Holiday Emerald Pond

Linda

We like Holiday Emerald Pond because it is for people who are very nervous or anxious. It is a very beautiful quiet place. The pond, the outside environment, and the woods are natural. It doesn't have cars zooming by it. It's very quiet and very pretty on the outside. The rooms are acceptable. However, for me and my friend, the smallest rooms are very small. We're bigger people, so we need a larger-style room. They have different-sized rooms, and we saw a couple that was adequate that we would be interested in if we were going to move there. The thing that I didn't like is that the rooms don't have full kitchens. It's just a tiny countertop with a microwave and a little refrigerator. They just have a very small kitchenette type that I would say is smaller than a kitchenette. But they provide three meals a day. So that's more or less for putting some leftover food in or heating something like a soup, and so it is not designed to have a bunch of groceries and cook and eat in your room. It's not a place like that. I saw activities. They had some kind of event going on. I saw a lot of people interacting, a lot of people sitting around talking and communicating. There are areas where people could be that were open. It was nice and I could see a real sense of community. I saw lots of people sitting together and talking in groups about news items and things like that. It was nice. I met the sales manager, I saw the kitchen people that were cooking and serving dinner, and I saw somebody who was over the event that was getting ready to put away things. They have a big staff of administration, meaning people for doing lots of different things. I think they have an adequate staff there. I did not have a meal, but I saw them serving other people and the food looked very nice.

Indell

Holiday Emerald Pond was nice. The staff was very friendly. The residents that we met as we were touring the place were friendly, too. It left a great impression. We didn't eat there, but we saw the menu and dining area. We saw a 1-bedroom and also a studio. My aunt says the 1-bedroom was too big for her, so we chose the studio. She's satisfied. The staff that we met were wonderful. They were having some kind of show when we were there. They have a library and activities (like exercises). They have everything that a person would need.

Tonya

I liked Holiday Emerald Pond fairly well. The tour was nice. It's a smaller place than most of the others as far as activity rooms available and things like that. They didn't have any apartments of the size that I wanted. They don't have a kitchenette. They have a few cabinets, very little counter space, and a tiny little sink. The living room was small, and there was no dining room. The bedroom size and bathroom were OK. It was nice and clean. The people that were living there were friendly. The staff who assisted us was fine. He was a pleasant young man. They did not have a lot of staff, at least interacting with me. The location was great because it was very quiet and very private.

Alvin

I toured Emerald Pond and my experience was great. I liked the location, and they keep the grounds neatly trimmed. It's just not a new facility, but it's still nice. The rooms there are not as large as the ones in another community. So, they're a little smaller than that. In talking with the person who showed me around, they have activities. I didn't get a chance to see the activities, but I know that they told me they do have those. They have a small sort of TV or movie area there. They also have areas where you can play games. The dining area looked nice. It was large and open. I didn't get a chance to eat lunch with them while I was there, but they do serve three chef-prepared meals a day. The staff was very nice. They've done several follow-ups. They've invited me to come back into the facility again. All the staff that I've met were very nice to me.

Yvette

I toured Emerald Pond. The staff showed me the mailbox and the dining area. And then he showed me three of the rooms. One was the bedroom, and then the upstairs one was bigger. They had like a layout and he showed me that. The only drawback is that they don't have Google Fiber, just the spectrum. One of them had a ceiling fan and I asked if that was something I could have, and he said I can just ask for it. I didn't have any issues. The place was clean. They were all decorated for Valentine's Day. They showed me the theater, the library, and then the chaplain was going on. So, he showed me that when we walked by. He showed me a list of activities. I know they have a chocolate day, and I think they have a chili contest. He showed me the theater, a computer area if you want to use the computer, and the book area in the library. They don't have the washer and dryer in their rooms, so he showed me the laundry area.

C.B.

I liked the Emerald Pond in Durham. It is a place that I would like to live in. It was clean and the people were friendly. The staff was very nice and very informative. It did not have a hospital smell and they seem to have a lot of activities going on besides games and stuff like that. They were getting ready to have a manager meeting when I was there. It was nice that everybody could attend and speak with the manager there. I didn't attend it, but they were setting up and there were a lot of people there. A lot of residents were there getting ready for the meeting to start. I thought that was a good idea, that they get to meet with everybody. They have laundry facilities and they have housekeeping services that are included. They got towels and linens and they'll change everything out once a week along with light housekeeping.

Thelma

Emerald Pond was very nice. The rooms were a nice size and they had a variety of different rooms. They had nice walking paths with a pond, which was very appealing to my sister. She loves the outdoors, and they had little garden spots that she could visit as well. It's nice, clean, and updated. She didn't have any problems with that, but she would have to add an in-room phone. There were a few things that she would have to do herself. We're just deciding between that and another one that is closer to where we live. The staff was very nice and very pleasant. It was a very nice facility.

Billy

We toured Emerald Pond. We liked the quality of the staff and the environment. They were very personable, very easy to get in touch with, and very responsive. The pond and the ability to take walks around the pond was filling.

Laura

The staff we met at Emerald Pond were very friendly, personable, and very helpful. The marketing person who was showing us around but we met the manager; we also met the director of activities, the janitor, and the health services. It's very nice, it's on a 150-acre preserve, so there's a pond in the back, and it looks like it's the country and not in the middle of the city. The upkeep is nice and the outside is nice. They gave us a copy of the menu but we went back and had dinner there. They give you a choice and it looked like their big meal is in the afternoon, and the lighter meal is like a sandwich, soup, vegetable platter, or salad; those are for the evenings. You also get a dessert and there are usually two to three items. Everything was good.

Nancy

What I like the most about Emerald Pond is that it was a warm and friendly atmosphere. Some of the rooms are a long walk to the cafeteria. The person who toured me was knowledgeable and honest.

Dan

I've visited Emerald Pond in Durham. It was nice. The rooms were nice, it was spacious, and clean. The dining area was spacious. The amenities were fine. The two-bedroom was great. The staff was fine, they were friendly. The outside view was fine, it was great. They had a garden. Everything was great at Emerald Pond. It's close to hospitals.

Jeanne

Emerald Pond was pretty good. The facilities were good and the staff was pleasant to us. I know somebody that lives there. They're being well taken care of. They're connected with Legacy and you pay extra for it. They have people that come in and will take care of you as you need it. It's built for basically independent living, but I think they have a doctor on-site and they provide transportation. It's very much like other facilities that advertise as independent care, but they do offer a higher level of care than the others. We couldn't have afforded it.

Ivy's moms

The rooms are well designed and you are safe and secure here. You are well fed and the staff is friendly and helpful.

VRchambers

My uncle lived at Emerald Pond 1-1.5 yrs. We had the following problems: [1] Services not provided as expected, ie, ad stated weekly trash pick-up, reality was housekeeper would take certain trash & my uncle had to take to the dumpster trash she would not take; [2] I personally heard 5 different residents state they were turned away from breakfast/lunch because staff told them they arrived too late to be served [the rent includes cost for 3 meals a day]; [3] General Manager Lisa did not make us feel she was concerned with any of this, other managers Kim & another lady would just nod/smile/walk away; [4] Parking layout is horrible, needs a lot more spaces.

William

Emerald Pond was excellent. The rooms were good. The staff is excellent. They offered the same activities as other places did. The food and dining area were excellent. They don't have a pool, but they have a pond.

John

We were impressed with Emerald Pond. It was a fine and lovely facility. We were primarily looking at two-bedroom units and the size was just right for us. Everybody was fine. We were invited to lunch and we were seated with the residents who gave us inside information about the pros and the cons that they have while living there. There was nothing to brag about food-wise. It was restaurant style.

Al

I like the rooms at Emerald Pond. I also like the meals there. The people are very nice and very good. The problem is that transportation is not wheelchair accessible. When I pointed that out to them, they just said, "Oh well, no big deal," but they can't do anything for me. I have to go to the doctors about one or two times a weeks, so they can't take me. I'm really frustrated by that. Well, the room is fine, the food is excellent, and the people are very nice and helpful, but I feel like I was misled on the transportation. It is a place for elderly people. They got about 10 people here that arrived in wheelchairs; however, they don't make any provision to help them. The staff is very good and very helpful. The facilities are great. For what you get, the price is very good.

Ronald

Emerald Pond was wonderful and was my favorite. It seemed more like home than most places I have seen. The rooms were spacious and there was ample parking. The staff was very friendly and helpful. My favorite were the little individual units that were connected. The grounds were kept up nicely and it was all around a nice place.

Joy

I visited Emerald Pond. The community was presentable. The rooms were nice. I liked the foyer/entrance. The dining room was spacious and right off of the foyer. I liked the layout of the reading room, too. The upstairs was an open layout. You could see the library, the workout room, the movie room, and the different little rooms. The staff was friendly. She gave me a lot of information. They showed me an activity room and the schedule of activities posted on the walls of the elevator. They also said they have outings.

DK

Emerald Pond was very nice, but it was antiquated and old, things hadn't been changed, and the carpeting wasn't the best. It had a very small apartment, and you couldn't even have a refrigerator or a stove. It was very unaccommodating. The staff was generally very nice. I enjoyed them. I saw people in the pool, people working out in chairs, anda nurse. We ate there too.

Bette

Emerald Pond was a very attractive, newer facility. They didn’t have staff 24/7. They had snacks and coffee available anytime and nice places to gather for the residents to do classes and things like that. The pricing was OK. They had nice cottages for those who can afford them.

Charles185443

Emerald Pond was excellent and had very nice apartments. The staff was very good. The activities were enjoyable. The price was quite high, but it was worth it. It was very convenient for me and one of the best I've seen.

Barbara827553

I was impressed with Emerald Pond. It seemed rather contemporary. I had a free, good lunch and was taken on a tour outside. I liked the walking area and trail. It really seemed OK. I saw one room that two people occupied, and it seemed spacious enough, but if I were to live there, there would still be a lot of downsizing that I'd have to do. I thought it was nice, and the people seemed happy enough. I thought living there would be really OK, except I didn't like the idea of having a roommate, and even then I don't think I can afford it.

Jacqueline622301

Emerald Pond was a nice place too, but the cost was too much for what you will be getting. It’s an old building, well kept, and adequate room sizes. but the building is built down in the low line area, and it’s near the pond.

Barbara453411

My overall experience at Emerald Pond was good. It had every activity and every support facility. It was a newer building, so it was more updated but that also made it more expensive. They had limited apartments, and they also had separate patio homes. There were no openings -- which I guess is a sign of a good facility -- but there were only a few of the separate patio homes.

Maureen247122

My mother has been in Emerald Pond for the past year and a half. It's very nice and clean, and the apartment is on the first floor, which my mother prefers. The dining hall overlooks the pond. It is very pretty, and the residents are very nice. The Operations Manager is fantastic. When we first got there, they had the whole family go in the quiet dining hall and made it so special and very nice. Since then, I have been over on several occasions to go and eat with her, and it’s very nice. It’s a great place.

Concerned Son6

Emerald Pond is out in the country a little bit. The pond is a focal point, so it is scenic. The rooms are comparable to others but probably a little bit smaller and more costly.

LeoDSSUN

Emerald Pond was the newest of the three places we visited. It was nice, and the location was great. We met the husband and wife managers who were the most agreeable and helpful. It was a good tour. They had some exercise equipments, and we saw the dining area, which was very nice.

Anonymous114760150

Everything has been fine at Emerald Pond. It's a convenient location, and I like the facility. It's very clean and large, and the price is right. My mother likes the food a lot. She's very happy there. They have a lot of activities, and she just picks the ones that she likes. There are plenty of things for her to do.

Sylvia20

I visited Emerald Pond, and the lady was very nice. I didn't like the rooms because there wasn't enough storage, and they were relatively small. What they had was a cottage, and it was very nice. The food was good; we had a nice meal. The membership fee was reasonable. They would get you to doctors' appointments with transportation on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, they take you shopping. They have a lot of group activities, and they try to get free tickets from the community for concerts and things like that. They have a calendar of activities with all kinds of things that they do like trivia games during lunch.

Caring110102750

We went to Emerald Pond, and it was very nice. The staff was very cordial and very helpful. We liked the place. It was clean, and it had lovely grounds. They gave us a nice tour. The apartments were nice, clean, and very small. The dining room looked fine, but we didn't actually eat there. There were a lot of activities. They had lots of things going on. They had different groups, clubs, and events going on. That looked pretty good. What impressed me more were the people. The woman who showed us around was very nice, and they seemed like they really took interest with the people who lived there.

Caring101097950

Emerald Pond seemed to be a very nice place. When my mother came out of rehab, she needed assisted living but I really couldn’t afford it. She is much better, and she is able to take care of herself. She has a studio apartment which is very adequate for her. A studio apartment is just a room, and she has a bed, a recliner, a couple of chairs, and a couple of dressers. There is a built-in cabinet with a sink in them, a refrigerator, and she could have a microwave if she wanted but she doesn’t want one. There was a lady that I worked with in the sales department; she was very nice and helpful. I don’t see the managers. They have many activities in the facility; they have bingo, library, movies, people who come and sing and entertain them, and they have trips. I know the food was fine; mother complained sometimes but they served their meals, they don’t have to go to the land, they served them like salads or soups and the main dish. The food I thought was very good. Sometimes I think it would be nice if the caregiver to my mother that I know more about what was going on sometimes, and I would like to get a newsletter. What impressed me is the fact that it’s very clean and homey.

Basil1

I love Emerald Pond. It is close to where I am now renting and it is closest to where my daughter works, so it gives me sort of a comfort zone. I couldn't look for anything better. The staff over there was very friendly. They were very courteous to me. As a matter of fact, at luncheon period when I was there, the clients and staff were very courteous to one another. It was like being at home. They're very helpful. Their rooms were spacious, the ones that I have seen. Also, they have an arrangement of different types of activities.

Caring85863150

Emerald Pond has one main building with three stories, and everything from studio to one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. They also have some cottages, which is what we have, and these are very nice and they look right out on the lake. The staff is caring and they do take people who really need more care than they can get here, like those who are starting to get a little Alzheimer's or whatever. I think they are more interested in selling the place and making sure that everybody is able to take care of themselves. The food is adequate; it is not gourmet, but it is acceptable. They give us a menu everyday of what is available. There is breakfast, lunch and supper, and they have something for each of those meals. They also have a couple of other things that you can have instead if you don't want what they are serving, so they always have something else. They have lots and lots of activities here. They have Bingo, pool, card games, and outings -- once a week, I think. They'll go to a restaurant, take you to doctors' appointments and that kind of stuff, or just the shopping center. They have music nights, a beauty salon, and physical therapy. To me, the location is the best thing because it is pretty close to just about anything that you'd want. But it is on this pond, so it feels like you are in the country and it is a pretty peaceful place. It has got its good points and bad points. Because of the pond, there are a lot of geese and they don't always clean up the geese droppings on the sidewalk as I'd like them to, but this is by far its biggest drawback.

Caring84293150

Emerald Pond was nice. It had a lake. It had very spacious cottages, and the staff was fine. However, the rooms in the apartments were small.

ziolupo

I was a resident at Emerald Pond for 3 months, ending 2 weeks ago (2/28/2014). I was there because I had recently been in the hospital and rehab in Virginia. My daughter wanted me closer to her and thought EP would suffice. After 3 weeks, I knew I couldn't stay there and had to get back home. There were walkers all over the dining room at meals, many caregivers for many of the residents, big band elevator music was played in the hallways, and the age of the residents was much older than I. The food was not what they had advertised at all. The best meal was breakfast. My one-bedroom apartment wasn't bad, but it was located at the parking lot side of the building. There were early morning deliveries from the Sysco food company and trash pick-up from the dumpsters. Very noisy. The "pond" was hyped up to be wonderful, but it didn't matter on the parking lot side. The advertisement also said cable was provided, but neglected to say decent reception could only be attained if you subscribed to a cable provider. That cost extra money. Another problem I had was that my hobbies are cooking and gardening. I could do neither there. No kitchen, no gardening area. Dementia is common with the residents, with very little stimulating conversation. If you are considering this place, think very hard about your needs.

Caring68109350

Emerald Pond is excellent. The management is really good. It's fairly new, but it's very good. The food is pretty decent. The activities are picking up quite a bit. So we're having a good time.

Rita14

I took a tour at Emerald Pond and the place is pretty expensive. They didn't have any one bedroom cottages, only 2. The two-bedroom cottages are suited for married couples. I remember that they thought that it was a big deal that it was kind of on the pond and then they had a lot of ducks. The only thing that I could see was that the ducks made a huge mass on the trail or the sidewalk that you had to walk.