ABOUT OUR CAMPUS 

Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber is Columbus, Ohio’s premier life plan community. Located in the lovely Victorian Village neighborhood on the edge of downtown Columbus, our community offers an abundance of on-site amenities with the bonus of having theaters, museums, galleries, sports, music venues, cultural attractions, and the city’s best dining hotspots in your own backyard.

But our community is much more than an exciting place to live; it’s designed to support you as your healthcare needs evolve over time. In addition to independent senior living apartments, you have access to assisted living, memory care, long-term nursing care, and short-term rehabilitation – all within our community.

 

HISTORY OF OHIO LIVING WESTMINSTER-THURBER

Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber is deeply rooted in the urban planning and history of Columbus, Ohio.

In the mid-19th century, thousands of Irish and German immigrants were arriving in Columbus, primarily settling in a neighborhood on the north edge of the city to work in nearby factories. The area became known as Flytown – so named because houses seemingly “flew up overnight.” This site of historical significance is where Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber is located today.

Around the 1950s, Columbus began the process of redeveloping this and other nearby neighborhoods as they planned for urban growth in the 1960s, creating the vibrant areas we currently know as the Short North, Arena District, Goodale Park, and Victorian Village. These are now some of the most popular neighborhoods in the city. As part of an urban renewal area the city invested in a signature high-rise apartment complex called Thurber Tower. In 1965 the city also partnered with Ohio Presbyterian Homes (now known as Ohio Living) to build a seven-story senior apartment complex and nursing home named Westminster Terrace – it’s fifth location.

From conception, Westminster Terrace was intended to be a life plan community. It was designed with the first two floors for administration, amenities, and skilled nursing, and senior housing apartments filled the upper levels. Ohio Presbyterian Homes purchased Thurber Tower in 1975 and renamed the entire complex as Westminster-Thurber Community.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, Westminster-Thurber Community was extensively renovated during the mid-1990s. Expansion of the campus consisted of a new heath care center, dedicated Alzheimer’s care unit, restaurant-style dining room, chapel, and auditorium with an enclosed walkway connecting all structures. Uniting Thurber Tower and Westminster Terrace with the newly constructed health care center greatly enhanced quality of life for residents, making it easier for them to visit each area regardless of the weather. Renovations were made to one floor of the Westminster Terrace building expanding the assisted living services to include a secure neighborhood for those who live with memory loss or dementia. Additionally, the community expanded by adding services and programs, a full woodworking shop, arts and crafts room, computer lab, two libraries, carports and shuffleboard courts.

In 2005, Westminster-Thurber Community converted one floor of assisted living into the Rehab Studios.  As the healthcare industry changed, hospitals began discharging patients to rehab locations. While most facilities at the time had shared rooms, Westminster-Thurber offered patients private rooms, dining room, and therapy suite for physical, occupational and speech therapy in an area away from the long-term nursing population. Additionally, specially-trained staff and aides serve the unique needs of short-term patients.

By 2010, the Westminster Terrace building was given a grand makeover – remodeling every floor, enclosing the front porch, and providing beautiful and functional spaces such as the bistro, a private dining room, general store, new activity space and more, allowing residents and their guests to socialize in community.

On the heels of these improvements, a large capital campaign culminated in 2010 with the dedication of the Resident Life & Arts Center. This project – completely donor funded – created expanded opportunities for people to come together for exercise, education and leisure. The first floor of Thurber Tower was completely reconfigured to include an art studio, library, computer lab, conference space, medical services suite, indoor shuffleboard court, and a fireplace lounge. The campaign also expanded the lower level with a multipurpose room, fitness center, and a walk-out patio.

In 2016 the parent company rebranded itself as Ohio Living to better reflect the experience we provide to residents, patients and employees. Accordingly, the name of the campus changed to Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber.

To meet the growing demand for our services, Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber opened Goodale Landing, its third residential tower, in 2016. Goodale Landing, along with the road on which it sits, Goodale Street, was named in tribute to Dr. Lincoln Goodale and his living legacy as one of Columbus’ greatest benefactors and influential community participants.

Goodale Landing is a luxury apartment experience unlike anything else in Columbus. With stunning views overlooking the downtown skyline and Victorian Village, residents of Goodale Landing have the best of both worlds: luxury downtown living, with the security and peace of mind of the full continuum of care right on campus.

Ohio Living Westminster-Thurber continues to focus on the future, for the residents of today and those of tomorrow.