Winterberry Heights Assisted Living and Memory Care

Winterberry Heights has some really nice and helpful staff members working there, but just given the time they are having trouble keeping staff members around and having consistent schedules.

This facility was more nursing care targeted and my loved one is independent. They offered a lot of care services but my loved one did not need all that was offered.

My loved one loved it here. The community was very accommodating during the transition of my loved one and this was during COVID. They even coordinated hospice for my loved one. My loved one loved Penny, Samantha, and all the staff. I would recommend the community to others.

We chose Winterberry Heights because it looked very nice from the outside, then when you walk in it looks like a hotel and not institutional at all. The menu looked wonderful but I was not able to try any of the food. They were chef prepared meals and he was very nice. My brother did not participate in activities, but they did offer a lot of activities and had something going on all the time. Overall we had a good experience.

We had a great experience at Winterberry Heights. The staff took great care of him and he was so excited to be here. I would recommend to others looking.

Pre COVID we really enjoyed the dining room experience, and our apartment was a decent size, it was comfortable for us. Pre COVID the food would be about a four out of five, and now the quality has declined a little. However, we would recommend this community to others.

The senior staff at Winterberry Heights were great, they really took their time to answer all of our question when we first came to visit, and to make sure we felt comfortable. Our loved one didn't participate much in the activities but from what we saw they were great. The food at this community would be about a 4.5 out of 5 stars and the rooms were nice, our loved one chose to live in one of the smaller rooms they provided.

This used to be a nice facility, but unfortunately, it has gone downhill with care since last year. They are constantly understaffed and do not have time to clean and change beds according the the regular schedule. Meals are delivered cold (and without choice) to their rooms as they are no longer allowed to eat in the main dining area. Very minimal activities and the memory care residents are locked down most of the time. It is sad and depressing that a poorly run facility can affect the emotional well-being of the residents. Some of these changes seem to have started with covid-19, but after being locked down for 6 months, services have not improved.

Management seems very stressed. Short staffed with some great employees. Care is not what we thought we would get especially for the money. Very over priced.

[Date removed] To the CMAs, RAs and CNAs I wanted to thank the hard working and dedicated caregivers who have cared for my Mom while she resided there this past almost 4 years. The issues I had with Winterberry Heights were not generally with you, but instead with the administration there. By in large, Mum was safe and well fed, until the past few weeks. There were past issues, but none as bad as what happened last week. When I found my Mom in a state of neglect on [date removed], it would been easy to quickly blame the RA on duty that day, but that simply is not the case. You all have impossible assignments. The facility accepts seniors and disabled folks who have needs far beyond what an assisted living facility can meet. It is a priority to keep those units filled in order to meet profit goals. Then they understaff the place. They assign one RA to an entire level of residents, maybe 35 to 40,, many of them needing lift assists. You are told to be in and out of a room in 5 minutes. This is a set up. This is a recipe for neglect and harm. This is exactly what happened to my Mom. She never wanted to go there. She forgot about a lot of things, but she never forgot her home and she missed it every single day. And she did not want to live with me. So, I looked to Winterberry to be the solution to her needs because of dementia. Most days it was ok. And then when her health started to decline, it was absolutely not ok. I kept a close watch on Mum but I trusted people that I should not have trusted. I wanted so badly to believe all of the promises that were made to me and Mum in that place. I truly believe that Winterberry has potential, but until the balance of only accepting the people who you can take care of, and having the essential level of staffing and skills in place happens, I believe that people will continue to be neglected and/or harmed. This is not your fault. This is the fault of your director, the Hawthorn Corporation and the State licensing and regulatory oversight. Rules need to be made, regulations need to be in place and enforced that will ensure the safety and well being of our seniors and disabled. Our beloved seniors deserve this at the very least. My mother is at [removed] recovering from pneumonia. She is ok and well cared for now. We are hoping that she can get back on her feet and be well soon. However, she will never return to Winterberry Heights. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, for doing your level best, in impossible working conditions, to care for my Mom. [Name removed] ([Name removed]’s daughter)

It was the best thing we could have done for her!!!! She did not want to leave her home, but after being at Winterberry Heights for 2 months she says she doesn't even miss her home!! We are SO pleased to hear her say that. The staff is so pleasant and helpful and the facility is just beautiful! Thank you for helping us find a home for Mom!! PS Everything is included except her phone, even her meals.

I toured this community while looking into care options for a loved one. The facility was well kept and clean, and all of the staff I met seemed friendly and professional. I also have some friends who live here that seem very happy with it! We ended up selecting another community, but this is somewhere I would have considered as an option for my loved one.

My parents are stlll adjusting to the community and that is taking some time and that is expected from them. This community is an excellent place to move you loved one too, the staff here is excellent and do all they can do to help you loved one. I couldn't have asked for a better place to move my parents to, they are going to have to move into a community that offers more memory care. I would recommend this community to a someone who loved one isn't has far into their dementia as my parent are. It is a great place and I was very pleased with them.

Winterberry is all it appears to be. Very modern, clean and light-filled. The staff is very kind and warm with everyone. I would recommend it for anyone.

All I can really say about the Winterberry Heights Assisted Living facility is that their dining services has really great food for the residents. Also they provide good care too. I do not have any improvements for them.

My family has found that Winterberry Heights has been an excellent choice for my mother. The cleanliness and beauty of the facility make it a truly enjoyable home for my mother and a pleasant place for us to visit her. The staff are always professional, friendly, and warm. They truly care about the residents. The dining facilities are wonderful; it is an advantage that families can purchase meals there and eat with the residents. The restaurant-like atmosphere is wonderful and the food is excellent. This is not your typical institutional type food--it is well prepared and tasty and offers options that will please anyone. Often I try to visit my mother during lunch or dinner so we can enjoy a nice meal together without the stress of having to take her out to eat which can be difficult due to her mobility issues. Winterberry Heights has been able to adjust her level of care to accommodate her needs when she has been feeling under the weather or going through challenging times. They willingly and easily adjust to meet the level of independence for the resident at any time. The warmth and friendliness of the staff is reflected in the residents who are also very warm and welcoming. I believe this is due to the role modeling of the staff and the happiness of people living there. Every time I visit I feel like I am making new friends as everyone goes out of their way to say hello. Although my mother is not one for organized activities, she has been willing to try some of the varied activities at Winterberry and surprisingly found out how much she liked them. The variety of activities and entertainment would please anyone. I enjoy sitting with my mother for the entertainment, especially the musical performances which are excellent. Before my mother moved to Winterberry Heights, we tried having her live in her own home with support and also having her live in my home with my family. Neither option worked well and I was constantly worried about her while I was at work or away from her. Now I know that she is safe, happy, and well cared for by staff who really do like and care for her. This is such a relief. The price for services is very reasonable and I would recommend this facility to any family.

The problem with the facility is what is behind the scenes. Never, EVER, do they have enough staff. Managers are insensitive to employees and care little for staff. How can they care for residents if they don't care for proper staffing? The facility is clean. Food is sub par. Prices are absolutely outrageous for residents, and visitors (they charge you to eat with your family and they charge you if you want to stay overnight). They have horrible communication. Messages are lost, the daytime secretary is rude and so are half of the CNA's. [removed]. As a family member, I am not surprised that there is such a high staff turnover. Three mechanical lifts are used for the entire facility and are not required to be cleaned in between uses. The managing nurse often forgets things like giving important injections, enemas, or wound care (which the Medication Aides cannot do). In the year or so that my loved one has lived in this facility, they have gone through six managers. SIX! In less than two years! The current managers are rude and cold. Do yourselves a favor; if you move a loved one into Winterberry Heights, pay close attention to them or they may not receive the care you are paying for.

There is not enough trained staff. Residents have to wait too long for help. The prices are astronomical. Too much money for too little service. Employees are fired and hired weekly leaving residents with untrained care.

The staff is courteous and friendly. The facility is well maintained. There seem to be a variety of activities and my parents appear to like it there.

They market themselves as "affordable"; however, they refuse to release actual costs without personal interaction with the potential resident. My understanding from three residents is that low-middle to middle income seniors cannot afford the monthly rent. They actually prefer to cater to the upper income senior.