About the Friendly Home
Founded in 1849 as the Rochester Association for the Relief of Homeless and Friendless Females, the Friendly Home has a long and rich history of providing care and services for older adults in our community. Today the Friendly Home, located in Brighton, provides residents with 24-hour skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, memory care and hospice care. The Friendly Home can accommodate up to 200 individuals, inclusive of 16 short-term rehabilitation rooms in the Lovejoy Transitional Care Center.
Mission Statement
Friendly Senior Living is a not-for-profit organization supporting a continuum of innovative and dynamic services to meet the social, personal and healthcare needs of seniors in our community. We embrace a person-directed philosophy; honoring choice and independence. We are dedicated to living our values each day; allowing us to provide excellent care and services – always.
Our History
In 1849, a group of benevolent women formed the “Rochester Society for the Relief of Friendless and Homeless Females.” As the Society grew, an old tavern was purchased on the corner of East Avenue and Alexander Street in downtown Rochester for its new location. The Society was then incorporated under the name “The Rochester Home for the Friendless.”
As the mission of the organization evolved and the need for services increased, the Home moved to its current location at 3156 East Avenue in Brighton, and became known as “The Rochester Friendly Home.” Later, the name changed to simply “the Friendly Home,” as it is known today.
Although our name has changed over the years, the sentiments and philosophy that first inspired the original Society have remained constant. From an organization that sheltered homeless women to an organization that is committed to providing a continuum of care to older adults, the Friendly Home has always been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of those we serve.
Read a brief overview of the Friendly Home’s rich history:
On March 28, a group of concerned women, including members of the Rochester Female Charitable Society, gathered to discuss the need for care for homeless women. On April 11, the Rochester Association for the Relief of Homeless and Friendless Females was formed. On May 1, the Home opened at 33 Edinburgh Street.
The original constitution of the Society for the Relief of Homeless and Friendless Females. The association was incorporated as the Rochester Home for the Friendless. The “Old Alexander Tavern” on the corner of East Avenue and Alexander Street was purchased as the Home’s new location
The Rochester Home for the Friendless at its location on East Avenue and Alexander Street. Publishing of the Journal of the Home began.
The masthead of the original Journal of the home. An amendment was made to the constitution to limit service to the care of aged women only.
The Rochester Home for the Friendless was incorporated as the Rochester Friendly Home.
In February, residents took occupancy of their new Home at its current location at 3156 East Avenue.
Renovations began at The Friendly Home to add additional wings and an entrance portico.
81 Linden Avenue, now known as Linden Knoll, opened as a 148-apartment senior living complex adjoining the Home.
Major renovations to the Home were made, including the relocation of administrative and departmental offices.
A Special Care Unit for individuals with Alzheimer’s
disease and related conditions was one of the first to open in the Rochester community.A second unit serving the needs of Members in various
stages of Alzheimer’s was opened. The Rochester Friendly Home was officially renamed “The Friendly Home.”The Friendly Home celebrated 150 years of dedicated service to the community. The Transitional Care Center was opened to serve the short-term rehabilitative needs of individuals recovering from surgery, illness or injury.
Expanding our continuum of care, Cloverwood, a full-service senior living community, was opened in Pittsford.
Glenmere at Cloverwood opened. Glenmere offers
assisted living and enhanced assisted living programs, as
well as a memory care neighborhood.The Friendly Home completed a two-year major addition and renovation project. Project highlights included spacious new companion suites, converting former double rooms to private rooms, relocating the Transitional Care Center, combining two Special Care Units into one Memory Care Center, and adding six bariatric care rooms for obese patients.
Friendly Senior Living celebrated 170 years of caring and compassionate service to the community, as well as the successful completion of a $4.5 million fundraising campaign! The generosity of our donors enabled a variety of capital and programmatic enhancements throughout our continuum, impacting those we serve in meaningful ways!
