Arden Courts of Kensington

Jon Hiatt

My wife has advanced Alzheimer's and occasionally I have taken her to Arden for a week or so while giving myself some "respite" time. I have been extremely pleased and impressed with the care she receives there. As a facility devoted only to memory care patients (rather than the larger assisted living with a lockdown memory care' floor model), Arden and its staff at every level seem completely dedicated to the concerns of patients like my wife. In my various dealings with the staff, I have been impressed with how competent, caring, and solicitous they seem to be. If and when the day arrives when my wife needs round the clock care, I would be looking to Arden.

Trang D

I highly recommend Arden Courts of Kensington for the care of loved ones with dementia. We've been deeply appreciative of the professionalism and caring nature of their staff. They really know how to best take care of people with dementia which is a specialized field. We previously had our mother in another assisted living facility but found to our dismay, that they didn't really know how to take care of her dementia. So we were glad to find AC Kensington from the recommendations of someone whose mother lived there and a dementia professional. Our advice to check out some dementia care facilities to see which one fits your loved one's needs. Definitely include AC Kensington too in your tours so you can see how they are specialized in dementia care. When we go out of town, we feel very secure knowing that she's in good hands and we need not worry about her welfare.

Provider Response

A St. J

My mother has been a resident of Arden Courts Kensington since september 2017. She has been well taken care of by the staff, and I have come to know many of the caregivers well. I am welcomed when I visit and always given a brief update of my mother's mood, recent activity, and health. Although she has been in good health since she arrived, whenever she has had a cold or minor physical impairment, the staff or nurse immdiately lets me know her status; I am informed of the treatment protocol and notified of improvement. The food always smells delicious and I have eaten at the facility on a number of occasions and always enjoyed it. The staff always does their best to get my mother to the daily activities which include various kinds of entertainment from outside groups and individuals as well as in-house programs tailored to the residents' interests. The facility and grounds are always clean and well kept up, and the interior is currently undergoing a 3 month renovation. One of the things my mother rally loves is walking in the secure landscaped gardens outside the building. When the weather is warm enough, outside is the first place we go.

Provider Response

seavey

Arden Court Memory Care was a precious gift at a difficult time in our lives. My stepmother, for whom I have been caretaker for the better part of 20 years, was in Arden Court at Kensington for the last 18 months of her life. She had a very rare, complicated, form of Alzheimers that led to her not only losing her memory but her eyesight and other physical faculties as well. She was a very tough case. Under the superb leadership of Executive Director, Ann McDermott, the staff at Arden Court Memory Care was flawless with her every single day. They were, without fail, kind, gentle, attentive, positive, and encouraging of every aspect of her life even as it became more and more diminished. The facility is spotless and welcoming. The food is nutritious, there are plenty of activities in which the residents participate. When my stepmother could no longer communicate meaningful or engage, I would come for a visit and her nails had been beautifully painted, her hair combed, her room refreshed, and music was playing gently in the background. It all helped me and her feel at peace with what was an extremely difficult circumstance. To say that we are grateful to Arden Court for their care would is an understatement. As difficult a journey as this was for my stepmother and for our family, I felt that she - and we - were loved, valued and cared for in all ways humanly possible.

Provider Response

a sister's friend

I had the opportunity to visit my sister who has been at Arden Court of Kensington for 3 yrs. I recently visit her; in that time I actually observed my sister enjoying staying busy at 79 years of age. She smiles a lot, laughs a lot, hums a lot. Her room is bright, cheerful, spacious, with a private room for toilet and sink. Showers and laundry room are down the hall. Her clothes are always very clean -- kudos to those who do the laundry. The staff is EXCELLENT -- can't say enough about the staff -- Gloria and all the great gals. Their constant attention to my sister (and the other residents), hugging, laughing -- it's just wonderful to watch. I got to join in the activities, and also eat in the dining room, and they even set us up in the Library for a private dinner so I could have a special time with her, and also when another friend of hers joined us. The Exec. Dir., Ann, is SO friendly and approachable, helpful, and she has a wealth of knowledge as to the people you should see or call when you first bring your loved one there. And she calls you lots to tell you how your loved one is adjusting in the first week. There are so many questions you will have about what to do with your resident's house and her car and her furniture, but the Exec. Dir. will provide you with names to contact, and a large package which has everything you need to know. She also has an extremely efficient staff who help you in any way you need. The first few days you get calls from Ann telling you how your loved one is adapting, what she seems to like, if she likes her meals, etc. The Admin gal here, Beth, is WONDERFUL -- seems like she goes way over the top to help you make your resident happy -- from giving you info you need, or when you send them gifts, etc. You don't have to worry if your gifts to your loved one will get to them. And the FOOD your loved one is eating is SCRUMPTIOUS!! The Chef at Kensington Arden Court, Tony, is a fantastic cook! I tasted 6 meals myself during my 3-day visit, and I can personally vouch for what your resident will be having to eat at Arden Court Kensington -- wow! They have a lot of FUN in the Activities Room -- Judlie and Bee and other special helpers are so capable in what they do! They provide not only instructive mind exercise and body exercise for the residents, but they also get the whole group singing and smiling -- and they sound great! Games are played, such as kicking balloons and beachballs. And of course they announce that "snacks" will be coming -- the room is always full and the residents all seem to be very happy in Activities. And, let's face it, they need to keep busy in life! Among the residents, friendships are made -- it's hard for your loved one at first, as it would be no matter where they went. The resident nurse, Margaret, really watches over your loved one. To keep Margaret's busy shop in order, Felicity helps in the medical office. My sister visits Margaret and Felicity just to talk, and they welcome her no matter how busy they are. I should mention we looked at 4 different homes to put my sister into. She is not only afraid of heights, but I was watching on what floor they put their prospective residents. Some of the other homes seemed more like a hotel, not a home. After taking her to see other homes, she said when she walked into Arden Court of Kensington -- "this feels like home!" There was no doubt in my mind that this was the best place for my sister, and I could tell my sister agreed. I can't say enough about the caring staff. In the dining room, Gloria and the dining room staff get the tables all looking so pretty and then get the residents to their seats and bring the nutritious food to them. The daily "caretakers" (Huli... and others in her house do just that -- they really take care of my sister. They make it fun for her to do the daily things, such as waking up and brushing her teeth, washing her face, putting on lotions to keep her skin moist, etc. etc. You can tell she knows they love her. Of course when my sister first moved in, she was packing her stuff up to "go" -- she didn't know where, but she was ready. She missed her independence and living alone, as all of them must. They don't want to remember how hard it was for them to live alone and cook, clean, and take care of themselves when they first realized something was going wrong in their mind. But after a while, she decided Arden Court of Kensington was good to her -- gave her plenty to do, fed her well, gave her a private room, and made her smile and laugh whenever she needed it. She feels safe, and she walks -- inside and out -- and she feels safe everywhere. That's important for her. I also want to mention Mark, the Maintenance Man -- he'll help you get your loved one's room in order which, I know, will seem like an overwhelming task. Mark comes ready with hammer, nails, and anything else you might need to make her room like home. I also want to mention that Arden Court in Kensington is extremely clean! And yes, you'll have to pay for your loved one's care unless you've taken out insurance. But you'll soon see that your money is being spent to take care of your loved one in a way that you would hope and in a lifestyle that your loved one will enjoy. Your loved one will soon let you know you've made the right choice in Arden Court of Kensington. I sure hope I haven't left anyone at Arden Court out of this review -- you are all special to me. Thank you so much for taking such good care of my sister.

Provider Response

Richard 40

My friend and former colleague resided at Arden Courts-Kensington for approximately seven years following his diagnosis with dementia. We (myself and two, trained and licensed social workers) visited and inspected several local dementia care facilities before reaching our unanimous conclusion that Arden Courts-Kensington was the best choice. Over the years--and up until the very end--we continued to agree that we could not have made a better selection. Arden Courts-Kensington's programs and nursing care have proven to be first-rate. The facility is clean, well-maintained and well-staffed with a knowledgeable and caring administration and experienced nurses and health-aides. Of special note is the fact that many of Arden Courts-Kensington's health aides have been at the facility for several years. This continuity and consistency of care has enabled the staff and residents to establish relationships and bonds that become even more meaningful as time goes by. This was a very important consideration with my friend. As his condition slowly deteriorated, I know he was comforted by his recognition of the presence and warmth provided by the same health aide who had been by his side for his entire seven-year stay. This stability also provides a measure of assurance to family and loved ones. Family and loved ones are free to visit the facility at any time. In addition to the ongoing, daily programs of physical and mental health-related activities for residents that are set up by an in-house program/activities director, Arden Courts-Kensington sponsors visits by outside entertainers. The facility is secure and set up in a manner that allows residents the freedom to move freely about and go outdoors without leaving the grounds. The meals are nourishing and tasty. The facility also sponsors visits, lectures and programs featuring medical experts and researchers who discuss the latest advances in dementia care. The monthly Support Group meetings strengthen the feeling of "community" and assist family and loved ones in knowing that they are not making this journey alone. The senior executive staff at Arden Courts-Kensington is competent, compassionate and caring. The Executive Director, Ann McDermott, is very responsive to concerns and issues that might be raised by family and/or loved ones and she will work cooperatively to resolve any problems that impact on residents' well-being. Our experience with Arden Courts-Kensington has proven to be a collaborative effort--and a very positive one, indeed. Arden Courts-Kensington sets the standard by which other dementia care facilities should be judged.

Provider Response