The Stratford Carmel, IN

The Stratford has a lot of good points, but it's not perfect. Since we're a couple here, what I really like about it is that we have a nice, roomy, 2-bedroom apartment where we can put our king-sized bed, which is important to us. Also, if one of us needs more assisted living, they'll keep us together and not separate us. We have plenty of activities, like bingo almost every other day and dollar blackjack twice a week. Once a week, they have a musical with guitars and singing. We also have exercise seven days a week, and they take us grocery shopping to Walmart or Target. We also have board games like Scrabble.

I would give The Stratford a very pleasant review. The marketing person was very friendly and not pushy. I was looking for something separate. I did not want to be in an apartment style dwelling because I had a dog, and I wanted a front and a back door. This had a front door, a back door, and a garage which suited me fine. They had heated parking for those who stayed in a large apartment building. I liked the fact that I could be in a cottage, and it was a lovely cottage. It was 1,100 square feet. I thought it was rather pricy, but it was not a buy-in. So, I figured at the end of the year, 2 or 5 figures that was too much of a strain on my finances, but right now, it’s going to be fine.

Stratford was lovely and had different restaurants and spacious apartments. It was immaculately clean and provided shuttle service. I liked the food.

The Stratford was really nice. I did go there and, in fact about a year ago, I was there frequently when our pastor's wife was dying, and we were all taking turns at church staying with her. It was just a very nice facility, and the place I was visiting had very good meals, the service was very nice, and everybody said "Hi" and was pleasant, but I don't think this is some place my parents would want to live especially my dad. I would arrive and sometimes sit with them while they finish their meal, and the meals were very good. I didn't eat with them, but he was commenting on how very good they were. His wife was in the process of end stage Alzheimer's, and they prepared a special puree -- not so much puree, but more of like really soupy -- so that she could eat it. After the meal, they would clear it away just like they were being served by a waitress, and then they would say, "Would you care for a dessert, and do you want coffee with that?" And they would tell him his choices for dessert. Well, by then they knew him very well and his favorite pie, so they didn't ask if he wanted dessert. They just knew that he would like to have a piece of pie and would just ask him what kind of pie he wants, and they always brought him a cup of coffee. It was very nice, and they had a piano in the dining room area. There was kind of a dining room lounge that was right next to the dining room. They knew that she played the piano, and she couldn't remember anything else, but they set her up with the piano and she would play it, and all the residents would come and sit around, visit in the couches, and clap when she played a song. The nurses were very nice, and they would put her to bed, et cetera, then I would just sit quietly and read to her, and she would go to sleep. They were very open to the church members being part of not so much the care, but integrated into their social needs and support. A place like this is a place that my parents wouldn't be able to afford.