Hartwell Place

I first connected with the Hartwell Place team via the Edgewater Public Library Memory Cafe, a welcoming and supportive meet up every third Friday of the month for individuals with memory loss and their caregivers. Hartwell Place regularly attends with a bus-load of fun-loving seniors. What really struck me was how the Hartwell team doted on my mom, Vivian, who is not a resident, and how genuinely kindly and compassionately they treated everyone. Getting to know the team over the course of several shared Memory Cafes really flipped my conception of traditional memory and senior care on its ear. And it extended beyond the Memory Cafes. Hartwell Place invited us to their ice cream socials, neighborhood awareness walks, caregiver training sessions and more. They made us feel like part of the family. Vivian has advanced Alzheimer's and needs support with all the activities of daily living. I'm very selective and protective about her care and in fact retired early to devote full time to it as her needs increased. Our family is out of state and it is difficult for me to entrust her care to others. The tradeoff I willingly made was less breaks for myself. But when Hartwell Place announced they were opening up a Day Club, it was a no brainer for us. Vivian lit up the first time I dropped her off. She was like a movie star who was lovingly escorted by an entourage of fans. The club is customized and personalized to fit her needs, with a small enough enrollment to feel comfortable and safe. Her smiles continued at the end of the day when I picked her up, and I soon after scheduled another session. The team is highly responsive to check-ins but at the same time respectful and encouraging of the caregivers' need to unplug. Hartwell Place Day Camp gave me peace of mind and mom a joyful social outlet and sense of community. It definitely ranks as a favorite happy place. I can confidently recommend Hartwell Place as an excellent and caring resource for elder care.

My sister is a resident of Hartwell. I visit her frequently and have found the staff to be caring, compassionate and professional. Her room is immaculate, and for her spacious. The activity schedule is full but she has the ability to participate or decline. The fact that Hartwell is a not or profit makes a big difference in comparison to her previous care facility where the bottom line dictated care. I would strongly recommend Hartwell for a family member with memory issues.

I am so grateful to have found Hartwell Place. My mom is happy there! What I appreciate the most is that the management and staff foster a family-like, caring environment for residents and their families. The daily activities provide residents with social interaction, education, relaxation, fitness and cultural exploration. She really likes her room, and enjoys the meals. Since moving there, my mom has been free of stress and seems to be engaged and enjoying the company of her new friends. It’s such a relief knowing that she feels safe and cared for. It is a great fit for her, and for our family, as well.

Hartwell Place is one of a kind. When it was time to move our 93 year old dad to memory care last summer, we knew Hartwell was the place. The executive director has been an incredible support to all of us as we navigate our dad's care. She cares deeply about all the residents and knows them well. Her office door is always open. She knows our dad is a solitary guy and also needs the stimulation of being with the group in activities. He got a pacemaker recently and she worked tirelesly with us and staff to make sure he was safe and got the care he needed as he recovered. Our dad loves the care partners that help him with his tasks of daily living and he will often tell us how kind they are. We witness this when we come to visit. They sing with him and know just how to support him when he has moments of confusion. The nursing staff is professional and we can always reach them by phone or text. They always have him ready when we have to take him to an appointment and include his medication list and extra clothes. There are always volunteers and outings and activities for him to do. Our dad has lived at bigger fancier facilities and nothing compares to the care and attention he gets at Hartwell. It is a place where people with dementia can live with dignity.

Hartwell Place is a beautiful memory care facility that truly feels like home. The warm, welcoming atmosphere, combined with an exceptionally dedicated staff, sets this community apart from others. Touring this community was a pleasure and each part of the community made me feel completely comfortable, as I know it would a loved one with memory concerns.