The Vista Blog

When The Vista opened its doors in 2021, it introduced a new kind of senior living, in a stunning modern community that fostered independence, connection, and peace of mind.

“Any new building is beautiful,” said Executive Director Ellen DeBel. “But it’s the people inside and the way they care for one another that really defines The Vista.”

A Community That Grows Together

Since opening with just a handful of team members, The Vista has evolved into a bustling community with nearly 100 employees. It reached full occupancy within three years, a milestone that shows the vital need it met in the area: a place where residents could enjoy vibrant independent living with a built-in plan for their future.

But Ellen believes The Vista’s true success lies in the close-knit camaraderie that has grown in the community.

“Residents have built real, lasting friendships over these five years,” she said. “They support one another, whether it’s giving someone a ride to an appointment or simply checking in. That’s what makes this place special.”

A New Beginning

For Jo-Ann Glock, the journey to The Vista began years before it opened. Living alone in her home after her husband’s passing, she began thinking long-term.

“I asked myself, what’s my plan?” she said. “I didn’t want to maintain a house by myself forever.”

She joined the waiting list early and never looked back. “It was even better than I imagined,” she said. “I thought it would just be a place I came and went from, but it immediately became home.”

Yvonne and Gerald Johnson arrived about a year and a half ago after making a major life change: selling the home they had lived in for nearly five decades.

“It was nerve-wracking,” Yvonne said. “But we can’t even begin to tell you how happy we are here.”

Five Years of Vibrant and Convenient Living

From on-site activities, games, and concerts to outings to Lincoln Center and Yankee Stadium, residents have enjoyed10,800 events of carefully curated, life-enriching events and programs over the last five years, including 191 holiday parties and celebrations, 621 off-site trips, 104 happy hours, and thousands of fitness classes!

“We’re actually doing more now: things we wouldn’t have done on our own because we didn’t want to drive,” said Yvonne.

“In the winter, you don’t have to go outside to get to dinner or activities,” Gerald said. “Everything is right here.”

Delicious on-site dining, a beautiful gym, a heated pool, and a performing arts center are just a few of the impressive perks residents enjoy. The Vista has even introduced on-site health care services since opening, including primary care, a dermatologist, and vaccination clinics, meaning nearly everything residents need is just steps from their door.

For Jo-Ann, life at The Vista couldn’t be easier. “I don’t have to food shop, cook, or clean,” she said. “My life has only gotten better since moving here.”

Cultivating that lifestyle of independence, convenience, and connection is exactly what The Vista set out to achieve when it opened five years ago.

Looking Toward the Future

The Vista hopes to continue exceeding residents’ expectations, with a team that is dedicated to listening to their feedback. The community recently unveiled a new bocce court after residents enthusiastically requested one.

“From the start, we have prided ourselves in being the premier independent living community in this area,” said Ellen. “We had ideas, but listening to what the residents want made this community what it is.”

And five years in, it’s clear The Vista has become more than just a place to live. “It’s like living on a cruise ship without the water,” said Yvonne. “It’s been a wonderful experience, and we look forward to more of the same.”

A Timeline of The Vista

• In the early 2000s leadership identified a community need for senior independent housing and began the process of making The Vista a reality.
• In 2014 we received approval from Wyckoff and Hawthorne for The Vista’s construction.
• In 2019 we officially broke ground on The Vista!
• On June 7, 2021, the first residents moved in.
• On August 4, 2024, The Vista reached capacity.
• Today, about 200 residents call The Vista home and enjoy nearly 3,000 exciting events each year!

Learn More About The Vista

To learn more about life at northern New Jersey’s premier CCRC, please visit TheVista.org or call (201) 848-4200.