Bellewood

Kim Rocco

I am writing this review as a family member of a Bellwood resident. I love the greeting by the Bellwood staff as I arrive to visit my relative. I am always greeted with a warm and smiling face. Everyone seems to know the names of residents as well as most of the guests. Bellwood has so many events/activities to involve residents in this Life Minded community. Alona, the manager, takes her job very seriously and is involved with this community. She gives her all and makes an effort to know her staff and residents as well as the family members that come to visit. It is a very welcoming place to live as well as visit.

AnneR

I found Bellewood for my mom almost 10 years ago when my husband & I were moving from Michigan, by reading an online review so I think it’s important to share a glowing review myself to help another daughter find a great new place for her parents. What clinched it was the reviewer wrote, “there are lots of fancy places with amenities elsewhere but I can’t get over the cozy feeling of family between the residents and staff at Bellewood.” That is what I needed - a quiet, safe apartment for my mom as she adjusted to living without my dad on the other side of the country. Bellewood’s grounds are a park like setting - gorgeous rhododendron, flowering trees, mature trees. It’s beautiful year round. There are classes, movies, theme dinners, puzzle tables. I am thankful every day that we were able to find this sweet quiet darling place for my mom to live so well. First floor apartments have patios and there is also a P-Patch (raised bed garden area). The dinners are nice and I find the food to be good. The building is very clean.

Sarah

We were able to see Bellewood for my dad. It's very warm, more of a lodge style. The person that we talked to was Carol and she was incredible. We did not have the food, but the food looked good. They had a workout room, activities, facilities, and the grounds were beautiful. They had a movie theater room that was used for lectures, social activities, and movies, and they also had a cafe. It had a much more homey feel than the other place I toured. The staff worked very closely together and all seemed very cohesive and interested in us. The rooms were very nice, the first-floor room, in particular, that had a little deck or a little patio. So you can just be outside or sit outside on the patio.

Provider Response

Lorraine

I'm starting my 15th year here at Bellewood. Truthfully, I have never regret it a single day that I made this choice. The staff is wonderful. The family that owns Bellewood is terrific. Hopefully, I can stay here on my own until God decides he wants me. There's been cutback of activities because of Covid 19, but things are starting to open. About March 1st or so, they opened up the dining room to certain capacity, not full overblown amount of people. Truthfully, there are a lot of people have left, some have died not necessarily from the Covid 19, but just from aging and illnesses and all, and some people decided to live with their families. It's not like what it used to be of course, and just like everyone else we were quarantined, like probably close to a year. And you only went out to the doctor and then they'll put you in quarantine once you come back. So life's changed a lot. But we're really more on the positive side now and the fact that we can go down the dining at dinnertime, for me it's a great, big asset, because I love talking. Here at Bellewood, just about everyone got their two shots of vaccine. Of course, I guess there are some people that didn't want the shot, but that's a very minimal amount from what I understand. The staff have fabulous personalities, and really upbeat. Any request that I've made has been answered, like if I want a little something after dinner to take back home or leftover for whatever, no problem at all. I have no complaints about any department that I know of. They have a young wait staff, still in high school, and the kids are really so cute and really nice. The food has been very good. We have a new chef, and he's introducing new little things, which I think are wonderful. And the fact I'd turn 90 next month, the fact that I don't have to cook anymore, or worry about shopping for food is wonderful. They provide one meal a day here, but you can get coffee and a muffin or whatever in the morning if you want to go downstairs, and at one time during the high quarantine, they deliver everything to your apartment. They try to get a variety of things, they try to bring in bingo, and writing class. I happened to be a greeting card marker, and they have things to keep me busy and then I run a little card workshop every once in a while for the residents. I don't remember before the Covid 19 how limited it was. And of course, we were limiting to 5 and 6 people. But I think that'll open up. They have a plastic ball bowling every so often, now they're starting to golf putting and stuff. I've said to everyone, you never please your own family all the time, so how can you please 50 or more strangers getting together. But I kinda go into things with an open mind. As I've gotten a little bit older and a little bit more slowing down, I don't go to as many things as I used to. But they have church activities, movies every so often, and they try to do something for everyone. I looked at a couple of other places before choosing Bellewood, but I'm very happy I made this choice. I like it here, they listen to you. Once you're here, you are here 10 years. Your rent does not go up, does not get raised. I like it all, because a couple of places that I looked at, you had a buy-in to. I didn't want that. I like the rentals, maybe it's a little higher price, but this way I felt if I wanted to change my mind, I don't have to worry about it.

James

My mother is in Bellewood and they've been very good. They are taking care of their people and they have done extensive remodeling on the place. They're feeding them well and they have lots of activities and things for them to do. They do the usual stuff: tours, lunches, trips to the stores and doctors, exercise classes, beauty shop, and all that. Food is passable, it's certainly not gourmet quality, but with the dietary restrictions of the residents, they're limited on that. They have a dining room, and they used to have three sittings a day. They serve three meals a day depending on what plan you buy. Now they're delivering food to the rooms because of this nonsense that is going on. Retirement communities are always expensive, but their price is reasonable, and my mom lived their long enough and is not getting rate increases, so she's doing fine.

MA

I have already moved into Bellewood and it has been wonderful. They have all sorts of social, physical, and spiritual activities. It's just a wonderful activity program that they have. I liked the friendly atmosphere and the beautiful grounds. They have a beautician, massage therapist, and a podiatrist who comes. The staff is extremely welcoming and friendly.