Oberlin Residents Association (KORA). Members plan, organize and implement all aspects of social, cultural, intellectual and spiritual life in the community.

The ultimate goal is to build a community in which individuals are nurtured by responding to one another with sensitivity, goodwill and patience. This makes Kendal at Oberlin a living, ever-changing and growing community. Learn more about how we put the Kendal core values into practice on our campus.

Kendal at Oberlin offers a full continuum of care on one campus. Most residents live in independent living cottages and apartments. When needs change, the Stephens Care Center provides assisted living, memory support through the Jameson Neighborhood, short-term rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing care. Direct admissions to care services are also available from outside the Kendal community.

Many people we talk to are moving to their Kendal cottage or apartment from a larger home, quite possibly the same one they’ve lived in for decades. Needless to say, they may have decades’ worth of accumulation to sort through.

Downsizing, or “right-sizing,” is not easy, but you might be amazed at how much better you feel once you start organizing and paring down some of those long-forgotten belongings. When you’ve decided that Kendal is the place for your next chapter, it’s time to start planning what will come with you, even if a move is not imminent.

Look at the items you routinely use and ask yourself a few questions:

• Will you need them at Kendal?
• What items are stored that you haven’t used for a long time?
• Why not donate, give away or dispose of them now?

Once there is a contract, you may be in the process of selling your home. Typically, homes sell faster when there is less “stuff” filling the rooms and closets. Rooms look open, airy and spacious when furnishings and knick-knacks are minimal. Of course, you still have to live there until it’s time to move, so making a downsizing plan is definitely wise.

Ask us for scaled floor plans that can help you determine what will fit in your new home. And start envisioning the beautiful space you will have in Kendal’s vibrant community. The effort will be worthwhile.

For helpful tips about “right-sizing,” download our guide, the Do’s and Don’ts of Downsizing.

Yes! Kendal at Oberlin is a vibrant, diverse, inclusive and caring community focused on healthy aging. One of our founding Quaker values is to encourage and welcome everyone, without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or any other characteristic protected by law, to live in our communities and to serve on our staff and boards.

This means we not only accept and value differences, but we encourage them. We believe that a spirit and culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging strengthens communities, people and services.

We want everyone to feel comfortable being their authentic selves. Here’s how we achieve this:

• Ongoing team training and workshops on structural inclusion, non-judgmental inquiry, open communication and diversity. 
• SAGECare accreditation, which illustrates our dedication to providing exemplary service to LGBTQ+ elders through staff training.
• Recognition as an LGBTQ+ Long-Term Care Equality High Performer, which means we have a solid foundation of non-discrimination policies and staff training.
• Anti-discrimination policy and DEIB statement.
• Celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month every June with resident panel discussions, special programs and other celebrations.
• Part of the Kendal system-wide Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee.
• LGBTQ+ Allies Interest Group that raises awareness, advocacy and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other gender non-conforming residents, staff and allies at Kendal at Oberlin. 

Kendal at Oberlin takes an active role in environmental stewardship and sustainability practices, including arboriculture, solar energy, geothermal energy, composting, recycling and more. These practices include maintaining an accredited arboretum, conserving energy, recycling and ongoing education and enhancements through strategic planning and committee work.

One of the goals for our Strategic Plan (2022-2026) includes a commitment to extend our conservation and sustainability initiative, including cost-saving measures and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

In partnership with Oberlin College and the City of Oberlin, Kendal at Oberlin’s resident Environmental Concerns committee works to identify environmental sustainability concerns. The long-standing committee also develops action programs, provides educational opportunities and encourages participation from the Kendal community.

Additionally, Kendal at Oberlin is home to 100 acres of trees and other plants in the John Bartram Arboretum, accredited and registered in 2015 as a Level 1 arboretum and in 2022 as a Level II arboretum by ArbNet. The John Bartram Arboretum has numerous environmental benefits, including producing oxygen that enhances respiratory health and serving as an important habitat for birds, insects and animals. In addition, trees improve water quality by reducing runoff and erosion, and they help prevent the transport of sediment and chemicals into streams.

Yes, Kendal at Oberlin is located in northeast Ohio, just one mile from Oberlin College and less than 30 miles from the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE).

Oberlin is rich in history, parks and recreation, and an array of cultural opportunities that include art, music and theater. We’re a short drive from metropolitan Cleveland, where you’ll discover a variety of great eats and interesting venues in downtown, like Dante, Playhouse Square, and West Side Market. Use this guide to Oberlin, Ohio, for tips on dining, shopping, museums, cultural gems and more.