Maplewood at Darien

I took a little tour of Maplewood at Darien. It seemed to be very nice. Everything was first-class. It's a new place so everything is clean and up-to-date. I don't know about their medical facility, but the amenities are probably good.

Maplewood at Darien is my first choice and it is fabulous. The community is relatively new and that always makes it nice. It's very clean, neat, inviting, and the person who I spoke to was great and extremely helpful. They have studios and 1-bedroom units, and they also have 1-bedroom unit that's actually two units which can be turned into one. They also have a separate athletic area with equipment like a treadmill and weights for working out. The grounds were beautiful, and they have a very nice area at the back with benches. It's beautiful, just like being in a park. The location was also great for me.

Maplewood at Darien is small and you feel comfortable. There were residents in their wheelchair, walking around, in their walkers, sitting in the lounge, and everybody seemed happy. The staff was happier than those in the big facilities. They smile at you and ask you if you need something. They have a movie room, library, and places where people do projects like arts to keep them occupied with guidance. We saw the menu and we got to talk to the chef who uses organic food.

First impressions can be deceiving. My original visits really left the impression that the level of care and services would be better than they turned out to be once my relative moved in. Food is bland and frequently cold. If you're considering Maplewood for someone who still has their faculties, be prepared for complaints about how boring it is because there are not a lot of activities and the few provided are not for intelligent adults. The staff is polite, but not attentive. If your loved can't or won't speak up for themselves, you had better plan on visiting frequently or hiring supplemental, private care. A cell phone isn't really an option since cell service in the entire building is almost non-existent (intentional?) Finally, good luck reaching anyone in management at the facility. Executive Director is almost never there or available. Lots of "conference calls" apparently. Bottom line - this is a clean, nice looking place to dump an elderly person but not your best choice if you're hoping to make your loved one's final years enriching.