RiverWoods Manchester Marks 10 Years of Growth, Innovation, and Community Stewardship
In 1875 a small group of Manchester-area women banded together to form the Women’s Aid and Relief Society, an organization dedicated to serving the needs of the greater community. Over the following decades, the organization evolved along with the greater Manchester community; it was responsible for creating the area’s first hospital, and, in 2009 becoming the area’s first Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). Today, the foundation set down by the Women’s Aid and Relief Society continues to have a positive impact on hundreds of lives at RiverWoods Manchester.
Over time, the original community campus evolved through several identities: Pearl Manor, Hillcrest Terrace, and later Birch Hill Terrace. While the name changed, the mission remained focused on improving lives through connection, care, and community.
A pivotal chapter began in 2016, when Birch Hill Terrace affiliated with The RiverWoods Group. The partnership came at a time when the region—and the nation—began to experience an unprecedented wave of baby boomers entering retirement age, bringing a growing demand for modern, flexible, and supportive community living options. The affiliation brought expanded resources, fresh perspective, and long-term investment designed to strengthen the community’s ability to serve both current and future residents.
It was also, in many ways, a return to shared origins. RiverWoods itself was formed from a shared dream: a vision of two women whose ideas once began around a kitchen table. In Birch Hill Terrace, RiverWoods found not just an affiliate, but a kindred organization whose legacy of service made it a natural fit for the RiverWoods family.
Following the affiliation, a major capital investment of nearly $6 million was made to the Birch Hill Terrace campus. Enhancements included the revitalization of key common spaces such as the fitness center, salon, and large gathering areas, as well as the reimagining of apartment layouts with more modern, thoughtfully designed floor plans. The expansion also added 18 cottages, further diversifying residential options on campus.
During this time, The RiverWoods Group also advanced innovative contract models in the region, including the 70% Flex Contract, which offers lower monthly fees, greater financial predictability, and the ability to access a portion of the refundable entrance fee during one’s lifetime to help cover healthcare costs.
Over the first five years of affiliation, the former Birch Hill community and RiverWoods leadership deepened their collaboration, sharing ideas, solutions, and best practices that strengthened operations and enriched resident experience. In 2021, the community officially rebranded as RiverWoods Manchester, becoming a proud addition to New Hampshire’s largest family of not-for-profit CCRCs and entering a new chapter of growth and innovation.
“Ten years ago, two organizations recognized that they could accomplish more together than apart, and the results speak for themselves,” said April Bourdon, Executive Director of RiverWoods Manchester. “The success of the affiliation is evident not only in the physical transformation of the campus, but in the culture of community that continues to thrive today. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re grateful for the strong foundation that has been built and excited about the opportunities ahead for our residents, team members, and the greater Manchester community.”
Known for innovation, quality, and person-centered care, RiverWoods Manchester supports residents in living life to the fullest while remaining rooted in the same values that have guided its evolution for nearly 150 years. This August, RiverWoods Manchester will celebrate 10 years of being part of the RiverWoods Group system, an opportunity to reflect on a decade of investment, growth, and transformation while also reaffirming a commitment to the mission-driven values that will continue shaping the future of aging well in Greater Manchester.
