The Village at Carroll Park

Meg Montford

I couldn't have found a better place for Mom. Mom has been at The Village for two years now. I looked at several but at The Village they're just very supportive and encouraging for all the residents and the families involved. It just really seals the deal for me because they really take a personal interest in all the residents and actually the residents' family as well. I just came home from the hospital a week ago from a major surgery, and they sent me this beautiful plant. It was totally unexpected. I consider the facility perfectly fine. It's very convenient, just 13 minutes from my door to hers. It's a family owned, older building but they keep it clean and very much livable. You don't smell that typical nursing home smell when you go in. They make it like a family environment for everyone too. They are caring and they take good care of Mom. I have a great rapport with the aides that work there. They listen to my concerns if ever I express them. I try to do Mom's laundry most of the time. If things are missing, I mention it to one of the aides or even to the administrator. They immediately start looking for what's missing whether it's in the big laundry or in somebody else's room. There's another Dorothy there beside my mom so a lot of times things gets mixed up. My current husband and I have gotten to know a lot of the residents that are there. They seem to be very happy as well. In fact, we've adopted some of them. We take them goodies. One young man probably in his 40s just loves to have me come and bring him some Cherrie tomatoes out of our garden. We brought them several months in a row this year for him. There's also an older gentleman in his mid 90s who is in his wheelchair. He was pretty gruff until we started making friends with him and now he loves it when I bring him anything sugar. The activities they offer there are very satisfactory for what is needed. They have activities for those who can and want to participate. They also have an activity's director there. In fact, we've contributed to her stock of goodies by giving her things that she can use in her activities like old magazines that have pictures, old arts and crafts things we don't need and pulled out of the attic. They have taken care of Mom's nails too. The activity's director will file them and put polish on them. She will also visit the people in their dining table before they eat and offer to clean their glasses with wet wipes if they need it. They do other things too. They play bingo, watch movies and things like that. My mom is not really in a place where she gets involved in that anymore. She has severe dementia now so doesn't really get active with the things that other do. But there's always a lot going on for them. I haven't really eaten there per say but have worked with Mom in feeding sometimes. I know from visiting other nursing homes that the food there is above what most institutions have. They seem to have a varied diet from day to day. They will offer anything from chicken fingers with vegetables, potatoes to pasta. Mom likes it when they have the chili. There are a lot of times at lunchtime that she always likes the chopped onions and ketchup on top of her chili. And if I could ask, they always provide that for her in addition to the regular chili that's presented. So they go out of their way to take care of any individual request that is made. And if people can't eat with their food being provided for whatever dietary reasons, I've seen people with their Ensure shakes or soft diet food. The kitchen seems to know who needs what. They do the right food for whatever diet is needed. The value is amazing. I feel like what they charge is so much less than that what the big places charge. I'm very happy with the charges they offer. Because of the charge level, Mom is able to be in a private room not in a double room which I really appreciate for her. I just feel very lucky and grateful that I was able to find this place.

Nancy

I don't know that there was anything better than The Village at Carroll Park. It was always clean. Dad had been in a rehab once before and every time we went in there, it just smelled. I have never met a thing that smelled in here. I mean if there was smell, they took care of it immediately. They were always making improvements. My dad's room was very adequate too. He had a single room with his own sink and closet. The staff was pretty good. The residents were always happy there. They really kept the residents clean. They also took really good care of my dad. He had Alzheimer's and he was always clean and bathed. They were changing him constantly. When he got sick, they were very attentive. They took care of him right away. Usually, they have a turnover but the ones that were there the longest all seemed to love my dad. The owners really spend some time with the residents too. One time, I actually saw Mr. Carroll trimmed my dad's toenails. Joe, his son came too and spent time with the residents. They really keep an eye on the staff. They were there a lot so things don't go off behind their back. We never ate the food there but we would take pizza to dad as a treat on Sunday afternoon. They provided a room for us to have a private time with him. I did show up a time or two when they were having a special party and I've seen some of the meals. They always looked appetizing and smelled good. I thought it was a great value for what they did to Dad.

Sue

My husband was in the Village at Carroll Park for six weeks. Even though they have the same name, there's no family relationship. It was supposed to be long term, it's just that he passed after six weeks. I thought the staff were REALLY wonderful. He was at a point where he really needed people who would be nice and caring to him. They were very caring, kind and competent. I have been happier with them. My husband had been to two day program and I kind of have an idea how staff can be. I felt that the staff just excelled from their care, concern and competence. The community was wonderful and uplifting. My three children visited there and they also experienced the same thing. It just felt that there is really a positive atmosphere there. The employees were upbeat, it just created a really nice atmosphere. I really like the open space there with a lot of light. It's not fancy, I just felt like it was more positive. My husband has been at more fancy programs but this one was set up better. I didn't really observe activities when I happen to be there. My husband was at a point where activities really don't mean anything to him. He would be fine with a newspaper. He would tear it up and throw it around. One day there was an activity gal but only one day and she was new. So I don't know if she started doing anything. I had a bite or two of the food. It looked really good. I was happy with that too. My husband was very picky of what he would eat and they work very hard to get that which is not kind of their standard stuff. So that was VERY nice.