ProMedica Senior Care

At the point that we entered the Head Nurse was in the process of retiring. Seems she was the glue that binds everything else. I would say you need to be pretty savvy about your loved ones meds, needs and habits and be a continuous presence there to advocate for them. Had a number of tussles with nursing, and unfortunately even though I was able to make headway, my person was declining quickly. I would also say that if you do have medical issues that you really have to be present because memory care is not really set up for skilled nursing issues. I believe from my interviews I was not really aware of that and sadly found out pretty quickly. I just think I thought I was making the correct choice, but as things would have it, probably not the best. The facility is a warm and homey atmosphere which we preferred over the more modern colder options, but it's also a bit tired in its decor tho clean. The grounds are nice and there is lots of opportunity to be outside.

The entire administration and head nurse have changed since we got there and we didn't even know when it happened. My mother-in-law eloped and the administrator didn't call to tell us. One of the med techs did. The administrator to this day still has not called us. Unfortunately at this point I cannot say that I would recommend this community. So no.

It is a place for memory care, I didn't see much to support, the staff was great but the caregivers didn't pay much attention to the physical needs and were not top quality. The facility was nice but I didn't see any real activities. I didn't see my father getting any benefit of being there and moved out. It's not bad but each person requires different care and he wasn't getting the attention needed. Probably like most places like this, nothing personal was safe including sheets and clothing, things walked off and his bedding and clothes would also disappear, it was a battle just to make sure they were cleaned and his own. For my dad it was best to stay at home.

But Arden is better than any other larger Memory Care facility that we visited. Those would be rated 3 or lower for various reasons. It is clear that the first imperative of these institutions is cost control and that's obvious everywhere.

We were initially really excited about what Arden Courts would have to offer my dad who has Alzheimer’s. They have dropped the ball with many things. I plan to talk with the executive director about the concerns. Many of the staff are leaving. I would rather talk with the ED before I would go into more detail.

I did inquire about rate increases and frequency before deciding. I was told once a year approx. 6% increase. After only 10 weeks I received a letter indicating an increase of [fee removed] a month 14.7% increase. I moved my Mother out with the 30 day notice. We loved the facility, the staff and cleanliness but the corporate position on such a huge increase is unacceptable.

Food was the best, care and cleanliness could improve. Based on the experience we have had, we would not recommend SpringHouse of Pikesville to other families

Friendly staff - cheerful environment. Cleaning rooms better. Availability of being able to get a hold of someone by phone after six pm. More variety in activities and better follow through on those that are done. Better supervision of caregivers. Better communications among all management.

We were really happy when we first moved him to the facility as things were stable and care was great. However, there has been a lot of staffing issues which has absolutely affected his care and service. It is promoted as a Montessori facility with activities being promoted but they are practically non-existent. We are thankful for his care.

Arden is a beautiful facility. The care was good when we first got there in [date removed], but gradually went downhill until it got to the place where I felt he wasn't being taken of properly. The staffing was skimpy & they used a lot of agency to cover the shifts but still only had one staff member on days and one on evenings. So my husband wasn't getting changed or showered unless I went in to do it. There are 14 rooms in each "house" so it's difficult for one person to take care of that many people who have dementia. My husband was resistant at times for showers & getting washed up but I don't think that can be an excuse. The staff may need more training in that regard and it would be so much better if they could have 2 staff/shift. Also there were lots of med errors/med omissions for my husband. So we were there for [date removed] and I just had to bring him home. Loved some of the staff there but I just had to get him out. It's difficult for me but he is doing lots better at home. I loved the layout and the way the building was decorated. Could go outside for a walk or to sit for awhile. The carpets and furniture in the living rooms are worn & shabby.

When pressing the nurse "call" button, slow or no response. I'd walk the halls to find someone to help. Ran out of hand towels several times but all of the nurses denied having access to the supply room. Out of frustration, I wound up bringing paper towels from home. Very poor communication between doctor's dietary orders & kitchen. Often, patient received meals conflicting with doctor's orders.

I moved my mother a year ago to a dedicated memory care facility closer to me. She was at Arden Courts for three weeks but I was satisfied with the care. The staff seemed to be attentive from what I could tell.

The head nurse here was awful. She did not give my mom the care that she needed. They need to have better health care. Do not blow residents off. Do better.

Check all your community options and select what you feel comfortable with. Biggest concerns- not immediate help when needed. Overall communication between staff to staff and staff to me.

The staff is friendly and caring with the patients. They are attentive and focused on their jobs. They do a lot for the patients. The only complaints I have is lack of pay for the staff and the cost for families. They do a lot but get paid very little. It's sad that the companies make big bucks but pay their staff little. These residents have worked all their lives and paid taxes, and when they are in need they have to pay an arm and a leg in order to get care.

The doctor for Arden Court refused to get a wheelchair for my mother at when we first got there after the recruiter stated that they would be supportive and get everything she needed. we had to switch the doctor to the hospice doctor. The doctor at Arden Court is absolutely not effective and their communication is poor. It took my mom three weeks to finally get a therapeutic wheelchair that she needed for her balance because she had frontal temporal dementia and needed a disability wheelchair. I felt like I was fighting to get what she needed. People need to know the truth and how they treated me. They got my brother involved and acted as if I was not competent to make decisions in the end. They didn't like the fact that I was working our shifts and I was able to stop whenever I wanted, and I told the truth. I am a nurse of 38 years and nursing retired now but I can tell when things aren't right. Activities coordinator and chaplain were the most supportive her daily. Aid was very supportive, but they are overextending those women and they should have extra aids there during dinner time to help and the Director was not compassionate at all. The caretakers did their best. I made mistake of using hospice which was owned by company that owns Arden Court. Delaware hospice was agreeing to take over, but the head manager of their hospice called & promised to have my mom seen daily & make what was promised happen. Recruiter we signed with in Arden Court front office told my my husband Rich & I that although it was Assisted Living, she could behind hospice care. When I showed up at different times of the day(since my part-time light duty status at work allowed me to show up at noon or 2 pm. I would see my mom out of her wheel chair. In a chair, being made to sit up and stay in one place until lunch was ready & her journal said, "I don't want to eat and I need to sleep." She was under hospice care because she could no longer swallow her food, could not speak and she only wanted to rest or go to activities. My husband & I provided the Ensure we bought from BJs & it only needed thickening. Nutrition was only for comfort at that point since her vocal cords were only protection for her airway. They continued to focus on fact of not having her aspirate in bed while alone if she was given nutrition while in bed. I sent a message to [name removed]( who I considered a recruiter) that maybe we should move mom to complete care in nursing home. he did not communicate back to me via text. It was made more complicated than it had to be. It's my story. I'm sure from their point of view, they will downplay my recollection of it. Their doctor & communication with that doctor for assistance devices( my mom needed) was incompetent. I had to keep calling their hospice to make it happen. Their hospice was able to bring hospice doctor to be in charge of her care(from what they promised to do). My mom should have never been accepted. She should have been nursing home end of life hospice care. She did well through her own perseverance & kept writing her needs down on the notebooks we gave her. She could no longer walk, talk or swallow in the end. FTD is difficult because caretakers need to understand what the patient wants. In the end, they let her stay in bed, bathed her & allowed her to go to bingo. The activities person [name removed] had a good heart & would go out of her way to get my mom to join just before the bingo game. Her aid fixed her hair & dressed her to go to bingo. Mom loved bingo to the very end of her life,

They don't clean patient rooms if they are sleeping during the day. My mom naps a lot now. Their staff on weekends is a lot of agency staff. My family had to fix my mom's toilet. We have had to clean her room from spider's and cobwebs every where. Put her clothes away because they wash them and they are damp when they bring them back so we hang around her room to dry. Or they just stack in her recliner and let them sit damp.

It is a very safe a friendly environment. They could use work with their attentiveness to care and their pricing. There are also some out of pocket expenses that are not included in the exorbitant price.

Although I do not have another facility to compare it to, I cannot complain about the care my dad received. However I am grateful he did not have to stay there long; he passed on [date removed]. It is my opinion after his 4 month stay at Arden Courts and viewing the other clientele at the facility that we treat our pets with more dignity in their twilight days, months, and years than we do our elderly. I expressed this with the administrator, [name removed], a few weeks after dad's passing. She responded immediately by saying this would take some time to reflect and respond to. I have not heard from her since which leads me to believe that these type of facilities are a business and little more, although they provide a place where the elderly get care their loved ones cannot perform on a daily basis. Perhaps the U. S. Should have euthanasia for humans similar to Switzerland.

Your loved one will get as good of care as the amount of time you spend watching over everything.