Hawthorne Gardens Senior Living

This is a facility which offers assisted living and memory care, it is a very pretty, home-like facility that always seems organized and active. There is also this warm, friendly and inviting feel about the place. The mood in the air always appears light-hearted and relaxed. The residents are very protective of each other, I have heard residents stand up for each other during disagreements or discussions, I have noticed throughout my time in this facility that the residents are also very supportive of one another, they are as close to resembling a family as residents can get as they laugh and cry, celebrate and mourn together like family, argue like family, support and encourage one another like a family, fully embrace and accept each other, flaws and all, like a family and so on. They get along so well and really enjoy each other's company and group activities, field trips, etc.

I have spent a lot of time exploring the in's and out's of the facility, getting to know the residents, studying the work ethics of the staff, and overall just dissecting the community from the ground up and I have always been pleased with the outcome of every one of my visits.

The care team are very friendly, helpful people. There are a couple staff members who could probably use some training when it comes to fulfilling each resident's daily care needs, I have seen a couple of times where certain needs have been put off until the next day or the day after, which should not happen. Each resident's individualized care plan was designed to so that the residents can accurately be assisted each day with the tasks they can no longer do on their own, and if a resident's care plans says they needs certain needs met on a daily basis, then those needs need to be met daily, no exceptions or excuses.

Another concern I have about a few of the staff members involves how they act around the residents, and it is something that I have never dealt with before which is weird because I have been advocating for residents in senior living for a long time. However this is the first time I have had to deal with a concern like this. I don't quite know how to explain the problem, but I will try to make it as easy to understand as possible... I have noticed that a few of the staff members act very awkward and uncomfortable around the residents. It is really kind of hard to watch, watching them interact with the residents is sort of like watching a really bad improv show. It is as if they don't know how to act around them, how to talk to them. They don't speak to the residents unless they have to, they are very quiet and act somewhat shy. They always appear on edge, fidgety and uneasy when talking with the residents. They also have a hard time looking the residents in the eyes when speaking with them. I wish I could help them relax like the other staff members. I wish they were able to easily interact with the residents in a natural and effortless way and it would be great if they felt comfortable enough to hang out with the residents, play games with them, watch TV with them, sit down and have a cup of coffee with them. I have thought it would help to have other staff members work with them in helping put them at ease around the residents and I have also thought that maybe time would be the answer, that maybe in time these staff members would grow more comfortable, yet neither of these potential resolutions seem to be working. It is really hard for me to understand why they feel uncomfortable around the residents, they are people just like them. This situation is difficult for me to grasp, I think mainly because I was born in to a family that was greatly involved in senior living communities, so I pretty much grew up in facilities and around residents. Also, I know that I am not the only person who notices that some of the staff members have this dilemma, because not only is it obvious to everyone around them when they are interacting with a resident but it has been mentioned to me by other residents and staff members. I just wish I could figure out why they were so nervous around the residents, however, setting that issue aside, these same residents are excellent in doing their jobs, I have talked with them and they seem very ethical and the residents tell me that even though they don't say much, they work hard and take great care in assisting the residents and fulfilling their needs. The residents tell me that they can count on them to get the job done and get it done well.

I would highly encourage those searching for senior care, whether for assisted living or memory care (as both units are great and each have a very accommodating care team), check out all that Hawthorne Gardens has to offer. I really think that it is a facility worth exploring.