The owners of Hoffman SummerWood, located at 160 Simsbury Road in West Hartford, have indicated that the operation is no longer sustainable and will shut down this year.

Dining room at Hoffman SummerWood in West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Ronni Newton

Hoffman SummerWood has been operating as a community for West Hartford residents ages 55 and older for the past quarter century, but the owners plan to close the facility this year, citing changes in the landscape for senior living that have impacted the property’s viability.

The 25-acre property, in an R-13 residential zone on the northern end of West Hartford, will be sold to a local developer later this year. President and CEO Denise Peterson did not provide the date of the closing or the name of the buyer, but did note in a phone conversation with We-Ha.com that “we’re under a PSA [purchase and sale agreement]” with the due diligence process underway.

Peterson indicated that the facility will likely be closed by the fall.

“We take immense pride in having been able to provide a compassionate and caring community for hundreds of residents during the past 25 years. SummerWood has been a home where residents and families could truly feel safe, supported and valued during a meaningful phase of their lives,” Peterson said in a statement in a news release.

Hoffman SummerWood, a senior housing community at 160 Simsbury Road in West Hartford, has announced plans to close this year. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

SummerWood has operated as independent senior living, that utilizes “ALSA” (Assisted Living Services Agency) to make available additional care for residents who need it. They are not, Peterson said, a long-term care, rehabilitation, or memory care facility, and are all private-pay.

Residents were recently advised that decision to sell the property and close the facility had been made “with very heavy hearts” and after other options to continue operation had been explored.

Information shared by Peterson with residents, and in the news release, states: “Despite our ongoing efforts in recent years to sustain SummerWood as a viable option, the landscape of senior care has transformed dramatically. Complex factors including shifting demographics, evolving health care needs, and financial realities exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, have made it increasingly challenging to maintain SummerWood’s mission in its current form.”

Demand for independent senior living communities has waned, an announcement from the leadership team on SummerWood’s website states, noting that “exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, more individuals are choosing to remain in their homes later in life, a trend that continues to accelerate.”

Hoffman SummerWood, which is part of Hebrew Senior Care, has 95 units, a mixture of one- and two-bedroom apartments all with full kitchens. Early last summer, Hoffman SummerWood Executive Director Tracey Messina told We-Ha.com that there were 64 residents, including a handful of couples. Some of the residents had live-in caretakers. The property has a fitness center, library, hair salon, chef-run dining room that served Kosher food, and other amenities including gardens. A variety of packages, including meal plans, housekeeping, and transportation have been available to residents.

Interior of apartment at Hoffman SummerWood in West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Peterson said existing service levels will continue “well into this year” as they provide ample time and work with residents and families to “thoughtfully determine the next residence that best meets their needs” with the understanding that it is a difficult transition.

The announcement of the closing indicated a change in the overall independent living market for seniors, with newer communities designed for a broader range in the continuum of care, including independent living to assisted living, to memory care and care for those requiring more intensive nursing and medical care. “These communities now dominate an already competitive market. SummerWood was not designed to have, and does not have, the capacity or capability to  provide that broad range of services,” the release states.

In recent years, the occupancy at Hoffman SummerWood has consistently fallen below 50%, the news release states, with efforts to increase occupancy unsuccessful amid the market conditions.

“We also express a deep appreciation and respect for the Board and staff’s invaluable contributions and the meaningful relationships they have built with our residents and their families through the years,” Peterson said in the release. “The assurance that these bonds and memories will be cherished reflects the heartfelt commitment that has defined SummerWood and honors the legacy of everyone who has been a part of this community.”

Although impacted by some of the same factors, the closing of Hoffman SummerWood is a different process than the closing of a skilled nursing facility, which follows a strict timeline and requires state approval. Hughes Health & Rehabilitation operated a nursing home at 29 Highland Street for more than 50 years, but filed an application to close the facility in March 2023, citing “declining census as well as staffing needs and excessive cost increases.” The request to close was granted by the state’s Department of Social Services in May 2023, and the nursing home residents were relocated.

Vessel Technologies has filed an application to rezone and form a Special Development District in order to construct a 108-unit apartment development at 29 Highland Street. The West Hartford Town Council plans to conclude a public hearing and vote on Vessel’s application on Thursday, March 20.

Library at Hoffman SummerWood in West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

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