Arden Courts of Potomac

Harriet

My husband has been a resident of Arden Court for 2 years. I have never regretted my decision. When I am asked how he is doing, my answer is always SAFE. That is my biggest concern. The design of the building is such that he has the freedom to walk about freely and always within the watchful eyes of staff. And, I do mean ALL THE STAFF, from housekeepers to kitchen staff to directors. I also like that it is a 1 story building and that we and the staff have the ability to take him outside to the beautiful enclosed courtyard for fresh air and sunshine. In addition to taking care of the patient, I am very impressed with the care they show to families . When I had a problem with my insurance the staff showed me a priority and solved my dilema quickly. I am always greeted with a warm greeting and smile. Recently I attended a Family Support Group where a speaker was brought in and we had the opportunity to get to know each other and discuss our concerns. There are also monthly family day events where we socialize. Many of us have exchanged phone numbers. I defintely feel that Arden Court Potomac cares as much about the families as they do about the patients.

Route 270 Warriors

Our Mother transferred from a rough two-week stay in a local hospital to Arden Courts, Potomac. She arrived by medical transport on a stretcher and did not know her family or where she was. We thought she would not live very long and wondered if we did the right thing by placing her at Arden Courts for memory care. However, less than a week later, she rebounded after receiving much positive attention, good nursing care, and frequent interaction with the staff and other residents. We were amazed that quite a bit of her memory was still accessible. She joined in daily social activities, including singing and group interactions, which were well-designed and appropriate. Although she has not discussed the food, she looks forward to the three daily meals. We can tell she is receiving the nourishment she needs since she looks much better now than when she arrived and has more energy. We chose Arden Courts because we were impressed with the facility's well-designed layout. It is a bright and cheerful place. You won't find chandeliers or marble floors, but rather a safe environment where the staff recognizes the residents as adults with rich, personal histories. Although the residents are cognitively diminished, they are never tossed aside or ignored. Everything that is part of the Arden Courts experience is backed up by scientific research into dementia. Although we know that our Mother's mental condition and comorbidities will progress and probably worsen over time, we can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that she is safe, well-cared for, eating well, and far more active and alive than when she lived at home, virtually alone. We are grateful to those working at Arden Courts, who have made our mother's final chapter less stressful and more peaceful.

John

My wife is currently at Arden Courts of Potomac. The food definitely is not as good as the last facility she was at. The expense is also quite higher, and I got the idea that they're a bit understaffed a number of times. I think that's the primary reason that they were so reluctant to get rid of the private duty support they were requiring me to pay for much of the time, because it supplemented their manpower. The facility seemed all right and generally friendly though. There was just not enough of them to do the job that needed to be done. They need more staff, particularly in the weekends.

Provider Response

Laura Nichols

I want to give an unequivocal shout out to Arden Courts Potomac. Five years ago, when Linda’s diagnosis of dementia was given to me, I did all the reading I could, attended all the seminars I could to understand this life sucking disease. I knew that at some point a care facility was a strong possibility. But the thought of having to make that decision was daunting. It all happened suddenly as Linda took a sharp downward turn. Arden Courts had a room available and I was able to get Linda in within three days. While the efficiency of the process was a miracle, it was the caring and supportive staff that made this transition bearable. From the nursing staff to the program director to the aides to the folks at the front desk, I truly felt that Arden Courts cared about the residents and the caregivers. They review Linda’s care plan with me on a regular basis and we work together to figure out what’s best for Linda. I highly recommend Arden Courts as a Memory Care facility for folks who are at the point of professional residential care.

Provider Response

Joe C

My spouse suffered from dementia and lived at Arden Court for 2 1/2 months until her death in 2017.. We found AC to be a cheerful, positive and caring environment. The staff worked hard to provide stimulating activities and good supervision. Their 4-"house" system (4 wings for 12 residents each), with centralized activities, walking space (indoors and outside) and nursing staff is very well designed. Dedicated caregivers in each house provide consistent and friendly engagement and care. In our search for the ideal setting, we found this approach superior to group homes and to larger multi-purpose facilities for those with cognitive deficits.

Provider Response

CaringAdultChild

Poor communication, uneven care, oversells abilities, nursing staff not knowledgeable about what rest of staff is doing, no savvy or real training around dementia, meaning if resident doesn’t ask for a meal doesn’t get one or if resident doesn’t say she is anxious then PRN not provided. Low level care and communication. This was a sixty thousand dollar mistake for my family. Find true dementia care experts to rely on. The stay at AC made my parent far worse off and we are still working to instill trust with new care providers. Please be warned. There is a reason they always have openings.

Provider Response