Keystone Place at Newbury Brook

Shauna Sadick

My mother has been in both Assisted Living as well as currently in Memory care unit Applewood. I really wish I could give more than 5 stars. I visited over 9 places looking for a place that met all my expectations and needs for my mother. It was a difficult situation moving her from her home of 12 yr in Florida to Ct where I live. Keystone was the only place I did not make an appointment and yet they were the only place that not only stopped what they were doing to show me the place, but spent over an hour answering my questions which were never ending, my concerns, giving me the information I needed in order to move my mom and her on a waiting list to get a spot in any facility. Sharon was always there to walk me through the steps. Again they had no time to prepare for me or “be on best behavior “ as I walked in no appointment. The place was impeccable!! The place smelled wonderful, it was clean, nothing was damaged or stained. It was kept immaculate! The food was delicious! The Choices were really great with variety, nutritional and appealing ! It was set up restaurant style with a menu that changed every day and then basic staples always available a la carte. The times and length of meals was more than reasonable. The wait staff was excellent! Friendly, courteous, professional! I watched as residents came in for dinner and saw how all the residents knew the staff and the staff knew the residents and had their favorite beverages immediately there at table for them (as if they were on a cruise !) Remember, I was an unannounced visitor. This was not a fake interaction between residents and staff (as I saw in other places) this was truly a family ! I saw all the activities going on every day, the amenities, the opportunities available to residents was outstanding . The apartments selection was impressive! Larger than any others I saw at 9+ places. The apartments were all freshly painted, cleaned, new flooring, granite counters and beautiful cabinets in the efficiency kitchen for assisted living apartments, balcony or porch, breakfast nook, large spacious closets, large bathroom and of course the shared living spaces located through out the facility were all beautifully decorated and furnished, routinely updated and the maintenance dept worked like elves lol I never saw work being done yet if there was a chip of paint on a moulding or wall or hand rail one day it was fixed and perfect by the next day! I of course moved my mom in and though it was hard for her & my family watching her acclimate, the staff within days knew her name, she knew them, they accompanied her on this journey of learning to live in a new environment in the best way possible. The staff Allen the director, Sharon, Michelle, Sue, the nurses Brenda, Jennifer and Jenn and everyone who works there I could list over 25-30 people who I know who my mom knows and they are family! They treat my mom and myself like family. They help you adjust to this new person my mother was becoming as her Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia worsened. It’s been shy of a year and my mom’s decline has been steady and noticeable. The staff always Keep me posted on what’s going on. Though I see my mom 5/6 days a week, They see her all day and night. So as the winter ran its course and I noticed a bigger decline and it was becoming harder for my mom each day Keystone was right there on top of the situation taking note and adjusting to help my mom. Sadly it was evident to everyone at Keystone, my mom’s Dr’s, myself and family that my mom was struggling daily. Keystone shared what they were seeing more and more daily. My mom’s world had become so small she was getting anxious and agitated as she lacked the ability to comprehend daily activities and was clearly struggling to keep up with everyone. Keystone with such grace kindness and compassion approached me with moving my mom in to Applewood the memory neighborhood they have. Tracy who runs Applewood was a familiar face to me (and my mom) she runs the monthly support group for dementia families, caregivers, she also does activities that extend to all residents like crafts . So when it was shared with me that I was correct in thinking it was time for my mom to get more assistance daily, we made a plan to move her in to Applewood. I can’t even describe what I was feeling but over whelmed was definitely one of my biggest emotions. I was afraid my mom wouldn’t adjust or be angry. In just a few hours the team of staff organized like Marines, they moved every thing from my mom’s apartment to her new apartment in Applewood. I didn’t have to worry about any of it. To my surprise some how this amazing crew of people placed every item exactly where it was in one apartment in to the new apartment !! Down to where the tissue box was on the table, where her puzzle books and pens were! They out did themselves! I honestly can’t explain how relieved I was. But that was just the start! The move meant my mom no longer could wander about through the building but that also meant she no longer was getting lost daily, confused where she was and distraught on trying to find her apartment. It meant she ate meals in the dining room with in Applewood, new faces at her table, but it also meant that she no longer sat every day trying to figure out if she was late for meal or needed to go or if she Had even eaten! Many times she would go to meal hours early or go eat and go back to eat again only minutes later, not due to hunger but because she no longer knows when she is hungry and doesn’t know if she ate or not. Being in Applewood means she no longer has to find the activity that’s going on in the building , where it is or what time, she doesn’t know what day time or year it is most of the time. In Applewood it’s all right there and Tracy and staff make sure everyone is aware and included in everything. With a much smaller number of residents (18 I think) the staff is always right there to assist and help. In Applewood my mom no longer is struggling with loneliness due to her memory, embarrassment or just not being able to remember and comprehend, she feels safe, she feels included! Tracy and the staff make everyone feel comfortable like family. They feel useful they feel able to Relax and be themselves instead of trying to mask the weakness in their brain that they are faced with. There are no words to explain my gratitude for the care they take with my mom and every resident. They give them their dignity, they make them feel important, they take the time to get a real history on each resident so they can talk to them about any time in their life where ever they are in their brain the staff is there with them! I’m am so impressed and really have so much respect for all who work at Keystone! They never cease to amaze me! To sum it up, after a week of my mom being in Applewood, our visit together was happy fun time ! She was not sad when I left to go home she was instead doing Karaoke singing away with Jess (another amazing staff person who goes above And beyond ) ! As I signed out at the front desk, again the staff is amazing ! Delores, Olivia, Lucille all asked how my mom was doing. Sharing with me their experiences with her and what they see. Then as I walked outside a staff member from the dining room was coming in and said Hey how is your mom doing?? I am going to see her tomorrow I can’t I miss seeing her every day and getting her ice cream order lol always wanting to hear the flavors but always getting Vanilla or strawberry! I bet she is doing great! To me that says so much about Keystone!

Pete2

My father will be moving into Keystone Place at Newbury Brook. It's a five because of the facilities, the maintenance of the facilities, and the people. It looks like the overall quality of living will be good there. The communication was good. The timing was good. There weren't delays. They were accommodating. I like the overall layout. It's a newer facility. I visited the facility for my mom shortly after it was built five years ago. I saw what it looked like five years ago and I see what it looks like five years later and it's very well maintained. It's quite nice. I heard a lot of good things about the food from other residents.

John

My aunts went to Keystone Place at Newbury Brook. They're wonderful. They're very clean and friendly. Their room is very clean. They treat them with respect and whenever they call them, they give them whatever they need. The food is wonderful and they have no complaints. They have movies, bingo, and all kinds of games for them. They're more than satisfied with whatever they have over there. I had their food and it was very good.

Lynn

Keystone Place at Newbury Brook is my favorite and that would have been my first choice for my parents, but there were very few 2-bedroom apartments available. It was a beautiful place. It was perfect. The staff was wonderful. I felt very homey. They seemed very warm and welcoming. I did not try their food, but their menu looked sensational. The dining area looked immaculate. The outdoor areas were not big, but enough for the residents. They had entertainment, happy hour, ice cream cafe, ice cream socials, Bridge clubs, and all kinds of clubs and things to do.

Jerry

My wife was in assisted living at Keystone Place at Newbury Brook for three months in the beginning of 2020, and then we moved her out. They were absolutely fine. The rooms were fine, and it's a relatively new place. I was able to try their food, and it was fine. From what she told me, there were all kinds of entertainment everyday and what have you. In fact, I had a hard time getting a hold of her over the phone because she was never there in the room. They were very, very good. It was all wonderful, and she was happy there. I have no idea how to compare it to any place else, but I'm going to assume they're in the ballpark with everybody else. For the money, if it's in comparison to the rest of the places, they were great.

Provider Response

Karen

I would give Keystone Place an A++. It is absolutely phenomenal. We could find absolutely nothing wrong with it. The people are wonderful and the building is wonderful. Everything about it is absolutely superb. The staff members were exceptionally professional. I had trouble deciding what to eat because everything on the menu was wonderful. The food was superb. The rooms were spacious; everything was clean. The place was new and clean. It was phenomenal. It is right by a hospital, too.

Provider Response