Dominion Village at Williamsburg

We toured several facilities in the area trying to find an appropriate placement for my 91 year- old mother. Since she has Dementia, we were focused on Memory Care facilities. There were some lovely places with beautiful gathering areas, large bedrooms and bathrooms. Some provided transportation to appts. and even an aide, if desired. But the prices were such that we were worried my mother's money wouldn't last for the rest of her life. Then we checked out Dominion Village. It is an older facility, so it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of the newer places. The bedrooms are small. Most of them have a bathroom that you share with the resident next door, or you can pay a little more and get one of the rooms with a private bathroom. When we met with the director, she explained that since my mother still had good social skills, did not wander, or was not a danger to herself, she could be placed on the assisted living side in lieu of the memory care side. Not only is it less expensive, but she is with people who can provide her with good social experiences. In the end, we realized what was most important for my mother was not the "look good" features of the expensive places(she is not going to use a pool table, or sit in the spacious living room next to the gas fireplace anyway), but a clean place where she could get three good meals and some help with dressing, assistance in the bathroom, and with getting around. So we went with Dominion Village. We opted to pay a little extra for a room with a private half bath; she is rolled down the hall to the beautiful shower room (there is also a walk-in tub available). A twin bed fits the best. It allows for a comfy chair, some side tables, and a chest of drawers without the room seeming cramped. The staff is very friendly; all went out of their way to make my mother feel welcome. Since the facility is small, they soon know all the residents and what strategies work best for each. I rated the care as good, not great, because no one is going to be able to care for my mother as well as I did while she lived at home. She was my sole patient. But the caregivers try their best to provide the best care possible for their residents.

My 91 year old Mom has resided at Dominion Village of Williamsburg for a year and a half. She began in Assisted Living and transitioned into Memory Care. I have been very happy with Mom's care. The staff know their residents. They know their habits, quirks, needs and personalities. They also get to know the family. Deirdre, Jessica and Yolanda are excellent leaders. And they are always accessible. My Mom qualified for their WWII widow discount, which was very helpful. There are always choices for meals and the meals are good and served on time. Rooms are kept clean. There are also activities appropriate for the age and condition of the resident. I feel very fortunate to have found Dominion Village for Mom.

[Removed] was very personable and made us feel more comfortable about considering assisted living for my mother. Dominion is small, giving it an intimate feeling. It appears it also allows them some flexibility with patient's needs. The place is not new, but [Removed] is working hard to update the building and furnishings. The rooms are not large, but adequate for our needs. The bathroom would have to be modified to meet my mother's needs, or she could be taken to the large shower or tub room. That's not great, but not a deal breaker. Someone stopped us as we gathered on the front porch and told us he was very happy with the care his own mother was receiving here. This made us happy to hear. We are definitely considering this place for my mother.