Heritage Community’s promise to seniors began in 1944, when Mayor Louis Sutherland gathered together local residents to improve Kalamazoo’s system for senior care. With an aging mother in need of compassionate assistance, Sutherland worked with Dr. Richard U. Light, Mrs. Gifford “Love” Upjohn and other community members to invest in secure, comfortable living for all seniors, regardless of their ability to pay. The Michigan Department of Social Welfare, the Upjohn Company, First National Bank and Trust, the Kalamazoo Foundation and the Sutherland Paper Company all offered their support. The result of the community’s combined efforts was, and is, Heritage Community of Kalamazoo.
Today, with seven opportunities/options for Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, including the brand-new Ridge Creek, Heritage Community continues to thrive. Thanks to the steadfast commitment of local community members, Heritage Community is the largest and oldest continuum of care in Southwest Michigan, serving more than 400 residents. We also offer the most comprehensive Memory Care in the area and have equipped our entire staff in the internationally-praised Best Friends™ approach to care.