Concordia at Sumner: Comprehensive Review

Concordia at Sumner, located at 970 Sumner Parkway in Copley, Ohio, is a continuing care retirement community on a 64-acre campus. Run by Concordia Lutheran Ministries, it offers independent living, assisted living, nursing care, and short-term rehabilitation. The facility traces its roots to Louise Sumner's vision in the 1870s.

• Types of services offered
  • Independent living
  • Assisted living
  • Long-term nursing care
  • Short-term rehabilitation
• Amenities
  • Recreational facilities
  • Living spaces
  • Campus features
  • Additional services
• Daily activities
• Testimonials from residents and families
  • Positive testimonials
  • Areas for improvement
• Pricing information
• Quality ratings and metrics
• In the Copley area, Concordia at Sumner competes with several other senior living options. The Gardens at Copley emphasizes personalized care plans and a range of amenities. Other facilities nearby include Village of St. Edward at Fairlawn, Brookdale Bath, and Vitalia Senior Residences of Montrose. Concordia's main advantages are its large 64-acre campus, its indoor pool, and its ability to provide all levels of care on one property.
  • Notable comparisons
  • Distinctive features of Concordia at Sumner
• Conclusion

Types of services offered

Independent living

Concordia at Sumner offers independent living for active seniors who want a maintenance-free lifestyle. Options include private villas and garden apartments available for rent with no buy-in. Residents receive:

• Weekly housekeeping
• 24-hour security monitoring
• Emergency response systems in each unit
• Access to all community amenities
• Access to higher levels of care if needed

Assisted living

The assisted living program serves seniors who need help with daily activities. Each suite includes a bedroom, living area, kitchenette, and private bathroom. The facility provides 24-hour nursing coverage, medication management, locked and monitored buildings, and emergency response systems.

• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)

Long-term nursing care

For residents needing ongoing medical care, the facility provides 24-hour skilled nursing, large private suites, personalized care plans, experienced clinical staff, country kitchens and dining rooms in each health center building, and access to garden courtyards.

• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)

Short-term rehabilitation

The facility offers rehabilitation services for those recovering from surgery, illness, or injury, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.

• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)

Amenities

The community includes an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, computer center, library, activity center, movie theater, and beauty salon. Apartments and villas range from studios to two-bedroom units, most with private bathrooms, kitchenettes, individual temperature controls, cable television, and WiFi. The 64-acre campus has walking paths, garden courtyards, 24-hour security, and scheduled transportation.

Recreational facilities

• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)

Living spaces

• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)

Campus features

• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)

Additional services

• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)

Daily activities

The community runs a full calendar of activities to support physical, mental, social, and spiritual wellness. Programs include cultural and educational events, wellness classes, tai chi and qi gong, water exercise, craft groups, mystery dinners, book club, spiritual dialogue groups, and weekly musical performances. Residents also form clubs around shared interests. One resident reported: "Seniors have plenty of opportunities to stay active by walking indoors or outside, plus water aerobics, yoga, strength training, and a large workout room."

• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)

(Removed redundant list items)

Testimonials from residents and families

Concordia at Sumner has an overall rating of 3.8 out of 5 on Caring.com (13 reviews) and a resident review score of 5.6 out of 10 on Family Assets.

Positive testimonials

"My wife has moved into Concordia at Sumner. It is very good. The facilities are excellent. The staff is very good. The food is very good. It is a beautiful place. They have excellent activities. We have gone to some of the musical programs they put on. They put on at least one musical program a week." – Joe, November 2018

"This is a beautiful campus! The employees are so sweet and truly care about the residents and families. This is a community that I definitely would recommend to my family and friends! Only good things to say about Sumner!" – dwlee, March 2018

"I moved my father to Concordia. He's been there before, and we've had other relatives there. The staff is friendly and helpful. He goes to exercise class once in a while. They serve three meals, and he can ask for snacks. They have a physical therapy room for exercise, a library, and lounges for puzzles, reading, and sitting by the fireplace." – John068161, January 2017

Ted and Linda Oravecz, who moved to Concordia in 2016, called it "resort-style living" and praised the supportive staff and residents. They liked the indoor pool, fitness opportunities, and resident-led activities.

Areas for improvement

Some residents noted room for improvement:

"The only negative is if your relative does not drive, they do not provide flexible transportation. There is a once-per-week grocery run with only 45 minutes to shop and return to the bus. For such a nice facility serving this age group, they should offer better transport services." – helpourelders, July 2017

"My only complaint, and I understand it's an industry-wide problem, is staffing. We were short-staffed over Thanksgiving." – Joe, November 2018

"The hallways are very long and span multiple stories. I could not see my husband in a second-floor room and then having to walk a long hallway to find an elevator to go downstairs. It is inconvenient." – Reviewer1192020, February 2020

Pricing information

Concordia at Sumner uses a monthly rental model. Costs range from $2,521 to $7,335 per month, with an average of approximately $4,928. Independent living apartments start around $2,770 per month, and some options cost under $3,000. This is slightly higher than the local average of $4,786 for nursing homes. The facility accepts Medicare and Medicaid for eligible residents.

• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)

(Removed redundant list items)

One couple who moved there in 2016 created a spreadsheet comparing costs of apartments, condos, and senior living options over 8–9 years. They found that Concordia at Sumner was the most affordable choice.

(Removed redundant list items)

(Removed redundant list items)

Quality ratings and metrics

Medicare gave Concordia at Sumner an overall rating of 3.0 out of 5 stars, with 3.0 stars for quality and 3.0 stars for staff. The facility outperforms state averages in several areas: 57.8% of short-term residents returned home (compared to 51.7% statewide), zero residents experienced major fall injuries (compared to 1.0% statewide), 5.9% of short-term patients developed serious infections (compared to 6.8% statewide), and 8.5% needed emergency care during their stay (compared to 12.7% statewide). The facility provides 4 hours 14 minutes of nursing staff per resident daily: 2.0 hours from licensed nurses and 2.1 hours from nurse aides.

• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)

(Removed redundant list items)

• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)

(Removed redundant list items)

• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)

Comparing senior living options in Copley

Concordia at Sumner has several strengths compared to nearby facilities. It operates one of the largest campuses in the area at 64 acres, offers a full continuum of care from independent living through skilled nursing, includes an indoor pool (uncommon in the region), provides what the facility describes as the largest private suites available for nursing residents, and has over a century of experience serving seniors in Northeast Ohio. Village of St. Edward at Fairlawn has higher resident ratings with 82% giving five-star reviews. Brookdale Bath offers similar services but has a 7.6/10 review score. Vitalia Senior Residences of Montrose in Copley has higher ratings at 8.7/10 with 64% five-star reviews.

Notable comparisons

• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)

Distinctive features of Concordia at Sumner

• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)
• (Removed redundant list items)

Conclusion

Concordia at Sumner offers multiple levels of care on a well-maintained 64-acre campus in Copley. Residents have access to an indoor pool, fitness center, and a full calendar of activities. The facility provides the continuum of care needed to age in place, and residents often praise the friendly staff, good food, and social environment.

The main drawbacks worth investigating are limited transportation outside the facility, potential staffing shortages during holidays, and building layouts that may be difficult for people with mobility limitations.

Pricing is slightly higher than the local average, though many residents report good value for the amenities and services. Quality metrics are average overall, though the facility performs above state averages on several safety measures.

Concordia at Sumner is a reasonable option for seniors in Copley who want an active lifestyle with access to higher levels of care if needed. Families should schedule a tour to see if the features match their loved one's specific needs.

(Removed redundant summary)