1407 N Mason St, Appleton, WI 54914, United States
My mother had worsening dementia that made it no longer safe to live alone. Her transition into Heartwood was difficult only because she didn't want to leave her home, and the dementia symptoms made it more difficult to reason with her. However, upon moving into Heartwood, she was immediately greeted by other residents and staff to comfort her and make her feel welcome. Although she often would still complain to me and my siblings with her "pre-programmed statements" about having to live there , many times she told me how nice everyone was there and how she was going to stay there the rest of her life. Often, when I went to visit, she was out in the hall or the dining area with other residents and/or staff having lively conversations and laughing. There were celebrations and parties in which she always participated and enjoyed. This family-owned business was the perfect fit for my mom. The caregivers, managers, and owners went above and beyond for her. There were times I would visit and if nothing else demanded their attention, a caregiver would visit with both of us, , getting to know things about my mom which she didn't always remember. They made her feel special, and really got to know her. They made her feel useful, by letting her help when she insisted on wiping off tables or cleaning up after meals. Anyone who knew my mom, knew she enjoyed doing those things. She would leave her door open so residents and caregivers could wave or stop and talk as they went by, and they always did. She loved that. On the days leading up to and on the day of my mom's passing, I was shocked at how many staff members came in to offer my mom and my family comforting words, even if it was their day off. My heart was overwhelmed with the emotions and stories shared by all of the staff and other residents, just knowing that despite the difficulties caused by the disease, there were so many people there that truly cared for my mom. Even on her worst days, they showed her comfort, compassion, and love, making her time at Heartwood the very best possible despite such an unforgiving disease. Thank you to everyone there, I couldn't have asked for better for my mom!
Read More ReviewsMy mother had worsening dementia that made it no longer safe to live alone. Her transition into Heartwood was difficult only because she didn't want to leave her home, and the dementia symptoms made it more difficult to reason with her. However, upon moving into Heartwood, she was immediately greeted by other residents and staff to comfort her and make her feel welcome. Although she often would still complain to me and my siblings with her "pre-programmed statements" about having to live there , many times she told me how nice everyone was there and how she was going to stay there the rest of her life. Often, when I went to visit, she was out in the hall or the dining area with other residents and/or staff having lively conversations and laughing. There were celebrations and parties in which she always participated and enjoyed. This family-owned business was the perfect fit for my mom. The caregivers, managers, and owners went above and beyond for her. There were times I would visit and if nothing else demanded their attention, a caregiver would visit with both of us, , getting to know things about my mom which she didn't always remember. They made her feel special, and really got to know her. They made her feel useful, by letting her help when she insisted on wiping off tables or cleaning up after meals. Anyone who knew my mom, knew she enjoyed doing those things. She would leave her door open so residents and caregivers could wave or stop and talk as they went by, and they always did. She loved that. On the days leading up to and on the day of my mom's passing, I was shocked at how many staff members came in to offer my mom and my family comforting words, even if it was their day off. My heart was overwhelmed with the emotions and stories shared by all of the staff and other residents, just knowing that despite the difficulties caused by the disease, there were so many people there that truly cared for my mom. Even on her worst days, they showed her comfort, compassion, and love, making her time at Heartwood the very best possible despite such an unforgiving disease. Thank you to everyone there, I couldn't have asked for better for my mom!
After a short hospital stay and a week in a nursing home for rehab we knew our mom would need more care. She was suffering from beginning dementia, delusions and a severe leg wound which turned to MRSA and cellulitis. Before this she lived by herself in her own home and she wanted to return there. We knew this wasn’t possible without a lot of help. My sister and I had two days of tours of assisted living facilities set up. Heartwood Senior Living was our first tour. Well, we never toured another. Our search stopped at our first place. We were completely overwhelmed with warmth and caring and coziness and love from the staff and the environment. It is smaller with an easy floor plan. Everything is within a short walking distance but yet nice hallways that allow mom to walk and get some exercise. The bigger assisted living facilities in the Valley would not have worked out well for her. Also Heartwood is within the heart of Appleton. Mom knows the area and the streets. Initially mom’s move was not a good situation. It was the hardest thing we have had to do. Mom was sad and confused and it took a good month. The staff helped mom so much and worked with us. There were some bad days. The staff never gave up. Their continued smiles and help and strength went above and beyond. Now when we see mom she smiles and she is up walking and comes out of her room. She eats so much better and says how good the food is. We even caught her doing some activities and meeting new people. I know we made the right decision by placing mom at Heartwood. I feel they gave us our mom back. I encourage anyone looking to stop in and visit.
This Family owned business is much more than you can Imagine. As a caregiver it has its challenges; But what you must know is that myself and my co-workers will treat your family as their own. The Owners are passionate, kind and dedicated to their Residents. Your Family Is Our Family. Lynette G
I can not express enough the Amazing care my brother received while living here. The compassion and attention to detail was beyond our expectations. Thank you to each and everyone of you for going above and beyond to take care of my brother.
My brother Karl and I recently got together and were talking about mom and her gradual decline into severe dementia. It is a sad process to witness especially since less than two years ago she was mobile with her walker and could communicate with the help of her hearing aid. One thing we absolutely agreed on was that she is in the perfect residential care facility for someone with her needs. Our admiration and respect for the caregivers at Heartwood Homes Senior Living Center is a topic we repeatedly discussed. Every single caregiver in the facility is sweet, loving and caring, and provides gentle and nurturing assistance for all of the residents’ needs. When mom has been particularly lucid, I have had caregivers thrilled to share her memories with me, and I could tell that they truly enjoyed being a part of her life. The caregivers function as a team especially during meal times. They are extremely flexible about making sure that everyone is well fed and get the foods they desire, and provide the necessary assistance if they are unable to feed themselves. Since the staff provides continuous care for her, they are the best source of information about her mental and physical state as it changes and they frequently update us on her condition. If there are any significant changes, they promptly address the immediate issue and recommend actions that will improve her happiness long-term. One example comes to mind. In an effort to make the transition to Heartwood Homes less jarring, we moved some of mom’s furniture and memorabilia from the family home into her room. She was surrounded by family photos, and her favorite chair, loveseat and queen size bed met all of her needs. When she could no longer use the walker and was required to use a wheelchair, getting her to transition from her bed to the wheelchair became difficult, especially when she was determined to do it without the assistance of a caregiver. The assistant manager Brianna suggested replacing the queen size bed with a smaller twin and installing an alarm to notify the staff when she was getting out of bed. This worked well for a time, but as her condition deteriorated, she was put under hospice care and received an adjustable bed designed to ease her transitions to her wheelchair. I would also like to share my observations about the facilities. The first things I noticed about Heartwood Homes is that it is extremely clean, pleasant smelling, and well maintained, the shared spaces are well decorated and inviting, and the grounds are well taken care of. I credit Jim the maintenance person and all around handy man for keeping the facilities functional and spotless, although I am positive all of the staff participates in the facilities upkeep. When mom first moved in, Jim was there to help setup mom’s room, assemble her bed, and hang pictures on the walls. Well done Jim! Brianna has been my primary contact and she performs roles above and beyond being a manager. She is on top of all of the day-to-day activities in the facility, including all medical care provided by outside nursing staff and hospice providers. Perhaps the best reflection of the ability of Jason and Brianna to create an outstanding residential memory care facility is their ability to hire and retain caregivers that truly have the resident’s best interests at heart. When my mom was more verbal than she is now, she volunteered repeatedly that she liked being there, she was comfortable, the food was good and everybody was so nice. I know she still loves living at Heartwood Homes. Paul and Karl Skjoldager
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