Jan Riddle
Jul 2021
From the moment we entered the front door of this beautifully renovated, charming, historic Catonsville home, we felt we were entering the home of a family! It was a cold and snowy February day when we did our “tour”. We were saddened that our elderly father was suffering from dementia that reached a level where he required more help than we could provide. Being a big Catholic family, we now needed a loving place for Dad which would provide the extra care and services that he needs and where we can visit him frequently. We were cheerfully greeted by Linda, with personality plus, who actually stepped outside the door to welcome us, and who has become a dear friend to our Dad and family. We stepped inside to the beautiful living room which has comfy sofas and chairs and a giant TV. It was so clean and smelled of lavender. There is also a nook on the side with a small table for playing games every afternoon and having conversations. We proceeded to the left hallway to see 4 beautifully renovated bedrooms, all neat and tidy. The bathrooms on that side are also renovated to fully accommodate the handicapped residents. On the other side of the house, there are 4 more beautifully appointed bedrooms with a renovated bathroom. The center is the heart of the home, and has a big new kitchen, a dining table set up for lunch with 8 table settings, and the gorgeous fireplace was aglow. It was here that Linda introduced us to Matt Decker, the owner of Waterfalls. With a big smile, a handshake, and his welcoming demeanor, Matt became our refuge. His little Yorkie is his companion. We truly felt like we walked into a Hallmark movie! Matt sat us down at the dining table near the fireplace and let us talk about our Dad and our big family and what Dad’s needs were. We’ll never forget Matt’s response. Matt told us he regretted his memories of his own father in his last days. Matt’s dream was to create a “multigenerational family atmosphere” for elderly residents, and he fulfilled his dream and opened Waterfalls in 2018. Matt told us he had a room available and the trained staff to provide Dad’s needs and help with his ADLs. The rest is history! We had already toured the other bigger facilities in the area and did not like the “hospital atmosphere”. With its small 8 resident house, Waterfalls was the right “family” place for our Dad. Matt’s mother, Doris, is one of the residents, and this speaks to the character and caring nature of Matt and his staff. All of Matt’s staff are skilled caretakers and so friendly, especially Margarita, a brilliant pre-medical student from Ecuador with a heart of gold and is responsible for the residents’ medical needs, and Ivy, an amazing cook from Jamaica who serves up homemade delicious, flavorful food and nutritious meals with a smile and a prayer, and Debbie, the Activities Director, who is full of creative ideas and fun activities, including daily game playing. And of course, Linda, who was first hired in 2018 and brings sunshine and her skilled caretaking to Waterfalls. Matt and his son, Ryan, also cook and their soups and dinners are delicious. It is comforting for our family to know that Matt and a few of his adult children live upstairs in case of an emergency. The Decker family is the best! The love they have for one another spills over to all the residents. It is a pleasure when Ryan, Matt’s son, makes homemade smoothies for their 3 pm snack! Dad is happy, thriving, and “at home” at Waterfalls. His favorite times of the day are breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner! We have come to know all the wonderful staff and residents and we can say, without a doubt, they have truly become our extended family! You can feel the love at Waterfalls. It’s called “Waterfalls” because there are several beautiful, calming waterfalls located throughout the house and decks. Dad especially loves sitting on the big front porch and the deck. Matt is currently working on adding more space to Waterfalls. This home currently has 8 resident rooms. I would rate it a million stars because Waterfalls is really one in a million!
