Whether it’s instructor-led exercise classes, engaging art sessions or an afternoon trip to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, the residents of Starling at Nocatee Independent Living are never without the opportunity to live life to the fullest. On Sep. 6, the facility will celebrate the first-year anniversary of opening its doors.
“In our first year, over 100 residents moved into the facility,” said Kerri Dufour, executive director at Starling.
The facility provides the 55+ community with luxury apartment-style living with 140 separate apartments all under one roof. The facility offers both one-and- two-bedroom options with a wide variety of amenities available to its residents.
“We have transportation, a dine-in bistro, a heated resort-style swimming pool, and an exercise room for our residents,” Dufour said, adding that their residents are also offered a number of options for engaging activities like art and exercise classes, live music, day trips and more. This is just the start of the many benefits that come with life at Starling.
Unlike similar facilities, Starling does not require the astronomical buy-in fee that many independent and assisted living communities have. Residents pay a reasonable monthly rent just as they would at a traditional apartment complex, allowing individuals to live in the facility without the outlandish financial responsibility that sometimes comes along with life at independent living facilities.
“Monthly rent at Starling is all-inclusive,” Dufour said. “It covers the cost of the living space, WiFi, cable, meals and more,” Dufour said.
Once residents outgrow independent living and require more around-the-clock care, residents have the option to relocate to the assisted living or memory care facilities that are located close to Starling, Dufour said.
In addition to the standard care provided to its residents, the facility has also ramped up its attentiveness to protect both residents and employees from COVID-19. Because the facility is an independent living-style establishment, residents are welcome to have family and friends visit, but guests are required to wear masks and go through a COVID-19 screening upon entering the building.
“I am happy to say that our independent living facility has been able to remain 100% COVID-free,” Dufour said.
She credits this accomplishment to the fact that not only is the facility very careful about screening guests, their employees have been making smart, safe lifestyle choices on and off the clock to ensure the health and safety of the residents.
Although Starling is still a new facility, it has grown leaps and bounds in its first year. With the help of its dedicated staff and its growing community of residents, Dufour envisions a very bright future for Starling. The Nocatee community has been on a consistent upward growth trend, with businesses and communities heightening everywhere.
“With a lot of families relocating to the Nocatee area from all over the country, Starling is a great option because it allows people to bring mom and dad or their grandparents with them when they move,” Dufour said. “Families have the feeling of security that their loved ones are being well cared for,”
Dufour also said the facility does daily check-ins on its residents and takes care of the day-to-day household tasks many individuals struggle to carry out as they age.
For more information about Starling at Nocatee, go to www.starlingliving.com or call at (904) 596-0880.
