Memory Care Community in Hingham, Massachusetts

Buyer Beware

The facility is nice, the cost is extremely high and they look for every way possible to grab as much money as possible. It's designed totally for wealthy people - not middle class or lower income. The pricing structure is basically a way for them to grab every dollar you have. Residents pay a massive down payment (they say for future expansion - but that cost should be on the company, not the residents who don't get to share in the profits). And on top of that, residents pay a heft monthly rent (residents are being double-dipped). Pretty much everything you do there will cost money (marked up pretty high for the value). Residents are required to purchase a not-worth-the-price meal plan. Transportation - not for free. Want to park your car - not for free. Most activities - not for free. When residents leave, they are supposed to get back 90 percent of the down payment (this used to be 95 percent). However, that only comes when Linden Pond finds the next victim to buy into this money trap. The resident or estate continues to pay Linden Pond during that time. They don't rush to sell it - they are in no rush to return money, especially while they are continuing to collect cash on a home no one is living in. And head into the more-care-needed section - you continue to pay for your original unit on top of the extremely lot-more-expensive extra care units. In other words, you could easily end up paying Linden Pond a lot of money for two places. There are many other very nice places for seniors to live that won't cost anywhere near what Linden Pond charges and they offer more than this place does. Don't fall for this money trap!!! It's not worth surrendering your entire estate to them.

Thomas

Harbor House is an absolutely beautiful place. It's pleasant, there's a lot of sunshine, and it's well-designed. There's a great deal of activities for the clients and the care seems standard. Just like any nursing home, there are good and bad days, but nothing out of ordinary or nothing I would complain about. My mom has been there a couple of months and she has made very thorough recovery, in part due to the care she has received. They have the usual range of activities like social events, games, and movies.

Grace

Linden Ponds has everything, and if needed, they also have other levels of care. I have relatives that have been living there for a long time and they love it. It’s a very big and lovely place if you don't mind a lot of people. They have everything you could possibly want, but they're very expensive. It's like living in a hotel; you can have three meals a day if you want to. My cousin has a beautiful 2-bedroom, 2-bath in the corner with a den and glass windows. It would be good for people over 55, but I don't want that many frills. They have activities, they have movies, they have a lot of trips, a doctor and dentist on-call, they have an exercise place, and a pool; I could go on and on. They have a place to buy food if you want to cook it yourself and you don't want to go to the supermarket. They have everything, that's why it's so expensive. I went to the office to see what it was all about, and they take into account things like how much money you have and things like that. The lady that I spoke with was very nice, and she said my information seemed fine. She excused herself to show her superior, and when she came back she said everything I had was fine, but I needed to have a bank account of $100,000 and that I can't touch it. My cousin who lives there said they never heard of such a thing and they're agreement was that they get 95% of what they give at the beginning when they leave, but now it's 90%. I think that's highway robbery. They also have a vehicle that takes the residents outside. There's nothing there that you won't want. There are three buildings, and they're building a fourth one. The food was absolutely wonderful, they have three meals a day, and if you don't take it they just deduct it for what you pay for the month.

Mike

My mom moved into Allerton House. It was close to where she lives, and they had a room available. We liked that it is a small, clean community, and the staff is nice. They're doing well in terms of care. Mother is getting used to it, socializing, and seems to like the people she's getting to know. She's in a routine, and they keep her busy. It's expensive.