Forwood Manor: Comprehensive Review

Forwood Manor is a senior living community at 1912 Marsh Road in Wilmington, Delaware, operated by Five Star Senior Living (part of AlerisLife). The continuing care retirement community spans 13 acres and offers independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services on a single campus.

• Types of Services Offered
  • Independent Living
  • Assisted Living
  • Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation
  • Respite Care
• Amenities
  • Living Spaces
  • Community Areas
  • Services
• Daily Activities
• Dining Experience
• Testimonials from Residents and Families
  • Positive Testimonials
  • Areas for Improvement
• Pricing Information
  • Independent Living
  • Assisted Living
• Comparison with Similar Facilities in Wilmington
• Conclusion

Types of services offered

Independent living

Forwood Manor has 140 independent living apartments. These are rented with no purchase or endowment required. All residents receive weekly housekeeping, linen service, and access to community amenities.

Assisted living

The community includes 37 assisted living suites for seniors who need help with daily tasks. Services include 24/7 nursing staff, medication management, help with bathing and dressing, housekeeping, three meals daily, and organized activities.

• 24/7 nursing staff and front desk concierge
• Medication management
• Assistance with bathing, dressing, and mobility
• Weekly housekeeping and linen service
• Three daily meals in restaurant-style dining
• Life enrichment activities and social programs

Skilled nursing and rehabilitation

The 72-bed health care center provides 24-hour nursing care, short-term rehabilitation, long-term care for chronic conditions, physical and occupational therapy, and an on-site FOX Rehabilitation gym.

• 24-hour nursing care
• Short-term rehabilitation services
• Long-term care for chronic conditions
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
• On-site FOX Rehabilitation gym

Respite care

The facility offers short-term stays for seniors who need temporary care while their regular caregivers take a break, or for those recovering from surgery or illness.

Amenities

Forwood Manor offers a range of amenities across its campus:

Living spaces

• Studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments
• Private bathrooms and kitchenettes in many units
• Cable/satellite TV
• Private patios or balconies in select units
• Individually controlled heating and air conditioning
• Emergency call systems

Community areas

• Library with computer workstations
• Beauty salon and barbershop
• Card and game room
• Fitness center and exercise room
• Wellness center
• Multiple dining venues including private dining room
• Fireplace lounge with grand piano
• Outdoor courtyard and walking paths
• Chapel for religious services

Services

• Scheduled transportation for medical appointments, shopping, and outings
• Concierge services
• Housekeeping and laundry services
• Maintenance of building and grounds
• 24-hour emergency response system
• WiFi and high-speed internet
• On-site therapy services (physical, occupational, speech)

Daily activities

Forwood Manor schedules activities throughout the week: brain fitness programs, exercise classes, happy hour, gardening club, Tai Chi, book club, arts and crafts, live music, religious services, community service, Wii bowling, card games, and social outings. Residents also organize their own groups—one reviewer noted that residents "got together regularly for jigsaw puzzles, something that was organized by the residents."

• Brain fitness programs
• Exercise classes and Forever Fit program
• Happy hour social events
• Gardening club
• Stretching and Tai Chi classes
• Book club
• Arts and crafts
• Live musical performances
• Religious services
• Community service programs

• Wii bowling
• Card games and board games
• Social outings and community trips

Resident-organized groups are common. One reviewer mentioned that residents "got together regularly for jigsaw puzzles, something that was organized by the residents."

Dining experience

The dining program offers restaurant-style meals with menu choices and special dietary accommodations including low-sodium, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, pureed, and mechanically chopped options. A professional chef prepares meals, and snacks are available throughout the day. Multiple reviews mention that food quality is "very good" and "restaurant quality," with one reviewer noting their father "has been gaining weight while he's there."

• Restaurant-style dining with menu options
• Private dining room available for special occasions
• Special dietary accommodations including:
  • Low/no sodium options
  • Gluten-free meals
  • Vegetarian and vegan options
  • Pureed and mechanically chopped food for those with swallowing difficulties
  • Thickened liquids as needed
• Snacks available throughout the day
• Professional chef

Reviews consistently mention good food quality and generous portions.

Testimonials from residents and families

Forwood Manor has received generally positive reviews, with a 9.3 out of 10 rating based on 30 reviews on A Place for Mom and 4.0 out of 5 based on 23 other reviews.

Positive testimonials

"We are so grateful to have found this fine place for our family member. Every step of the way there was great info, consistent support, and for every question a clear and readily available answer. After 6 weeks of living at Forwood Manor, we continue to be impressed and grateful for the staff as well as the beautiful buildings and grounds." – Ellen E.

"Forwood Manor turned out to be a good transition for my friend. It has minimal safety features, such as fall alerts and pull-chains, and a dining room for meals. It doesn't have the level of intrusiveness that assisted living has. The apartment is generously sized, and we were thrilled with the patio door leading to the outside for the dog; they are pet friendly. Everyone has been very nice." – Kate Wherry

"My aunt received a good deal at Forwood Manor, saving close to $2,000 compared to other options. Her room was the largest available, featuring a kitchenette, spacious living room, large bedroom, and two walk-in closets. Three meals are provided daily, though additional care services require an extra fee. The community is large and diverse, with residents of varying abilities, which increased her chances of finding compatible companions. The chef is excellent, and the food is very good." – Lynn66648950

Areas for improvement

Some reviewers noted concerns:

"We've had a few maintenance issues that could have been addressed more quickly." – Kate Wherry

"If your loved one was going to be living there you had to get a landline because cell phones did not work." – Kathy W.

"Forwood Manor suffers from a lack of communication." – Cass

Pricing information

Monthly rental pricing varies by care level and apartment size:

Independent living

• Studio: Starting at $4,200/month
• One bedroom: Starting at $4,600/month
• Community entrance fee: Starting at $4,500

Assisted living

• Studio and companion apartments: Starting at $6,200/month

Overall costs range from $6,086 to $10,190, with an average of $8,138 per month—higher than the Wilmington area average of $6,292 for assisted living.

Comparison with similar facilities in Wilmington

Forwood Manor's main advantage is its full continuum of care, allowing residents to move between independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing without leaving the facility. Here's how it compares to nearby options:

Facility

Type of Care

Starting Price

Notable Features

Forwood Manor

IL, AL, Skilled Nursing

$4,200+

13-acre campus, full continuum of care, pet-friendly

Foulk Living

IL, AL, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing

$3,500+

Higher review score (4.3/5), variety of floor plans

Shipley Living

IL, AL, Skilled Nursing

$4,285+

Similar care options, comparable pricing

Luther Towers II

AL

$4,000+

More urban setting, limited care levels

Merrill Gardens at West Chester

IL, AL, Memory Care

Not specified

Located in nearby Pennsylvania

Forwood Manor's strengths include:

• Extensive 13-acre campus with maintained grounds
• No buy-in required (rental model)
• Full continuum of care from independent living through skilled nursing
• Pet-friendly accommodations
• On-site FOX Rehabilitation services

Unlike some competing facilities, Forwood Manor does not specifically advertise memory care services, though it can accommodate residents with mild dementia.

Conclusion

Forwood Manor offers independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing on a single 13-acre campus. The main advantage is the ability to age in place—residents can move between care levels without leaving the facility.

Strengths include spacious grounds, varied apartment sizes, regular programming, and good food. Residents and families often praise the friendly staff and social environment.

Potential concerns mentioned by reviewers include weak cell phone reception, slow response to maintenance requests, and inconsistent staff-family communication.

Pricing is above the Wilmington area average, but reviews suggest the amenities, dining, and care quality justify the cost. The rental model (no entrance fee) also appeals to some seniors compared to communities requiring substantial upfront payments.

For Wilmington-area seniors who want to age in place with increasing care options and an active social environment, Forwood Manor is worth considering.