Patricia Bockelman
Apr 2025
My mother lived at Bethesda Gardens for three and a half years with the last two years in memory care. This is a small facility with very nice decor throughout, a nice dining room and spaces for residents to relax and socialize. There are frequent visits by musical performers and therapy dogs. The first line staff seems to be happy, but the nursing director position turned over eight times over three and a half years. (Not good.) Common areas are kept clean and neat. I was a frequent visitor, especially for the last year my mother was there. She passed away in December 2024. Overall, the facility is mostly acceptable and appropriate. If I hadn't visited frequently, been observant, and spoke up when needed, it would have been a worse experience. If you place your loved one here, I recommend being very attentive and do not hesitate to say something to staff, supervisors, or the executive director. Be especially diligent around medication administration - even OTC meds. We experienced an issue with OTC medication that sent my mother to the hospital. Feedback and requests in writing is advised. Unfortunately, some issues we gave feedback or requests on had to be made repeatedly. First line staff was mostly attentive, caring, compassionate, and thorough, but a few will do only the bare minimum and at times must be reminded. The food is pretty good overall, with balanced meals and decent variety. (Some offerings seemed to me improper for seniors, i.e., a well-done pork chop or roast beef.) If a resident needs food cut for easier eating or requires only finger foods, there is a breakdown in communication of these requirements - it's hit or miss. Safety could be better here - not to say it's awful - but it is important and there is certainly room for improvement. Fall prevention is lacking. When my mother first moved from assisted living to memory care, an AI fall detection system was available, and we took advantage of it due to her fall history. It helped us make a change in her room after a fall. After a few months, it was taken out and not replaced. I am aware of residents who fell and were found on their room floor after who knows how many minutes or hours. This is an insufficiency in proper fall prevention care. I installed a camera in the room to monitor for falls, and to determine why/how some housekeeping tasks were not being done. Activities in the building has one dedicated manager. Assisted living residents have many varied activities available to them each day. A calendar of activities is made up at the beginning of each month for assisted living and memory residents, however I found the activities scheduled for memory care often do not take place. It would really help if a dedicated memory care activity coordinator was there, even if only part time. When I raised concerns on behalf of all the memory care residents, it would improve for a couple of weeks, then return to the lax routine. The weekly laundry service is usually reliable. Sometimes lapses occurred and staff had to be asked, or there were occasions when clothing was washed, but bedding was not. There will be lost clothing and items ruined from being washed improperly (i.e., a sweater washed in hot water). After my mother passed, I never received any communication from the facility or management expressing sympathy for her loss. Some of the staff said kind and comforting words when I was there to move things out, but not a word from senior staff/management. This was extremely disappointing. This is not an especially bad place overall, particularly for assisted living residents. In memory care, your loved one will benefit from frequent visits and constant and close observation. If there is any chance your loved one will need nursing care, would recommend finding another facility.
