The Hearth at Gardenside
DL
"Concerns Raised over Staffing and Care at Harbor Chase"
Right now, Harbor Chase isn't a secure option. There's a serious staff shortage, impacting the care my relative was due to receive. Her personal hygiene needs weren't met, and getting her medications was a struggle. They don't keep track of medications well. It's clear the medical and care teams need more people. They lure people in with deals, only to change the terms later. The head person tried to excuse the staff's failings by pointing fingers at my family member. I'd encourage APFM to reconsider referring Harbor Chase to other families. We're currently exploring other living facilities.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Christine
"Caring Staff and Great Food, Maintenance Could Improve"
Overall, we are very happy. The staff is warm and caring. The food is excellent. My mom loves the pretty dining room. However, getting things fixed in the room can be a bit tough. We are still waiting on some repairs. I gave a lower rating because of the maintenance delays. But we are very happy with HarborChase of Branford!
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Anonymous
"Mixed Feelings About Assisted Living Facility"
The staff we talked to were friendly and made us feel confident they'd care well for our mom. The building is a bit old-fashioned, and the main nurse isn't very helpful, but almost everyone else is super nice. The food they serve is really good.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Anonymous
"Poor Healthcare and Disrespectful Treatment at Assisted Living Facility"
My family member was live-in at this facility for four years until COVID happened. She fell ill, and they kept her on cough syrup. A week later, she had to be hospitalized and unfortunately, she didn't make it. We couldn't recover her items for a solid four months. To add further insult, they even had her apartment cleaned out before we could pack up her things ourselves. I wouldn't advise anyone to use this facility.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Anonymous
"Assisted Living Review: Changes Needed for Better Care"
I think it's important for family members to speak up! This place is nearby. It had different owners before, but now new people are in charge. I hope things get better. My family member is used to living here and has friends. Moving her would be really hard. If someone doesn't need a lot of help, it's probably okay here.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Anonymous
"Pre-acquisition rating; post-acquisition improved but inconsistent."
Rating based on pre-acquisition; post-acquisition shows improvement but uneven.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Anonymous
"Mixed Feelings on Assisted Living Facility"
The place is really clean, but the room cleaning could be better. The people who work there are super nice face-to-face, but it’s tough when I call from far away and often don’t hear back. This happens with both the nursing and business offices. Honestly, I’d rate their customer service as a “1”. When my family member moved into the assisted living, it took some time before she got checked out. She had a hard time getting the support she needed. Even now, she sometimes misses out on evening care that she’s supposed to get. The breakfast is pretty good, but the other meals aren’t that fresh and don’t taste that good.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
anonymous
"Spacious apartment, great meals, and enjoyable activities make him happy"
He really likes his apartment it's spacious and well-designed. He absolutely loves the meals and the dining experience. He’s very thankful for the physical therapy he's receiving, which is helping him move around better. Since he’s British, he enjoys having tea, and there's a lounge near his apartment where he can relax with his tea. They have movie nights, bingo, and hopefully, they'll start going on trips and outings soon, which he looks forward to. Overall, he’s very happy.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Margaret B. Clancy
"Convenient Location and Engaging Activities at Assisted Living Facility"
This assisted living facility is really great for several reasons. To start, it's located right off Rt. 1, making it easy to get to. It's near stores and fun places like The Kate theater, which honors Katharine Hepburn. Plus, it's close to Yale museums and the seashore. On top of offering awesome activities and delicious food, they also have a van that takes residents on scenic outings and to their doctor appointments.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Anonymous
"Assisted living facility poorly handles illness outbreak; lacks communication."
Our family member got really sick at the place and had to go to the hospital for a week. After that happened, the whole place closed down and everybody had to stay in their rooms. It was really tough, and the people who worked there didn't tell us much about what was going on. Overall, it was a not-so-good time.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Steve
"Caring Community with Daily Activities for Loved Ones"
We stayed there for 13 months. I think they took good care of my family member. The distance made it hard for our family to visit. Overall, it was a positive experience. They had daily activities for residents. Because my loved one was at risk of falling, they kept her in the dining room during activities to keep an eye on her.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Anonymous
"Assisted Living: Good Care, Limited Interaction"
I’d tell my friends that this place isn’t for active people. It’s more suited for those who need extra care. If your loved one is active, there’s not much interaction here. My relative’s room is small but clean, with a bright window. They handle their own laundry, and you can pay for that service. The food is bland due to dietary restrictions, but I haven’t had any complaints when I’ve tried it.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
John Dix
"Comfortable and Elegant Community with Excellent Food and Attentive Staff"
The Hearth at Gardenside is a very comfortable place to live. The people who work there pay close attention to your needs. It's even nicer than we thought it would be. The rooms are a good size, and the food is really good. My only worry is that they don't fully understand this virus.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Paul Neri
"Mixed Experience at Assisted Living"
My brother was only there briefly before everyone got locked down in their rooms. He was starting to like it.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Margaret
"Stay Clear: This Facility Lacks Adequate Care and Cleanliness!"
The outdoor space is decent, but the facility itself is not clean at all and the higher-ups are awful. The wing for memory care is downright pitiful... the residents get served terrible food. It's clear that the residents aren't being looked after properly. You can definitely find better places if you love your older loved ones!
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Cla
"Experience: Limited Activities & Inconsistent Medication Handling at Assisted Living Facility"
My family member lives there and the staff are generally good. The issue lies with the medication distribution. There have been instances where they have either received the wrong medication or the facility failed to reorder before the last dosage was given. Also, for residents who can get around on their own and don't require much aid, there isn't a great deal to do beyond daily bingo games. On weekends, the facility offers scenic bus trips to the beach or parks, but the residents aren't allowed to disembark for a closer look. Given the monthly fee, I don't believe the value is there.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Anonymous
"Nice place but too expensive."
The place was really nice. It was a strong choice for us. However, we chose not to go with it because the price was a bit too high. It was also newly built, and there weren't many residents. I worried this would mean less chance for socializing.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Anonymous
"Assisted Living Facility Needs Improvements"
Sometimes things get forgotten at this place. Weekday staff is better than weekend staff. On weekends, they use their phones a lot and aren't as attentive. The food is just okay. There are two options, but they're often cold. One night, it was pot roast or pizza. The pot roast had veggies, but the pizza was plain. They could serve it with some greens or something.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Anonymous
"Gardenside: A Cozy and Caring "New Home"
I'm really happy at this place. I chose to move here from Missouri to Branford, and it was an easy transition. I enjoy the social events and meeting new people. The activities are interesting and diverse. Overall, Gardenside offers a cozy and caring atmosphere. I'd happily recommend it to anyone looking for a 'new home.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Anonymous
"Highly satisfied with the facility and staff overall!"
I would give them a very high rating overall. It’s clean, and the staff is friendly. There are lots of activities, and we don’t have any complaints right now.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Family Member
"A Great Place, She Loved It There!"
This place is wonderful! She really loved it. I give them a five-star rating. Honestly, I can’t think of anything they could do better. We were only there for less than a month, but they did a great job while we stayed.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share
Anonymous
"Mom loves her new home!"
The Hearth@Gardenside feels like a resort as soon as you walk in. It's bright, warm, and very welcoming. There are people around and activities happening all the time. Mom loves it here, even though she was hesitant at first. After just one week of getting involved, she is hardly ever in her apartment. The best part is that we have no worries because we know she is well cared for. She enjoys bingo, Wii bowling, live entertainment, and even the weekly happy hour for residents. Before, she lived in a 55+ condo and stayed in her unit all day. Now, you need to make an appointment just to chat on the phone! We looked at other places nearby, but none compared to this. Sure, we liked some features like larger unit sizes, but after two months here, the one-bedroom is just right.
- Useful
- Not useful
- Share