Heatherwood Retirement Community

My sister and my mom have decided on Heatherwood Retirement Community about a month ago. It's cheaper than the other one. I think they picked it because it was cheaper. Other than that, it's OK. I'm not crazy about it because of the distance from our house getting there, it's in the middle of nowhere. Also, I don't think they get the best of care. My mom complains about the food all the time. She says it's terrible. She's lactose intolerant. You would think that an assisted living facility like that, even though it might be costing a little less than some of the other ones that you read about, should be able to cater to certain dietary needs. She says, 'I can't eat because they put milk in it, and the food tastes terrible. Maybe she's just miserable because of her other ailments. She has this wound on her leg that's supposed to have the bandage changed every single day and redressed, and they do not do it every day. She waits a day or two and then they'll come and change it, and the doctors like, 'I don't understand this. Why aren't they caring for her leg like they're supposed to? I'm giving instructions on how to care for her leg and they're not doing it.' I'm personally not crazy about the place and I wasn't from the get-go. The rooms are nice overall. My mom says the toilet isn't tall enough. You would think for an assisted living that they would have the proper size toilet in there. They do have a shower that has a little step-in, which is nice, for that age, so that's good. The size of the room is nice. They have an oven, but it's disconnected, so I'm not quite sure why they have an oven if they don't want the residents to use it. She is allowed to have a microwave, a coffeemaker, and a refrigerator, which she does have. She has a nice little kitchenette, so I don't think the room itself has any issues other than the toilet is not to her liking. I don't think they're clean, and they're kind of outdated.

My mother has moved into Heatherwood Retirement Community. It was a rough start, but after we got things going it wasn't too bad because she came from rehab into senior living. The staff is very friendly. Due to her dietary restrictions she's limited on what she can eat, and she's not thrilled with the food. It's spotless. With COVID, it's been restricted since my mother has moved in, but otherwise they provide a lot of activities. It's just not taking place because of COVID. She pays a monthly fee, plus she pays a fee for her caretaker. I think all of the facilities, not even just Heatherwood, their prices are astronomical. The amenities have been closed since COVID.

Heatherwood Retirement Community is very clean and well decorated. My mother's room is very clean; they just put in new carpets and painted it. It's immaculate, beautiful, and very spacious. The staff and the services could not be nicer. This time of the year they have a lot of concert performances and groups who come in and sing Christmas carols or play musical instruments. They have bingo and knitting and crocheting club. She loves the food. There have been no complaints.

Heatherwood Retirement Community is a very small facility, and it is a very nice place. They have cottages, and they have a little garden. It is very country-like. The working ethics of the staff is phenomenal. They are very good with taking care of their residents.