One of New Jersey's Original Assisted Living Providers
Chelsea Senior Living is a privately owned senior living company headquartered in Fanwood, New Jersey, providing active adult living, independent living, assisted living, memory care, and respite care across New Jersey and New York. The company describes itself as one of New Jersey's first assisted living providers, with more than 30 years of experience. Chelsea has recently shifted part of its growth strategy from developing and owning new communities toward third-party management of communities for other owners, in addition to operating its own portfolio.
Visit the official Chelsea Senior Living website to learn more about the company's communities and services.
Company at a Glance
● Headquarters: Fanwood, New Jersey
● Founded: More than 30 years ago; Founder and CEO Herb Heflich has over 50 years of experience in eldercare management
● Current leadership: Herb Heflich, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and Roger Bernier, President and Chief Operating Officer
● Approximate portfolio size: 11 communities
● States served: New Jersey and New York
● Care and lifestyle options: Active adult living, independent living, assisted living, memory care, life plan community/CCRC, and respite care
● Ownership: Privately owned; not publicly traded
● Official website: chelseaseniorliving.com
Senior Living and Care Options
Chelsea's communities offer a range of lifestyle and care levels, though not every option is available at every location. Depending on the community, options may include:
● Active adult and independent living
● Assisted living
● Memory care
● Short-term respite stays
Some communities within Chelsea's network carry distinct branding rather than the Chelsea name; for example, The Sinclair at Port Washington is marketed under its own separate brand and website. Families should confirm current care levels and availability directly with the specific community. Families can also review active adult living, independent living, assisted living, and memory care options near them on Senior Care Finder.
What Makes Chelsea Senior Living Different?
A Strategic Shift Toward Third-Party Management
Beyond owning and operating its own communities, Chelsea has expanded into third-party management, taking on operational responsibility for communities owned by other companies. Trade press has covered this shift as a deliberate strategy to grow Chelsea's footprint and influence without the capital requirements of ground-up development or acquisition. Learn more from independent coverage in Senior Housing News.
Privately Owned, Locally Controlled Decision-Making
Chelsea states directly that its company is neither publicly owned nor traded, and that each member of its management team lives in the local region. The company positions this as ensuring that decisions remain with the people who built its communities and reputation, rather than with outside shareholders.
One of New Jersey's First Assisted Living Providers
Chelsea describes itself as one of New Jersey's first assisted living providers, with more than 30 years of operating history in the state. Founder and CEO Herb Heflich has more than 50 years of experience in eldercare, including prior roles founding the New Jersey Post Acute Network and serving as President of the New Jersey Assisted Living Association.
Independent Recognition for Individual Communities
Individual Chelsea communities have received independent, third-party recognition, including U.S. News & World Report's Best Senior Living ratings and a Best of Long Island award for Maple Pointe. Learn more on U.S. News's ratings page for Chelsea Senior Living.
Signature Programs and Services
Short VIP Stays allow a prospective resident to try out one of Chelsea's assisted living or memory care communities on a short-term basis, receiving the same benefits and amenities as full-time residents, before committing to a longer-term move. Availability varies by community; families should confirm current options directly. Learn more on the official Chelsea Senior Living website.
Life at a Chelsea Community
Depending on the community and care level, residents may find:
● Chef-prepared, restaurant-style dining
● An interactive activities calendar with live entertainment and themed events
● On-site registered nurses and registered dietitians at assisted living and memory care communities
● Memory care programming that incorporates pet therapy and music recognition
● Rental options with no buy-in required
Because Chelsea's communities vary in age, ownership history, and specific offerings, families are encouraged to tour the specific community they are considering and ask about current staffing, care levels, and any recent renovations or ownership changes.
What Residents and Families Say
Senior Care Finder's featured community, The Chelsea at Washington Township, shows a rating of 4.50 out of 5. Individual Chelsea communities have also received independent third-party recognition, including Maple Pointe's 2023-2024 Best of Long Island award and multiple communities' inclusion in U.S. News & World Report's Best Senior Living ratings. Because Chelsea operates a network of individually named communities across two states, and because some communities are managed on behalf of other owners, families should review ratings and comments for the specific community they are considering rather than assuming a uniform experience across the network.
Leadership
Herb Heflich is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Chelsea Senior Living. He has more than 50 years of experience in eldercare management, including prior roles as Vice President of Mega Care, Inc., founder of the New Jersey Post Acute Network, and President of the New Jersey Assisted Living Association. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queens College.
Roger Bernier is President and Chief Operating Officer of Chelsea Senior Living, overseeing operations management across the company's residences. He is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator with 25 years of long-term care directorship experience and sits on the boards of the National Center for Assisted Living and the Health Care Association of New Jersey.
Visit the official Chelsea Senior Living leadership page for the complete and most current executive team.
Recent News, Growth, and Recognition
Chelsea Shifts Growth Strategy Toward Third-Party Management
In 2024, Chelsea Senior Living's leadership discussed publicly how the company is expanding its growth strategy to include third-party management of communities owned by other companies, alongside its own owned and operated communities, aiming for a more capital-efficient path to growth.
Read independent coverage from Senior Housing News.
The Chelsea at Washington Township Featured in Local Press
In September 2024, The Chelsea at Washington Township was featured in a local news profile highlighting the community's residents and their personal stories, alongside its assisted living and memory care offerings.
Read independent coverage from NorthJersey.com.
Maple Pointe Wins 2023-2024 Best of Long Island Award
Maple Pointe, Chelsea's assisted living and memory care community in Rockville Centre, New York, won a 2023-2024 Best of Long Island award, a locally administered recognition program.
Read the company's announcement.
Multiple Chelsea Communities Recognized in U.S. News's Best Senior Living Ratings
Several individual Chelsea communities, including The Chelsea at Fair Lawn, The Chelsea at Shrewsbury, The Chelsea at Brookhaven, and The Chelsea at Greenburgh, are included in U.S. News & World Report's ongoing Best Senior Living ratings program, which evaluates communities based on resident and family satisfaction surveys.
View U.S. News's ratings page for Chelsea Senior Living.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chelsea Senior Living? Chelsea Senior Living is a privately owned senior living company headquartered in Fanwood, New Jersey, providing active adult living, independent living, assisted living, memory care, and respite care across New Jersey and New York.
Where is Chelsea Senior Living headquartered? Chelsea Senior Living is headquartered in Fanwood, New Jersey.
Who owns Chelsea Senior Living? Chelsea Senior Living is privately owned and not publicly traded. It is led by Founder and CEO Herb Heflich and President and COO Roger Bernier.
How long has Chelsea Senior Living been operating? Chelsea describes itself as one of New Jersey's first assisted living providers, with more than 30 years of operating history.
How many communities does Chelsea Senior Living operate? Senior Care Finder's listing shows 11 communities across New Jersey and New York.
Does Chelsea Senior Living manage communities it doesn't own? Yes. In addition to its own owned and operated communities, Chelsea has expanded into third-party management, operating communities on behalf of other ownership groups.
What care options does Chelsea Senior Living offer? Depending on the community, Chelsea offers active adult living, independent living, assisted living, memory care, and respite care.
Does every Chelsea community share the same name or branding? Not always. Some communities within Chelsea's network, such as The Sinclair at Port Washington, are marketed under their own distinct brand rather than the Chelsea name.
What is a Short VIP Stay? A Short VIP Stay allows a prospective resident to try Chelsea's assisted living or memory care community on a short-term basis, with the same benefits as full-time residents, before committing to a longer-term move.
What do reviews say about Chelsea's communities? Senior Care Finder's featured community, The Chelsea at Washington Township, shows a rating of 4.50 out of 5. Individual communities have also received independent recognition, including U.S. News Best Senior Living ratings and a Best of Long Island award for Maple Pointe.
How can someone find a Chelsea community or schedule a tour? Families can search Chelsea Senior Living communities on Senior Care Finder or contact a specific property directly through its Senior Care Finder listing to ask about availability and schedule a tour.
Explore Chelsea Senior Living Communities
Choosing a senior living community is a personal decision shaped by care needs, location, and budget. View Chelsea Senior Living communities on Senior Care Finder to compare individual locations, care options, and reviews.
Because Chelsea's portfolio includes both owned communities and communities managed for other owners, and because some carry distinct branding, families are encouraged to confirm current ownership, care levels, and pricing directly with the specific community and to visit in person before making a final decision.
Chelsea Senior Living is a paid Senior Care Finder partner. Partner status does not replace the need for families to independently evaluate individual communities, services, pricing, licensing information, and recent reviews.
Company information, leadership details, programs, recognition, and news were reviewed using publicly available sources. Information last reviewed July 2026.
