The Greens at Hammonds Lane

My brother was released from the rehab that he was in, and he's now residing in a senior apartment called The Greens at Hammonds Lane. You have to be 62 and older to live there, and he's able to live on his own. It's subsidized, so it's very affordable. He's in a one-bedroom apartment that is $550 a month and that includes utilities other than PG&E. My brother is in his own apartment but then down the hall, there is a trash chute, so he doesn't have to go outside to empty the trash. There is a laundry room directly across the hall from him that's open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and it's maybe like $3 total to do one load of laundry and the dryer. There is a manager there that runs everything, and she's fabulous. I have a gift for her, and that's how great she was about helping me get my brother in there as soon as possible, I just haven't had a chance to go take it to her. She's a wonderful manager of the place and all of the residents love her. Twice a month this manager and her daughter (who work for them, too) stay there to put on some type of social event. For example, my brother told me he went to a fiesta, and so he had Mexican food, and all the residents were welcome to come in. They prepared the food, and it was free to the residents. There's also a pool table at the lowest level. There's a parlor there. They have access to two computers and all kinds of books and puzzles, and all of these things are complimentary. They also have a complimentary bus that will take them within the northern Anne Arundel community, they just have to give them two hours' notice, and it's free. The fee doesn't include any meals other than the twice a month that they do events, so it's not like assisted living. It's also a smoke-free community, so even though my brother is a smoker, he takes a walk and gets off the property to smoke. They have bingo every Friday, and they do other things. They have a bus that'll come in and they may go to a casino. There's a senior recreation center maybe half a block away, and the bus will take them there for things, too. They have other things that they can sign up for that are also included in the fee. Everything is very clean and very safe. You have to push that resident's apartment number and the green button for them so that my brother can see you. He hits 'talk' and hit a key to let you into the building, and then you can come up to his apartment. It's pretty safe. Another thing that they have that I think is pretty unique, is my brother gets a pendant that he can wear, and if God forbid, he was to have an accident like a fall in his apartment or something, then an alarm will go off, and they will go to his apartment. I think that's pretty cool. Also, my brother is in the process of setting up his rent to come out of his check automatically, so it was one less thing to be worried about.