Orchard Valley at Wilbraham

I went here to visit my great grandmother. She seems to really enjoy living here, compared to the last living assisted home she was in. She has met many people and is always in a great mood when I visit. From what I saw, the people treated her very well and she seemed to like a lot of the workers there too. At first, we were very wary of transferring our great grandmother to another home. She had a bad experience over at another home, and we were afraid that she would have a bad experience here. We checked out a few different homes, and this one seemed to be a perfect fit for her. She has had trouble with her hip and diabetes the workers take great care of her there. They seem to actually care about her well being, unlike at other homes. She is really happy there and our family is grateful for a assisted living facility like Orchard Valley at Wilbraham.

I visited this facility last fall. My aunt seemed to be very happy there. The workers were very friendly to me and my other family members that were visiting. I'm not sure how financially beneficial it is, as I never looked into it, but my aunt was very happy there. However, I did find my aunt's room to be a little bare. What I liked best about it was how kind the workers were.

The staff is very quick to respond, kind and gentle with my grandfather. Although some of the patients can be violent, they are usually very good with handling the seniors with care. The amenities are pretty good, the food is decent enough for the price we pay to keep our grandfather there. The facilities are very easy to reach and find, and has plentiful parking. We never have a problem (even during the holidays) visiting our grandfather and taking food to him. Although there are some cleaniness issues, if complained about, they are promptly taken care of. Overall the facilities are a decent choice for the budget we have.

I feel that it is overly priced, it smells like urine in a few of the halls, you pay for extra service and they do not provide it and most of all they will tell you whatever you want to hear to get you to sign the lease. For the money spent you are better off to have 24 hour live in care.

This facility is conveniently located on a state highway, but set far back from the road so it is not noisy or dangerous. Rooms are not spectacular, but neat and attractive. The common room looks like a country kitchen, with a big table around which residents and guests can sit and visit or play cards. On the counter there's always a pot of coffee and a plate of pastries...very homey. The dining room looks like an elegant restaurant, with service to match. Substitutions are cheerfully given, and there are a few staples not on the menu but always available for fussy patrons (like a hamburger or a peanut butter sandwich). Staff are quite friendly. Some of the waiters are young men and very cheerful and sweet to the residents. My aunt found the layout a bit confusing--the emergency exit was right next to her door, and after setting off the alarm a few times, she had to be transferred to the Alzheimer's unit. I found the staff there extremely patient. Dining was as nice as it could be made. The only problem I ever encountered was one evening when all the staff members were nowhere to be found (they were in individual residents' rooms, I imagine). The exit has a passcode and I didn't know it. I thought I was going to be trapped in there all night. Eventually someone appeared and helped me though.

Lobby and Hallways have a warm,homelike atmosphere but individual apartments need updating. Drab walls and thin colorless carpeting as well as cheap looking cabinetry in the living area make it appear uncared for. The Bathroom does not have the high seat toilets that many need. Grounds are attractive, but residents with mobility problems have limited use could use a covered porch that is accessable. Staff is warm and caring and the overall feeling is friendly. More activities could be provided. Overall it is an outdated aging facility that needs updating and the cost is high for the services covered.

My mother is currently residing in this facility. She seems to be very happy there and has made many friends. The workers, from the manager right down to the maintenance man seem to be sincerely concerned with the residents' well-being. The residents are greeted by name and encouraged to participate in the activities that range from Bingo and in-house movies to field trips to plays, parks and shopping. While my mother's memory is such that she can't remember what she ate for her meal, even as she's walking out of the lovely dining room, she is able to tell me that the meal was pleasurable. She says, "The food's always good". There are always options for the residents to choose from for meals. If the 2 main options (which are available for them to view on their way into the dining room) aren't to there liking, there is a menu of "always available" items, such as sandwiches, chicken, pasta, etc.The decor is lovely, with nice homey touches in the common rooms, and very nice well-cared-for grounds.