Edgehill Residents Gather to Celebrate Its 27th Anniversary
August 26, 2026
Edgehill Marks 27 Years as Expectations in Senior Living Continue to Evolve
STAMFORD, Conn. — Edgehill is celebrating its 27th anniversary as the continuing care retirement community looks to a future increasingly shaped by older adults’ expectations for greater choice, wellness, personalization and connection.
The Stamford community opened in 1999 as a joint venture between Stamford Hospital and Marriott Hotels, initially offering independent living, assisted living and a health center. Benchmark Senior Living acquired Edgehill in 2011.
Chris Cilano, Edgehill’s campus executive director, has been with the community since 2004 and has seen a significant change in how older adults approach retirement during that time.
“Retirement isn’t simply about having a comfortable place to live and knowing that care is available; it’s about choice, purpose, wellness, social connection and continuing to pursue your interests,” Cilano told Senior Living News.
Cilano said that shift has influenced both Edgehill’s physical campus and its approach to programming and services, most notably with the expansion of its continuum of care. In 2017, Edgehill added its Mind & Memory neighborhood as part of a $20 million renovation.
Edgehill also has expanded its emphasis on dining, fitness, cultural and educational programming, social activities and opportunities for residents to remain connected with the surrounding community. Amenities include an indoor pool, fitness center, walking paths, classrooms and a library.
The evolution of senior living is focused on moving toward a model that is focused on helping older adults maintain independence while they continue to pursue their interests, Cilano explained. It’s a notable departure from previous models, which centered primarily on providing care.
“The philosophy has evolved from ‘we provide care for you’ to ‘we help you keep living the life you want,'” Cilano said. “The goal is to preserve independence and give residents the support and services that make it easier to pursue their passions, while having a full continuum of care available if their needs change.”
The anniversary also highlights the role residents have developed outside Edgehill itself. Residents have a longstanding relationship with the Children’s Learning Center of Fairfield County at Palmer’s Hill, where they read to children and participate in holiday activities. According to the community, residents also have raised more than $500,000 over the years for Stamford Health’s Bennett Cancer Center and nearly $400,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Resident Rose Cingari, who chairs Edgehill’s Social Action Committee, said those efforts give residents another way to remain involved in the wider community.
“We truly appreciate the life we’ve built at Edgehill, and our ability to continue making a positive impact in our community,” Cingari said. “Giving back is rewarding, and it helps us stay energized.”
Resident and employee relationships are an important part of maintaining continuity as the community changes. Cilano said the challenge over the next several years will be continuing to update the resident experience without losing the personal connections that have developed over nearly three decades.
That will require listening to residents, investing in employees and leadership and adjusting services to reflect changing expectations, he said.
Among the areas Edgehill expects to emphasize are wellness, hospitality-oriented services, lifelong learning and more individualized approaches to residents’ goals. Cilano said the community increasingly views longevity in terms of “health span” — the portion of a person’s life spent in good health — rather than just lifespan.
Personalization also is becoming more important. Wellness plans and services are increasingly tailored to individual priorities rather than applied through a standard model.
Those trends reflect a broader challenge for continuing care retirement communities, which must prepare to provide higher levels of care when residents need them while also serving older adults who may arrive expecting an active, highly individualized lifestyle.
For Edgehill, Cilano said the next stage will depend on balancing those two needs.
“Technology, amenities, physical improvements, and our vision of wellness matter, but the heart of Edgehill is still the relationship between residents and associates,” he said. “That’s something we have to protect as we grow and evolve.”
As Edgehill enters its 28th year, Cilano characterized the priority as “innovation with continuity.” The goal is to continue enhancing the resident experience while preserving the relationships and sense of community that has been established during its first 27 years.
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