Holiday Essex House

Jessica

My mother-in-law moved into Holiday Essex House. It's excellent. She's very happy there. We felt that the management staff is very welcoming and they were very willing to accommodate all of our requests and helped us get her moved in quickly. Everyone has been wonderful. The food is good. The accommodations are great. The facility is very well-maintained. They have games, church services, excursions, bus trips, they take them shopping, they take them to doctors' appointments, and there's a hair salon.

Rick

My parents moved to Essex House, it's a great place there. They provide three meals a day that's all included in the price. Everything is in each apartment that they need, and the local health care is right there nearby. It's all independent living but they have the services nearby, so we can have somebody come in and help them out. It's just a 55-year old retirement community.

Sally

The people at Essex House were very nice, and it's a nice place. They provide meals. There's access to washers and dryers. We saw a 2-bedroom that was beautiful and private, but it just didn't have what we were looking for. The staff who assisted us during the tour was nice. The snacks and transportation were included in the price.

Provider Response

PamIB

I have both my elderly parents at Essex House. The staff there, like Heather, is the most creative. They go out of their way no matter what. There are times I cannot get my parents to answer their cell phone. I'll worry, so I'll literally call the desk, and they have no problem. They'll send someone up to the apartment. They make sure that they check in with me. Last week, there was an issue with my father taking the van to get to a doctor's appointment, and the gentleman had to stop early that day and Ryan was like, "I'll get your father an Uber. I'll make sure he gets on. I'll make sure everything's good." They just go out of their way on every aspect. I feel it's very safe there. I feel like the staff there truly cares. My father and my mother like the food, but they always have bread and my father gets upset. He said, "Well, then they shouldn't offer it," which is not possible because there are people who are able to have bread and understand that and they don't seem to complain. It was hard during the pandemic, although the meals were definitely delivered in a timely fashion always, when they had to stay in their apartments. Sometimes that's difficult because when you're trying to deliver as many meals as they do, sometimes they weren't as hot as they had liked. Now that everyone's down in the dining hall, things are going well, and they still have safety protocol. I noticed the other night when I stopped in after work, they were all playing bingo. All the residents had their mask on. The person calling the numbers had their mask on. I think that's pretty good. I don't know how the young woman literally comes up with the things that she does, whether it's in-house activities. She's always having themed events going on. It's really nice. When they couldn't go out, she had animals coming in from Zoo America. There are still people coming in. They have singers coming in. All the residents are masked. They are always doing something. When they couldn't go on the van to the restaurants, they got to pick places. They would offer like a Chinese restaurant for delivery or pizza. They have that delivered. The people just had to sign up. They went down to Heather if they wanted it. If not, of course, they could eat the meal that was being offered at the Essex House. When the van wasn't going out in public, that's what they were doing, which is really impressive. They do a great job there. Annalee, Tina, Ryan, and the young people that work there could even serve the meals. They're so lovely. Other times, I've had to pay out-of-pocket for some additional nursing, like when your parent comes home from the hospital or something like that. They have everything there. They have PT upstairs, and she's lovely. They have a hair salon upstairs. I think the hair salon is fabulous. I can just set up appointments for my mother and she's really good. You can just put the money in her box for the month or whatever. Their room has a little kitchenette and a table with four chairs. They have a living room area, a lovely patio, and a bedroom and they have two twin beds in there, they have big furniture and a full bathroom in there. Their sheets and towels are done for them; they are responsible for their own personal laundry. My parents are doing more now because they have the accessibility there in the activities than they ever did when they lived in their own house. Someone comes in every week to clean their apartment.

Yvonne

I am in Essex House, and it's going very well. I've been here for seven years now. The staff is fine. I have no problem with them. The food is basically pretty good though sometimes, we get some meals that aren't the greatest. We have someone that was a dishwasher and he's learning to be a cook. The meals are not the greatest, but we get by. The activities are fine. We're doing pretty well right now, and we enjoy them. We had pig races today. Heather does very well.

George W

I'm currently a resident at the Essex House. It's a great place, and it's a wonderful place for people who need this kind of residence. They think about doing everything for you, they have a podiatrist that comes in, and they have a beautician here that gives men haircuts and women hairdos. They have various activities that are here to keep everybody's mind active. It's just a very pleasant place to be. On a daily basis, they have yoga and exercises. They bring very good entertainment in periodically. They also have mind sessions and quizzes and whatnot to keep people thinking and active. They have a great arrangement of different programs, too. It's an absolutely beautiful place and well maintained.

Dottie

We toured Essex House. The staff was very friendly, very helpful in showing us everything and talking to us about everything, and answered all of our questions. It seemed like a very friendly atmosphere. We talked to some of the residents, and they were very happy there. The apartments were very clean and very nice, and they had different options. We didn't taste the food, but everything looked nice.

Garry

Great supportive staff. There are tons of meaningful activities. Their amazing response and deep caring during this COVID-19 times has been fantastic.

amberhiltz

I moved my father in about 3 years ago to Essex House. He loves it there and so do I. Having my dad move in and having the support from their staff has given me the opportunity to have a father/daughter relationship again with my dad. I would recommend this place to everyone the staff is helpful and really cares for their residents.

Casse

The apartments are spacious. I like all of the activities that are taking place even in covid. The residents enjoy, bingo, singing with the piano player and exercise. It is really a pretty cool set up. I like the way the building looks and the interior furnishings. It is exactly what my mother in law wanted.

ET

We have moved into Essex House. We have a two-bedroom apartment. There is no kitchen, but we have a microwave, so we can heat up a few things, but there is no cooking. It is very nice. It is cold outside but it is warm here. The staff has always been very nice. There's an activity room where a lot of different things are going on. They don't have a dedicated exercise room, but the machine that they have is in the library. They have a dining room but it takes a pretty long time to get fed. The food is also terrible. The place is nice enough and the structure is OK. However, there's really not a lot of activities. The most popular activity is bingo once a week. The price is reasonable.

Provider Response

CM

I am very pleased with Essex House. There's a possibility that's what I'm going to pick when it comes down to it. The staff members are excellent. We had lunch there, and they all came and talked to us. Everything is provided in the room and all-inclusive. The only thing it doesn't have is a stove because they provide three meals a day. They have activities and an exercise room. They have a bus that transports you to doctor's appointments and to activities, restaurants in the area, or tourist attractions. The food is very good.

Anne

Essex House was very nice, and it would have been my first choice. It was a little on the small side. The staff was really good, the dining area was very nice, and it was open. It's very homey, centrally located, and the staff seems really good.

Christine

At Essex House, I really liked that if the person needs homecare, they can come in. Sometimes, they're not totally independent and need physical therapy or help with meals, they can hire someone to come and do that. They're not forced into an assisted living if they would like to remain in an independent living environment. I liked that there was a little outdoor area. Each person had a little patio and sometimes the backdoor goes out onto the grass. It felt a little homier and the rooms didn't feel like you're in a hospital. The staff was great, very informative, very friendly, and very able to listen to all the factors and all the situations in our family that would influence or affect our decisions and needs, and I liked that a lot. They had plenty to do, and the amenities were all very helpful. Another thing that's important is they offer transportation for medical appointments and anywhere else you need to go.

Neal D

My parents have been residents for 9 months thus far. Convincing them to leave their home was difficult, but the residents welcomed them (they all went through the same difficult decision). There is often on-site entertainment (music, movies, card games, trips to local shops and restaurants). My parents stay has been a very positive experience, allowing them to avoid the stairs, tripping hazards, cleaning, cooking, etc. of staying in their own home. All meals have three choices. One is usually a diabetic friendly and gluten free option. As noted by another, this is not a nursing home, but there are companies that have on-site offices (including a hairdresser and visiting podiatrist). It is completely your choice who you use for care services (non-skilled, skilled nursing, or hospice). These services are independent from Essex House. The manager (Ryan, started in beginning of '17) is amazing. He knocks himself out to keep folks happy (which can be a rather difficult task) and is a super person. The maintenance folks are very attentive. I am very happy my parents are there. I visit often. Visitors are welcome to attend any meal (which in my opinion are very good). They will bring meals to your room if you (or spouse) cannot make it down to the dining area (on 1st floor).

terry376431

Essex House was really nice; they had a welcome sign for me, and actually spelled my name right, so I was impressed with that. It was a gorgeous place, and the staff was very open and informative. I had lunch there with a lady, the food was very good, and they had options for people who were watching what they eat, so that was very nice.

J.E.384244

Essex House only had independent living. The staff was very friendly. The only thing that my husband did not like in the rooms was that wasn't a kitchenette or stove. It only had a counter and some cupboards. If our mother-in-law wanted to cook, she could not prepare a meal in the room. The rooms were very nice. The facility location was perfect and close to where we live. The grounds were well maintained. We discussed the prices, and it was outside of her budget.

Anonymous515617

Essex House is probably the one I will be going to. It had larger rooms, and the one I looked at had a vaulted ceiling. It was a nice, newer, clean room with a nice balcony. They have an exercise room, exercise classes, and bingo twice a week. I have a lot of doctors and for my doctors’ appointments, I will use their free transportation. They accept pets, and I have two dogs I am bringing with me. The person who took us around was very friendly.

Suzanne 374640

As soon as I walked into the lobby, I immediately felt at home. Everyone I met was pleasant and seemed content. So far, Essex House is first on my list!!!

Patrick272632

The rooms at Essex House were very nice and clean. They had an exercise area and a couple of little parlors where people could sit and talk and watch television. They had one area that they use for parties. Downstairs, they had a very nice lobby area that looked like a hotel lobby area. The people were very pleasant. The food was excellent.

Sherry M.

The tour at Essex House was pleasant. The husband and wife who managed the place were very pleasant, answered all my questions, and showed me several room options. The dining area seemed very nice. It was a very pleasant facility. However, it was very independent for my mom, and she needed more assistance, which was not offered.

Nancy083040

We went to Essex House. Everything that you would need was right there -- e.g., like being able to get 3 meals a day. They have all kinds of things. They play cards, they have movie nights, and some of the patrons do puzzles. They really encourage the intermingling between all of their patrons. Food was very good. There were a lot of choices, which was nice.

Luann4

Essex House was spacious, friendly, and everyone was really nice. It was clean, looked new, and I was really impressed with it. The rooms were nice.

Disappointed11

I've been a resident of Essex House. Don't believe what they tell you to sell it to you. It's not true. I came here almost a little late from the dental appointment and I asked them if I could get something to eat and they stopped serving and I can't have anything to eat. Your meals do not come with what you pay. They give you a half an hour to eat and that's it. If you're not seated on time, you don't get breakfast. They don't pay attention too much to the people unless you have a lot of money. You have to pay for your meals if you want them delivered to your room. You have to pay for your own stove to bring it in, but the room I'm living in has no stove. You just eat cold food. The staff is nice. The staff can only do what management tells them to do. I have a nice clean room, but it's older. There were some things I asked to be done over and over again which have not been done. They have a lot of things for people to do, but it's not for people that are active here. It's for people that need help. The studio has no bedroom, but there is a bathroom. You can't use the washer and the dryer during the day during the week until after 4:00, which is inconvenient. There are only two washers and dryers in this area and two at the other end. The upper class rooms have their washer and dryer in them and they have bedrooms, which were really nice, but I don't have that kind of money.

Provider Response

Ronald23

My father is at Essex House. The visit was fantastic. The manager of the facility was very knowledgeable and very polite. She discussed what they offer and everything and anything that the community does for the elderly. They bring entertainment in, have all kinds of arts and crafts, have a billiard table for gentlemen who play billiards, a game room, and exercise equipment. They provide them with three meals a day, laundry service and bus service that will take residents to doctors or to the mall. They have a nursing staff in there if you need them, too. Fortunately, my sister came and visited that weekend, and she fell in love with the place, too.

Margaret114058850

I went to Essex House with my brothers and sisters. We got a tour of the whole place and we had lunch. It was nice. If they had not been located where they were they might have been my choice. The only difference I could see is they had an elaborate reception area. Their dining room had white table cloths and there was a lot of furniture around. They have apartments of different sizes. They have somebody there 24/7. I thought they were pretty equitable.

Tiffani

My mother was in Essex House. The staff was very friendly and very helpful -- particularly Helen and Bob. They were very accommodating. They had all been very easy to work with. The rooms were very nice and adequate and were just in the right size for someone in mother's condition. They were not new, but they were nicely kept. I ate there with my mother, and I think the food was fine. She had no complaint about the food. She thought the food was very good. The dining room was very nice. There were a lot of food choices for the residents, and they also encourage residents getting to know each other. It was an environment for people to make new friends. I think it was really well kept. It was easy to navigate and very convenient for seniors who needed a little bit of extra assistance. One thing that I thought that was very convenient was the fact that they had third-party partners in nursing and physical therapy who could work with the residents right there in their rooms. So -- if they were not well -- they were able to still have some assistance. I had never been in that building where there wasn't anyone in the office or in the front area, and I had gone in it various times a day, weekend, week night, and weekdays. There was always someone there to keep an eye on them, and the doors were locked.

Fran16

We did visit Essex House for a tour. We are planning to stay here for right now, but certainly Essex House is a wonderful possibility if we needed a backup. We have not looked at anything else so we are totally new to the concept of looking other than any information we have from visiting people. It told us what we wanted to find out. Nothing in particular was impressive upon entering. My first memory of walking in the door was that there was certain kind of walkers to the left. The dining room was immediately to the right, and it was more elegant than we were probably comfortable with but we can maybe adjust if we decide to move. My biggest reservation about the whole thing is that they provide three meals a day. I like to cook, and I like my cooking. My cooking was much better than the bland fish we had that day. We also have an older cat that has gotten into a state of cat Alzheimer's or Dementia. She can't hear at all, so she gets louder and louder at night. She sleeps all day and is up all night, and I'm not sure if Essex House is ready for that. They do allow pets, but I don't know about the sound proofing of the place. Of course, it is still a question of what we wanted versus what they offered. I'm not saying there isn't some merit of having them prepare three meals a day, but I enjoy cooking. They do have a community room where they do classes and other kind of stuff.

Caring82088850

We found Essex House to be a good facility for my brother-in-law because it is assisted living as opposed to convalescent care which he wouldn't take at all. He refused to admit to have dementia so he is in what you will call a normal facility. That's has been part of the problem because when he first moved in, he did things in that facility that were not allowed. I can't blame the facility for his inability to function. He really needs more care than they can provide for him. I have to give the facility an A for effort because they tried. I think it is a good facility. He is in a two room unit, with a dining room, kitchen and small living room. So he is in a suite and not just in one room which works.

Caring85625050

Essex House was clean and nicely decorated. The apartment was a one open room with a bedroom and a bath. That's $1,300 a month, and that includes meals, but it's still a lot of money. They have a very big dining area. The staff was nice and polite. However, they looked at me when I came in, and the guy said I wouldn't fit in. Most people there are 70 and up, and I just turned 62. It may be a compliment, but I don't think he should be saying that out loud! Also, they don't have any recreation area. They only showed me a little deck. The front was all parking lot, and when you look outside, there is a bank. They could have more outside activities for the people, especially exercise, or nice places for walks.

Kathy84906650

Essex House was nice, but it was a little more pricey than the other one. It was like the identical twin of the other one we visited. They had indoor and outdoor activities. The security seemed good.

Melanie4

Essex House is definitely worth checking out. I like the fact that it was run by a couple who was there all the time. I also like the fact that it's a little bit cheaper than some of the other places. There were full time care supervisors there so I thought that was a plus. It appeared to be very clean. The common features like the dining room was very nice and there was an atrium in the middle where it rose to the full heights of the building. There were sofas there and they put the Christmas tree there and it's a nice, welcoming face at the same time it's pretty elegant and fancy, too.

Nancy63837450

I really liked Essex House a lot. It was very nice. It had that community feeling that everybody needed. They had a nice open lobby area. The dining area had a very big fireplace where everybody got together like a family during meals. They were also full of activities. There were some staff who lived there so if anyone had a problem or a question, there were house parents they could talk to.

Barb 1

Essex House was very nice, but it didn't offer the kind of support that mom needed. It's an independent living and she needs help with her medication management, she needed help with showering and things like that. It's very well-maintained, it's welcoming, it has a good reputation in the community. They have a lot of different activities in the community, but it's just not a good fit for my mom. I think they have a community room or something where different groups from the community come in.

Caring386

My Aunt is currently in Essex House an Independent Living Facility. We chose this facility because it just fits our needs and what she was looking for. We like best about this community is the activities. They treat my aunt very well. All the staff are friendly and kind. She's very much happy with this facility. But if there were something they need to improve is the decorations in the hall way, because there are lots of them. A good place to recommend to others.