Jefferson’s Ferry Marks 25 Years as a Senior Living Leader on Long Island

SOUTH SETAUKET, N.Y. (June 9, 2026) - Jefferson’s Ferry, Long Island’s first not-for-profit Life Plan Community, marked its 25th anniversary last week with two resident-centered celebrations recognizing a quarter century of service, growth and leadership in senior living.

The special events included a celebration on June 2 with residents of the Vincent Bove Health Center and a celebration on June 4 for Independent Living community members. Together, the events welcomed a total of 540 attendees including residents and family members as well as select staff, board members, and community partners.

Remarks and a toast were delivered by Bob Caulfield, President and CEO of Jefferson’s Ferry, and centered on the community’s 25 years of outcomes, evolution and leadership as a vibrant, trusted community where older adults are living well, staying engaged and helping to redefine what aging looks like on Long Island.  Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine joined the June 2 celebration and presented a proclamation in recognition of Jefferson’s Ferry’s 25 years of service to Long Island seniors and its continued contributions to the community. Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich attended the June 4 celebration, also presenting a proclamation to honor the milestone anniversary.

“For 25 years, Jefferson’s Ferry has remained successful because we have continued to evolve alongside the people we serve,” said Bob Caulfield, President and CEO of Jefferson’s Ferry. “Senior living looks very different than it did when this community opened. Today’s older adults are not only planning for future care; they are choosing communities that advance wellness, connection, independence and quality of life. This anniversary reflects Jefferson’s Ferry’s longevity, lifestyle and leadership, but most importantly, it reflects 25 years of listening, adapting and learning from the residents who continue to help set the bar for what senior living can be.”

A separate event honoring Jefferson’s Ferry employees and their contributions to the community’s growth and quality of service will take place in September, with special recognition for eight employees who have served 25-year tenures at the community since its founding.

A Record of Leadership Backed by Measurable Outcomes

This milestone year comes as the community consistently earns recognition from some of the most respected national and industry benchmarks in senior living.  Jefferson’s Ferry was named #1 in New York State and #28 nationally in Newsweek’s 2026 America’s Best Continuing Care Retirement Communities rankings, placing the South Setauket community among the top 1.5% of roughly 1,900 CCRCs nationwide.  

The community was also recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Nursing Home for 2026, earning a 5-out-of-5 Overall Rating and distinctions for both Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care.  In addition, Jefferson’s Ferry recently earned dual Customer Experience Award distinctions from Activated Insights for its Assisted Living community and Skilled Nursing services, in categories focused on resident satisfaction, responsiveness and quality of care.

One of the community’s most meaningful quality indicators is emotional well-being. Recent findings show that only 1.9% of Jefferson’s Ferry residents showed signs of depression, compared with 17.4% statewide and 10.3% nationally — a measure that reflects the impact of Jefferson’s Ferry’s emphasis on connection, engagement and resident support.

“These recognitions matter because they reflect the resident experience,” Caulfield said. “The ultimate measure of success is whether residents are living well. Taken together, national rankings, benchmarks, customer experience and outcomes data tell a clear story about the quality and culture Jefferson’s Ferry maintains, and the employees and residents who continue to shape it.”

The community’s momentum is also supported by its financial stability. Fitch Ratings upgraded Jefferson’s Ferry to a BBB+ rating with a Stable Outlook, citing strong cash flow performance, a growing balance sheet and consistently high occupancy.

Continued Investment in Campus Renewal and Future Demand

For 25 years, Jefferson’s Ferry has provided a full continuum of care on one campus, including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing Care, Short-Term Rehabilitation, Memory Care and on-site clinical services. That model allows residents to plan ahead and remain in one community as their needs evolve, providing peace of mind, continuity and long-term security for Long Island seniors and their families.

The community’s industry leadership position has also been sustained through continued investment in its campus, services and resident experience. Recent milestones include:

• 60 new Independent Living apartments added in previous phases
• Opening of The Grove, a Memory Support Neighborhood offering specialized support for residents living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases
• Major enhancements to dining, fitness, rehabilitation, Assisted Living dining and common spaces
• Expanded wellness, cultural, educational and social programming
• Continued recognition for resident satisfaction, customer experience and quality of care
  

Jefferson’s Ferry is currently advancing the next phase of its multi-million-dollar Journey Toward Renewal, a campus-wide transformation designed to enhance the life-enriching environment for residents at every stage of life. This phase includes 12 new one-bedroom-with-den and two-bedroom-with-den Independent Living apartments. All 12 apartments were fully reserved prior to construction, and waitlists remain active across Independent Living floor plans.

A Campus Shaped by Residents’ Voices

What distinguishes Jefferson’s Ferry is not only the breadth of its services, but how those services are delivered. Over the past 25 years, the community has helped move senior living beyond an outdated care-only model toward one centered on wellness, engagement, personalization and resident voice.

Residents have a meaningful role in shaping the life of the community through committees, councils and ongoing dialogue with leadership. That resident-centered approach has helped guide Jefferson’s Ferry’s investments along with their robust slate of activities and programming.  

“People are not just planning where they will live.  They are planning how they want to live – a shift we have embraced,” Caulfield said. “We provide community, purpose, connection and quality of life as well as healthcare and peace of mind for the future.  That is what has kept Jefferson’s Ferry relevant for 25 years, and that is what will guide us into the future.”

As Long Island’s 65+ population expands, increasing demand for senior housing, support services, memory care and long-term planning options, Jefferson’s Ferry’s role has become increasingly important. Its continued investment in campus renewal, housing expansion, memory support and resident-centered services reflects an ongoing commitment to helping older adults remain in their community while receiving the support, engagement and care they need. For more information, visit www.jeffersonsferry.org.

About Jefferson’s Ferry

Jefferson’s Ferry is a not-for-profit Life Plan Community for active adults aged 62 and above, with Independent Living cottages and apartments, Assisted Living apartments, and a quality healthcare center all on one site. A multi-million-dollar expansion and renovation project, “The Journey Toward Renewal,” has updated the life-enriching environment for residents at every stage of life. Residents enjoy six distinct dining venues, an expansive Healthy Living Center and Fitness Center, and a state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Therapy Center. Also, Jefferson’s Ferry is home to “The Grove,” which opened in 2024, a Memory Support Neighborhood providing a high quality of life and care for 20 residents living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Jefferson’s Ferry has been recognized with the Activated Insights Award (formerly known as Pinnacle Quality Insight’s Customer Experience Award) for seven years running, among other distinctions.