Ashley Park by Barclay Estates

Andrea

I've visited here. They're independent living but they have a service where you pay for nursing separately onsite. We talked to the head of the nurse staff there who was willing to talk with you and wasn't scared of the multiple things my brother had going on. We took a tour and the facility was great. The salesperson was very knowledgeable, they all seemed to know the residents by name. She gave us various multiple options of rooms that seemed very nice. we were looking mostly at 1-bedrooms, and the 1-bedrooms were very nice-sized. I saw the residents playing balloon volleyball, they seemed in good spirits. We did some more true touring and when we got back, they were having ice cream. It seemed like a nice mix of ages. The cafeteria or dining hall seemed big and seemed like there were a lot of food options. The staff also did a follow-up on us after the visit.

Kay

I was mainly interested in the size of the apartments/rooms. I was pleasantly surprised! I liked the space and the arrangement of the rooms in the apartments.

Veronica

Ashley Park were a bit more open. As far as the space, they were spaced out. It was more spacious. I liked the facility and the apartment. The way it was set up, it was really, really nice. They had a little balcony where my mom could possibly sit outside and see the courtyard from where she was. It was really nice, and that was a strong point. The staff member was very friendly. She took her time. I've even gotten like three or four follow-up calls from them. They don't offer continuing care. For independent living, it is a five. They were doing a little festival that was going to come up, and the staff invited me back for that. They have a game room, a movie room, a library, and a TV room, and they used that room for church services as well. They would give them some alert button to wear around their neck.

Sylvia

Ashley Park was an older facility, but it's small. It's not a very large place. It didn't have exactly what we were looking for. We wanted a two-bedroom place with perhaps a balcony and a swimming pool. They had a nice balcony, but no swimming pool. The two-bedroom was OK, but a little on the small side. We didn't particularly care for having the AC unit sitting against the wall on the floor. We're used to central heat and air. To have a unit in each room just sitting takes up part of the wall space. It's OK if you are comfortable with a very small place. It had no kitchen. It just had a small counter on which you could put a microwave. It did have a refrigerator and a cabinet, that was it. We were looking for a kitchen. They had one kitchen downstairs on the main floor, which was a community thing, but I don't think I'd be very comfortable going down there and cooking an entire turkey. They have people down that will cook like lasagna and then offer it to everybody. I hate to think that I'm just going to cook a turkey for my husband. That would be awkward because of the aroma. The rooms were very small, although one of them was OK. The guest bedroom was larger than we thought. It looked larger than the master bedroom, which seemed odd. They served us lunch, but it's not really for our taste. It was edible and all but a small portion. It was like a real tiny slab of roast pork, no seasonings, no sauce, no gravy, whatever. The salad was just a couple of pieces of lettuce and some ranch dressing. I call it airplane food. I know they're feeding people who are 90. We looked around and we thought we were the youngest people there. The majority is very old. Everyone was just like sitting in their chairs or wheelchairs, being very quiet and not very lively. They had a lady sit with us, she was 82, and it was a very good conversation. They call her the ambassador for Ashley Park. In fact, this was her second time. She sits with a visitor, which is helpful. She gives more of a history of the place. It was good that they did that. She's very welcoming, very polite and friendly. The rooms were a little on the small side and had no kitchen, that's kind of a dealbreaker. Other than that, the food was a little on the bland side, but I realized it's for older people. They probably can't do a lot of spicy. It's fine for someone who's 90 and doesn't have a lot of possessions or isn't into a lot of activity. It's good for that, but not for a younger person who would like to get out and do things. There's a hiking trail, but it didn't look like much. It's right by Ashley River Road, which is a very high-traffic highway. I like their outside balcony, it's the largest I've seen. Even in a hotel or condo, it's a good size. I was very impressed, but if you're sitting out there, you've got the constant traffic. There are a little bit of woods and then there's the highway. The place is on the corner of Ashley River Road and Tobias Gadson. It's at the intersection of a very busy highway. The noise would still bother us, probably not anyone with hard of hearing. If you need a hearing aid, it wouldn't bother you. We're looking for a quieter atmosphere, but I was impressed. They had an attentive staff. They had a lot of positives.

Raisa

We went to Ashley Park yesterday. I liked best probably the attention people are surrounded with, and I liked least the lack of common places. I believe there are only three common areas, and all are pretty small. Also, there's not enough natural light. The staff was knowledgeable about what they're talking about. They tried to show all of the good things about their homes, and they were very helpful in finding helpful things for me. Most of the apartment looked at the courtyard. In the courtyard, there is always an activity. People walk their dogs there. They grill there. I don't believe they grill every day, but there is a possibility for this. It's kind of a communal apartment. You are exposed to a lot of sounds, which is not necessary. You can consider that people at this age cannot really hear well. If you try to recover after the illness and try to get a nap, you are so exposed to many sounds unnecessarily.

Susan L - Daughter of Barbara and Dick

The rooms are lovely. My parents made it their home. The staff has been exemplary in these trying times. It is a careful balance between safety and living your best life. The activities are great, inclusive, age appropriate based on ability. Crossword, puzzels, art, social parties, music by talented musicians, bingo, games, plum much more.