My family and I are incredibly grateful for the care my uncle received at Cornerstone Assisted Living at Canton. When he first moved in, he believed he was entering a sad, closing chapter of his life. Instead, it became a beautiful and unexpected new beginning.<br>From the very start, he was treated as more than just a resident. He was truly known. People greeted him by name, took the time to learn who he was, and paid attention to the little details that meant so much, like always having his black coffee and diet ginger ale ready at lunch and dinner. Those small, thoughtful gestures made a big difference and showed how deeply the staff cared.<br>What stood out most was the sense of genuine community. Every single person, from the custodial staff to the care assistants, waitstaff, front desk, nursing team, and activity staff, treated him with kindness, dignity, and respect. They would joke with him, laugh with him, and make him feel like himself. He was not just living there, he belonged there.<br>We are especially grateful to Nell, the Enriched LIFE Director, whose warmth, energy, and genuine care helped shape such a vibrant and welcoming environment. Nell takes the time, not just with my uncle but with all residents, to truly know them, to understand their stories, and to recognize their value as human beings. She sees them not only as people with a past, but as individuals with a present life that she works hard to fill with joy, fun, and meaningful experiences. One small but incredibly meaningful example of her thoughtfulness, and there were countless others, was when she tracked down a high school yearbook from his graduation year. It meant so much to him and to our family, and it speaks volumes about the kind of care she provides. She is enthusiastic and exudes positive energy, joy, and kindness in everything she does.<br>When the time came for hospice care, we were equally touched by the compassion and coordination between the hospice team and the Cornerstone staff. It was seamless, supportive, and full of dignity. During those final weeks, at least 10 staff members would stop by daily just to check in, say hello, and spend a moment with him. That level of care and humanity is something we will never forget.<br>Cornerstone gave my uncle not just care, but joy, companionship, and a renewed sense of purpose in his final years. It was truly a blessing for him and for all of us who loved him.
I will be forever grateful for the wonderful experience my mother had at Cornerstone of Canton. The ENTIRE Cornerstone staff and community truly enhanced the quality of my mother's life. While at Cornerstone, all activities- social, musical, artistic, physical, cognitive and spiritual filled my mother's day with purpose and happiness. Thank you, Cornerstone.
My Mom just had a two-week respite after an injury and the team at Cornerstone was incredibly helpful in transitioning her from the hospital and caring for her during her time there. Even though she was going through a difficult time, my mother spoke highly of her caretakers, the daily activities and thought the food was wonderful. Assisted living is a very challenging thing to navigate for both the resident and family members. Cornerstone was very supportive and made difficult decisions easier. We highly recommend.
Our mother was getting to the point where cooking, cleaning and caring for herself were becoming overwhelming tasks. We began to look for alternatives. For a short time we hired different people for various tasks. The amount of exposure to so many people and the task of mom remembering names, times etc. was not working. We had a short term month long stay for mom to rehab in Spring 2025 at Cornerstone. When we knew we had to make a permanent change we looked in greater Boston ( southern area). So glad we chose Cornerstone again. The staff could not be more kind and responsive to the people who live there. They have someone 24 hours to answer the phone and immediately check on the loved one who may not be answering the phone in their room. Also a nurse for any immediate medical issues. The rooms are pleasant and each person may bring their own bedroom furniture. The staff sit people together during mealtime so everyone gets to meet other people who live there. This is truly a “Community” of caring and kindness.<br>So glad they had room for our mother! She loves it there and everyday is a happy one!
This past fall, my 94-year-old mother sustained a fall which had her spend five nights in a hospital before being sent to a rehabilitation facility. Prior to her fall, my mother had enjoyed a remarkably robust life for a woman her age. During her childhood, my mother spent extended time in an orphanage. The idea of being “admitted” to any facility, therefore, carried the sting of remembered trauma. This early history motivated my mother to be independent during her life, working at a cafeteria job into her 88th year. So, while my mother struggled to recover in rehab, she and our family were quite anxious about what Mom’s next stage might entail. Uncertain about my mother’s ability to return to independent living, I researched several assisted living facilities during her convalescence.<br>It was during this period when I was first introduced to Rebecca Scalzo, Cornerstone’s Executive Director. After sitting with Rebecca at Cornerstone to learn about the facility, Rebecca accompanied me on a tour. Though, by this time, I had also visited other facilities, it was immediately obvious that this one was different. Clean, cheerful, active, vibrant; and, with only 65 residents, all of this on a scale that was quite comfortable – not at all institutional. I knew my mother would not be intimidated. During the course of the tour, Rebecca was called away twice. In both instances, I had two independent, unplanned, encounters. In one case, with a resident, and the other, with one of the care staff. I was struck by how genuinely positive both were about life at Cornerstone. Though, in rehab, my mother made a remarkable recovery, which allowed her to return to independent living (my brother and wife live in the same, over 55, community), when my brother and sister-in-law left recently for an extended trip to Europe, we opted to experiment and have our mother spend the better part of a month at Cornerstone.<br>Having spent over a month at hospitals and rehabilitation centers as a result of her fall, my mother (who leans towards introversion) was understandably anxious about being sent to yet, another “facility.” My mother LOVED Cornerstone. When asked now what she misses about her time in Cornerstone, my mother reports: (1) The staff. Without exception, people were caring, kind and attentive. On admission, my mother was given a pendant to carry. She was encouraged to use the pendant to call for help for absolutely any reason, from something important, like medication assistance, to something trivial, like assistance finding a desired channel on her television. (2) The meals. Rather than a “Hampton Inn breakfast room” affect, as was the case with some other assisted living facilities I had explored, dining at Cornerstone was like going to a friendly restaurant. She was greeted by name. There was always a food selection she looked forward to learning about. And, my introverted mother began seeking out the company of other dinning residents for whom she developed affection. (3) The social interaction. My mother recognized that the thrice-a-day trip to the dining room brought her through the community space in which other residents would gather for trivia, movies, music, and other educational and cultural activities. My introverted mother, at 94, became less introverted; far less so than had been the case at her “over 55” home. With my brother returned from his trip, my mother returned back home as had been planned.<br>Now, however, she is questioning whether she wants to make Cornerstone her permanent home. We agreed to allow her at least a month to settle into her old ways before more formally making a decision about where “home” will be. I can think of no better testament to the high level of care and community which exists at this wonderful place, then my mother’s musings about a return to Cornerstone. Finally, from a business perspective, I have served mid-sized business as a professional for four decades.<br>Respectfully,<br>George P. Bukuras
