Dogwood Creek Retirement Center

Catherine

We've had some people in our congregation who are residents of Dogwood Creek Retirement Center, so we're familiar with them. It's very nice, and they do everything for the person. They have the little dormitory and little refrigerators if you want to keep something cold for a little while because they provide all of the meals. They're brought to the residents three times a day, so that avoids needing to go out and do grocery shopping. The other community has a full sized refrigerator and a kitchenette so you can make your own meals, but it doesn't matter because both of them are just lovely. It's well-lit. My friend is 95 years old and she just has a 1-bedroom arrangement, but she is very happy there. In fact, she told me yesterday that she was happy. They were very compassionate, very conscientious, and very professional. I have no complaints at all. I haven't seen my friends' meals just recently, but in previous times I have, and they also allowed us to eat with the residents. The food is wonderful, as far as I'm concerned. The facility is very nice because it's always clean and attractive, and it doesn't have any unpleasant odors, as many times long-term care facilities and nursing homes have been criticized for having. I would want to be there myself if I have that need, and I certainly wouldn't mind my mother being there either, if she has the need. For the activities, that's a little bit small in my opinion. I think that they need to have a gymnasium or physical fitness or activity place with stationary bicycles, things that are appropriate for folks who are of advanced age and physical limitation, even disabilities, because mostly, their activities are bingo, checkers, and sedentary things. I think they need to make more provisions for physical exercise than what they presently have.