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January 24, 2011
Dear Mr. Roderick,
I have been wanting to write this letter for quite some time, but somehow the holidays and life got in the way!
Both of my parents have dementia and have been living at Aspen Ridge Memory Care since November. It has been a long journey with Mom and Dad as he has had dementia for over ten years now and mom took care of him valiantly until just a few years ago. Her dementia developed much more quickly and she could no longer do the simple daily tasks required for them to keep their independent lifestyle. She was a warrior and fierce in her desire to take care of Dad on her own.
So now it is almost two years later and our fourth assisted living care facility, due in part to the digression of the disease and other factors.
When I first met with Administrator, Terrye Alexander and Kathleen the head nurse, they were wonderful in their knowledge and skill in regard to those with Alzheimers and dementia from the smallest of details to the big picture of their needs and how the person views their world. I was a bit skeptical of leaving Mom and Dad once again to their "new home" due to the fact of all we had gone through previously with other care communities and broken promises and the natural decline of their health. Walking out the door the first night was gut wrenching, like you are sending your child off on that big yellow bus for his first day of school, totally in someone else's care.
But I need to tell you that by far this has been the best experience yet. Terrye, Kathleen, Samantha (the activities director) med-aids, chef and all the caregivers work so wonderfully well to create the best loving, caring, and supportive environment I have seen yet. The training that takes place to give the on e on one individual care and attention is very impressive to say the least. It is a pleasure to walk in and see the staff loving your parents as if they were their own family. The personal attention with dignity and respect is key in helping them adjust and to make them feel at home. I am so impressed with the fact that this has continued past the first month which has not been our experience in the past. I have noticed that if a resident has been there for a few days or a few years, they are all treated with the same individual love and care for their life journey.
I must tell you that we owe a great debt of gratitude to the head nurse Kathleen and med-aids for actually saving my Dad's life on two occasions. Dad had only been there a short time so they did not know him well, but Kathleen noticed he was a bit lethargic, and not quite his joking self. He also wasn't eating quite as well. She called the paramedics to come and check him. The paramedics questioned his need to go to the hospital as his vitals were good and didn't see the need. But Kathleen persisted and sent him anyway. When I arrived at the hospital a short time later, the doctor told me dad may not make it through the hour! Well miraculously, Dad pulled through and is still here today, even after this happened a second time with Kathleen's intervention and good judgment and Terrye's support.
We are the ones who have been truly blessed by the entire staff at Aspen Ridge Memory Care and we are the ones who also feel like family when we visit. We are truly grateful for how the staff has gone the extra mile for our parents and for us, especially with Dad's catheter care and training the staff to take care of this extra need that Dad has. It is a joy to be a part of a truly loving, caring, and dedicated staff.
Most sincerely,
Jenny D.
June 25, 2010
Frontier Management, LLC
Attn: President Greg Roderick
Dear Mr. Roderick,
My mother has been living in Aspen Ridge Memory Care for well over two years…and I feel like this letter is long over do. From the day I nervously moved her there from an assisted living facility, Mom has been welcomed with loving care. I can truly say that the gentle care and attention to every concern has never wavered, but has only increased the last year. I spend quite a lot of time visiting my mother and the other residents, not out of obligation, but because it is a fun place to be…and I've grown to love everyone who lives and works there. Of the staff, I can only say that for the first time, I don't have any favorites…they're all terrific! I think that says a lot for the administration and the direction they are receiving the administrator and nurse. They all seem to work as a team, with unbelievable patience. Every resident is treated with respect, as an individual and especially with love. The caregivers seem to really want to know each resident and are curious about their individual histories. I can only imagine how challenging their jobs must be…but they always seem to go way beyond what one would expect of them and do their jobs with a sense of cheerfulness that makes Aspen Ridge Memory Care a great place to spend time.
As a daughter of someone who has Alzheimer's, of course there is the underlying concern that I too might one day be affected with the disease. Spending time with Mom getting to know her fellow residents and the staff at Aspen Ridge has made me know this illness is not the worst thing that can happen. My mother still has her dignity and finds a great deal of joy in her life, thanks to your outstanding employees. I wanted you to know how comforted and thankful I am for this.
Sincerely, Bonnie