History

A Story of Growth, Change and Care

Friends Homes has a rich history grounded in Quaker principles.

Friends Homes, Inc., a non-profit organization, was chartered in 1958 by the North Carolina Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends (Quakers), specifically for the purpose of owning and operating Friends Homes Retirement Community in Greensboro, NC. Friends Homes is dedicated to meeting the needs of adults age 62 and over.

In 1968, Friends Homes opened its first 24 apartments for seniors on New Garden Road. Through the years, Friends Homes Guilford expanded both in size and services, becoming a Life Plan Community with three levels of care: independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing. The community also offers memory care. As demand grew for Friends Homes’ services, a second community, Friends Homes West, was built on the same property and opened in 1993. 

In 2018, Friends Homes celebrated its sixtieth anniversary and completed an interior renovation update for its West and Guilford campuses.

In 2021, the community completed the construction of 20 new townhomes on the Guilford campus and redesigned the entrance off Ridgecrest Drive.

In 2022, Friends Homes raised approximately $1,245,000 through its Bridges to the Future Capital Campaign. It opened the wellness center on the West campus in May and the newly renovated dining room in August. Additionally, the bridge connecting the two campuses was opened on September 1st.

In March of 2023, Friends Homes completed an expansion project of its West Campus consisting of 54 villa apartments, 8 townhomes, and 11 cottages.

Today, Friends Homes is a friendly, welcoming community where residents enjoy a rich and fulfilling lifestyle filled with opportunities for social interaction, wellness, recreational pursuits, lifelong learning, and more.

Friends Homes History Timeline