4 Independent Living Communities in Worcester County, Massachusetts

Brian

The rooms are big, cozy, and very clean. The showers are spot clean. I had a very warm welcome from the staff and the residents. The food and deserts are home cooked and baked here and it's all delicious. I've found my cozy home at last. Thanks to all of the Staff and Residents for all of the support and help you've giving me. I feel like I'm in a home and no longer an institution.

Cathy

My parents have been in Brookdale Eddy Pond West for two weeks now, and everyone has been very helpful, very kind, and very happy there. They are comfortable and felt at home right after the first day. We've been able to get the services they need, which is a great relief to us. The place is clean and well kept, and they dealt with COVID correctly. My parents have a two-bedroom, two-bath, handicap-accessible room. It has a kitchenette with a fridge in it, a microwave, and a sink. They have a little dinette table where they can sit and eat, or they have a choice to go into the dining room and eat there, too. The facility also offers a three-bedroom option. They happen to be on the first floor with a walk-out sliding door that opens up to a patio, which makes it really nice. They have laundry services, cleaning services, meal preparation, and nurses going in and helping them. They are able to switch from primary care and have them take minor things at the facility. They also do card games, but they are just starting to open everything up. They love the food, as well.

Grace

My sister has been a resident of Highlands Gracious Retirement Living for a few years. The place is absolutely gorgeous. It's beautiful, very clean, and really well appointed. All the common areas and apartments are just lovely. They keep it up to date, and the staff is very responsive. I don't think the food is great, but it's also been difficult during COVID. They haven't been able to go to the dining room, so they have to deliver everything, and there are a lot of people there. The people there are very nice and very responsive. They have Care Solutions on site, and you have to pay for that yourself, but they're not really too expensive, so it's affordable. I moved my sister into a studio-type apartment, and it's lovely. She's by herself. She has a kitchenette with a microwave, a refrigerator, and a sink. She has her bed and chair in there and a TV. She also has a walk-in tub with a shower. They have all kinds of things, especially before COVID. They had people coming in and doing shows, and they had Irish step dancers who were little girls, and they were so cute. They also do cooking classes, they have popcorn and ice-cream machines, and they show movies several times a week. They have all kinds of activities like bingo, cards, knitting, and sewing circles. There are a lot of things to do, and there's stuff for men, too. There's a bus that goes out a couple times a week, and they can make a reservation if they're going to the doctor. They also take residents shopping or out to lunch. They gave her a panic button, and she just keeps it around her neck, so if she falls she just presses that button, and they'll come right over. They keep everyone as busy as they want to be, but if you don't, they won't bother you. It can be expensive, but she had a one-bedroom that was $3600, and that wasn't bad, as it includes the food, activities, the bus, and all that. But if you need nursing or any of that stuff, you'll have to pay separately.

John

Brookdale Eddy Pond West was a little bit older; it has been around for a long time. The staff there was wonderful. The place there is good, and it's clean. It's not quite as up to date or elegant as the other place; however, it seemed a lot more friendly in some ways, and certainly a lot more flexible in what the residents were able to do. We saw a one-bedroom, which was very nice -- although a little bit older -- but well maintained and certainly clean.

Stephen

My dad currently lives in Gull Creek Senior Living Community. It's good, but I think everybody is going through a tough time right now with COVID obviously. I think, probably like most places, they're a little overwhelmed and understaffed. He pays for a certain level of care and I don't believe that he's getting that full level of care because I think they're just overwhelmed. There's nothing activity-wise right now. They stay in their rooms right now, and they bring their meals to them. There were no family visits at first. Right now I'm able to drive up and see him for a half an hour. They do his laundry. I haven't eaten any food there because right now everything comes to him in a Styrofoam container. The place is clean, organized, and it has a nice entryway. It's a tough time to have to evaluate somebody. I'm sympathetic to the facility because there's so much going on right now, but I have to give the value for the money a three because I think we are paying for an extra level of care for my dad because he has some issues, and I don't believe he's getting everything that he's supposed to get.