Senior Living Community Celebrates 70 Years in the Bay Area

On Thursday, Dec. 12, The Terraces at Los Altos celebrated 70 years of serving seniors and their families. The retirement community, originally known as Pilgrim Haven, can trace its roots back to 1949 when the American Baptist Convention was in need of a care home for retired ministers, missionaries, and their spouses.

In the decades since, the community has expanded from its original 1.5-acre plot and, of course, no longer exclusively serves retired ministers. Today, seniors of all denominations and backgrounds are welcomed at The Terraces.

In 2010, the community’s name was changed, and in 2017 a $100 million campuswide renovation was completed. The expansion included new residences across all levels of living, common areas, manicured grounds, dining venues and amenities such as a fitness center/spa and movie theater. Today, The Terraces offers 105 residential living apartments, 28 assisted living apartments, 30 skilled nursing suites and 16 dedicated memory care suites.

Debby Gonzales, The Terraces’ executive director, says the community is incredibly proud of the legacy they’ve built in Los Altos, and their ability to adapt to the everchanging needs of older adults.

“For 70 years we’ve really stayed current, and we’re really doing what we need to do to stay relevant for the next wave of seniors,” she said. “When I look at the makeup of our community, most residents lived in Los Altos. In a small town, we offer nearly 180 accommodations, and most are occupied by seniors from the area.”

The Terraces hosted a drop-in-style anniversary celebration. Residents, team members, neighbors and dignitaries from the City of Los Altos and the community advisory board attended. Drinks and appetizers were served, and screens displayed a detailed history of the community, along with photos from the last 70 years.