The Bridge at Charleston

Denise Richards

There are no words to express my appreciation for The Bridge. My mom was there for 8 months and the entire staff felt like family. They all went over and above to care for my mom. They showed sincere care and love for her. They also were so supportive of me when I was concerned about her. I will forever be grateful for the time my mom had at The Bridge. I could not care for her at home anymore, and I could not have found a better alternative to home.

Donna

My mom was at The Bridge at Charleston. It was assisted living, but they didn't do anything. They said they did care but they do not care. They did not clean. When they lost her clothes, they gave her other people's clothes, and she didn't get her clothes. She did not even get a bath. She was always dirty. The refrigerator that they gave them in that little room to share was always filthy dirty, and they said that they don't clean those and I'm like, 'Well, the older people can't clean them.' They did give my mom medication, but they did not inform the family that she was refusing to bathe or she wasn't getting baths. She walked around sometimes with her clothes inside out and with somebody else's clothes on. My mom was never treated very well in that facility. The only people that got treated well were the ones whose families go in there every single day and make sure they're getting cared for, but my mom did not get treated well. I walked in, and everybody is eating at the table, but her. They did not serve her any food because she could not circle what she wanted, so they didn't give her anything. She paid for three meals a day, but she wasn't getting fed. My mom went to the bathroom three days in a row with no lights working in the bathroom. She was going to the bathroom with her walker and a flashlight because they would not change the batteries in the bathroom after I reported it like four times. And then I had to go over there in the nighttime, and I went and bought light bulbs and I went and changed the light bulbs in the bathroom myself inside the facility. It was disgusting. I still have pictures of that place. It was a horrible place, and I would not put my dog in that place. I don't know if they had activities. If they did, they didn't include her in any of them, or she didn't get to do any of the activities. The only thing I think she did there that she liked there was when the hairdresser came in and she got her hair done and that was an outside thing. She went and did that, and we paid for that separately for the hairdresser. That was the only thing that she did. They didn't have a lot of family activities. They were not nice to her at all. They were very mean. I found my mom's roommate on the floor, and I reported it. And they just yanked her roommate up and threw her in the chair and told her not to get up. They didn't even check her for vital signs or to see if she was hurt or anything, they just threw her in the chair. It was horrible. I had to take my mom out of there. I said I can't come over here every day and make sure they do their job. So I got into it with the director and I pulled her out. I made her room in my house and I brought her over here and I put her on hospice. The building was nasty. The people were nasty. None of them were nice people. None of the workers were nice. They would be nice if you walked in the door. But I walked in one day and the employees were playing cornhole in the hallway, and my mom had the same clothes on for three days. I knew she had the same clothes on when I went in one day, then I skipped a day, and then went the next day, and she still had the same clothes on. She was soaking wet, her clothes were soaking wet, and all the employees were playing cornhole, not even with the patients, they were just playing by themselves. The walls were not plastered. It was just a horrible place. It was just nasty. The staff hated working there. They're non-skilled workers. The nurses were horrible. We tried to bring food in when we can because my mom didn't like the food there.

If you hate your parents

My mother lived here for over a year. We were told she was a good fit for what they provide. Well there was many incidents that were not addressed. Her bed linens were washed at my request and when I came the next day they had left them folded on the bed. She was in the same clothes for 3 days, I had to ask them to bath her. The shared kitchen area with her roommate had a refrigerator that was nasty and dishes in the sink. When asked I was told she has to wash her own private dishes. But they offer cleaning services at the facility, if she was able to wash dishes and make her bed and clean a small refrigerator she wouldn’t need to be in assisted living. I found her sitting in the dinning room and everyone eating but her, she didn’t circle what she wanted. I had to ask for her food that day. The staff were playing corn hole in the hall while my mom was needing help . Would not recommend this facility to my friends or family.

RayNay

I have a family member who is a resident. The staff is great with her!! They keep her entertained and busy so she is active throughout the day. The facility is clean and they did a nice job navigating through the pandemic! The current Director, Katie, is the best director they have had to date. She is very knowledgeable on how to run the assisted living. I would recommend this assisted living to others who are looking for a place for their loved ones.

betsyq

I visited The Bridge at Charleston and it was such a lovely experience. The staff were so friendly and kind and it is clear that they have a heart for what they do. I was most impressed at the length of time that many of the staff have been working at the facility- some for over 18 years! I always think that is a good sign of a well-run facility when they can have stable caregivers and staff and create a continuity of care for the residents. The director is also wonderful. When I came, she was walking with one of her residents who was looking to lose weight so she could buy some new clothes and she said the director walks with her every day! Definitely, a thoughtful and caring facility that has their residents at the heart of what they do each day. I highly recommend it!

sassydenim

My parents love this place. Caring staff, good food, great care. Clean environment. Spacious rooms. After mom passed away the staff were very compassionate with dad. They spent lots of time talking to him and listening.