Our Active Senior Community

“I am truly, forever grateful for everything that the entire Providence House team did to bring my sister into the Providence House family, from the early meetings and the warp-speed admissions process to her day-to-day life. Honestly, the timing of her move was so critical and I just can’t imagine where she might have wound up and where she would be mentally if it was not for the Providence House team.

The number of facilities that have specific units and care for Alzheimer’s patients is limited, so I knew it was going to be a challenge to find a facility with an open spot. When I started my search, I became quickly discouraged by some admissions directors at different facilities. Many didn’t even return my phone calls. I was surprised at how many directors were negative about my ability to find ‘a bed’ for my sister and ended the phone call with, ‘I’ll put you on the list.’ Not one followed up with any information.

Then I called Providence House and while there weren’t any available rooms at Providence House at the time, they recommended a couple of facilities that I should visit. Within a couple of days I received a lovely, hand written letter with additional information on Providence House and wishing me luck through this difficult time. Over the course of two months I visited a few facilities, but Providence House and their Beechwood unit that is specific for Alzheimer’s was a standout. The fact that the most of care giving staff at Beechwood had been there for many years, and some from the time the unit opened, demonstrated to me that if the staff has been there a long time, then they must be treated well and that would likely translate to how my sister would be treated. While Providence House is a beautiful facility, that didn’t matter to me as much as what I had observed within the unit.

By amazing luck, at the end of the month a unit came available for my sister at Providence House. The Providence House team jumped through hoops and helped me get all of the paperwork submitted, and within a week of the call, my sister had a new home. I believe this was the quickest processing time they had facilitated. I couldn’t have gotten this done on my own.

One of the things that I didn’t realize was that the staff at Beechwood was going to become my sister’s new family and part of my extended family. I had no idea how important the role of EVERY person that helped take care of my sister would become. She was seeing the same faces every day, rather than a constant rotating staff as I had witnessed at other facilities. I visited often and never on a schedule, so what I was seeing was real. I never thought my sister would let anyone help her with certain critical aspects of her daily routine that she was no longer cognizant of the need, or even willing to do with assistance while in her apartment. This move had an immediate and positive impact on my sister’s life and a huge impact for the caregivers in our family. Within a very short period of time we all knew we could sleep knowing that she was getting the best care and keeping active. Everyone at Beechwood holds a special place in my heart for their patience, love and care.”