Forwood Manor, located at 1912 Marsh Road in Wilmington, Delaware, is a comprehensive senior living community operated by Five Star Senior Living (a division of AlerisLife). This continuing care retirement community offers multiple levels of care on a 13-acre campus with beautifully landscaped grounds and a variety of amenities designed to enhance residents’ quality of life.

Types of Services Offered

Independent Living

Forwood Manor features 140 independent living apartments for active adults seeking a maintenance-free lifestyle while maintaining their autonomy. These apartments operate on a rental basis with no endowment or purchase required. Independent living residents enjoy weekly housekeeping, flat linen service, and access to all community amenities.

Assisted Living

The community includes 37 assisted living suites providing personalized care for seniors who need assistance with activities of daily living. Services include:

• 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 venues
• Life enrichment activities and social programs

Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation

Forwood Manor houses a 72-bed health care center providing rehabilitative skilled nursing care. This center offers:

• 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 provides a wide range of amenities designed to promote an engaging, comfortable lifestyle:

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/high-speed internet
• On-site therapy services (physical, occupational, speech)

Daily Activities

Forwood Manor offers a robust schedule of activities and programs designed to engage residents socially, physically, and mentally:

• 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

Residents can also form their own interest groups and clubs based on shared hobbies and interests. As one reviewer noted, residents “got together regularly for jigsaw puzzles, something that was organized by the residents,” showing how residents take an active role in creating community engagement opportunities.

Dining Experience

The dining program at Forwood Manor emphasizes quality and choice:

• 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

Several reviews mention that the food quality is “very good” and “restaurant quality,” with one reviewer noting that their father “has been gaining weight while he’s there. So he must be enjoying the food.”

Testimonials from Residents and Families

Forwood Manor has received generally positive reviews, with an overall rating of 9.3 out of 10 based on 30 reviews on A Place for Mom and 4.0 out of 5 based on 23 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. There are minimal safety features, fall alert and some 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

“I got a really incredible deal with Forwood Manor for my aunt. I was able to save close to $2,000.00. We got the biggest room with a kitchenette, a very big living room area, a huge bedroom, and two walk-in closets. They provide three meals, but we had to pay extra for the extra help. Overall, it was a nice deal. The place is big; it has lots of people at all levels of ability. She had a greater chance of finding people like her, and she did, immediately. The chef there is incredible, and the food is really good.” – Lynn66648950

Areas for Improvement

Some reviewers mentioned potential 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

Forwood Manor operates on a monthly rental model with pricing that varies based on the level of care 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

The overall costs at Forwood Manor range from $6,086 to $10,190, with an average price of $8,138, which is higher than the average cost of assisted living in the Wilmington area of $6,292.

Comparison with Similar Facilities in Wilmington

When compared to other senior living communities in the Wilmington area, Forwood Manor offers a comprehensive continuum of care that distinguishes it from facilities offering more limited service 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 distinguishes itself through several features:

• Extensive 13-acre campus with beautifully 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

However, some competing facilities offer memory care services, which Forwood Manor does not specifically advertise, though they do note they can accommodate residents with mild dementia.

Conclusion

Forwood Manor offers a comprehensive senior living experience with multiple levels of care on a spacious, well-maintained campus in Wilmington. The community stands out for its full continuum of care, allowing residents to transition between independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing as their needs change without relocating to a different facility.

The facility’s strengths include its spacious grounds, variety of apartment options, robust activity programming, and quality dining services. Residents and families generally report positive experiences, particularly noting the friendly staff, good food, and engaging social environment.

Areas where potential residents might want to further investigate include cell phone reception issues mentioned by some reviewers, response time for maintenance requests, and communication systems between staff and families.

For families considering Forwood Manor, the pricing is higher than the area average, but many reviews suggest the amenities, dining program, and quality of care provide good value. The rental model (no buy-in required) also makes it more accessible for some seniors compared to communities requiring substantial entrance fees.

Ultimately, Forwood Manor appears to be a solid option for seniors in the Wilmington area seeking a community where they can age in place with access to increasing levels of care as needed, while enjoying a comfortable, socially engaging lifestyle.