Holiday Briarcrest Estates

West of St. Louis, families have a long list of retirement options, and Holiday Briarcrest Estates at 14525 Clayton Road in Ballwin is a rental community built around independent living. Holiday by Atria operates it. Residents rent a private apartment and hand off cooking and cleaning, with breakfast, lunch and supper menus planned and served by the in-house kitchen staff.

A common lounge keeps hot tea, coffee, water and fresh fruit out for residents, which makes it an easy place to meet neighbors between meals. Housekeeping is part of the service, and a monthly program called the Social Series brings residents together for larger events. Floor plans and rental rates can be viewed before a tour, and apartments come in several layouts. Scheduled events fill the calendar, but residents are free to keep a quiet day when they prefer.

Outings reach local parks such as Lone Elk Park and Faust Park, and residents can find congregations nearby, including Chesterfield Presbyterian and The Rock Church Ballwin. Those outings give residents who no longer drive a way to stay connected with the wider Ballwin area and its parks.

Care is not included in rental rates. Residents who need help can use third-party care providers that lease space in the community, or keep caregivers they already use. Ask which providers are on site now, and compare that setup with others through senior living in Ballwin.