The Birches at Harleysville

Reviews

• BG

  B G

  1 day ago
  5.0
  My husband is a resident in the memory care unit at The Birches. I really can't say enough good things about his experience there. I truly appreciate the staff, and from the very first day, welcomed my husband into their community family. My husband, Joe, is a "foodie". He loves the meals that are served. The Birches is very clean and the residents have so many activities to choose from every day. Each Wednesday there is a day trip that can be signed up for. Casino, restaurant, shopping, candy factory, you name it, they go! Thank you all at the Birches who work so hard to make my husband's and the rest of the residents' lives comfortable and happy.
• JB

  Jillian Berry

  Nov 8, 2024
  5.0
  The Birches at Harleysville is such a welcoming, warm community! The employees go above and beyond to provide a great experience for all the residents and family members. Executve Director, Justin, instills a culture of care and compassion which is evident in the way the residents are cared for.
• CO

  Carrie Okeefe

  Jul 3, 2024
  5.0
  I want to mention a certain special someone that works at here. His name is Matt is the activity person that runs the residents that live in the memory ward. My Mom just recently passed away and because of Matt after feeling a lot of heartache and grief that last few days he assured me the last chapter of her life was filled w laughter activities as well as many memorable moments. He even sent me pictures of the special ones and he had a story for each and every one. He truly is a special person that runs the activity program I couldn’t be more thank ful!
• HT

  Heather Teter

  Aug 13, 2023
  1.0
  PART ONE OF MY REVIEW I’m posted this now (late) because I was waiting for my Dad to get the full security deposit back but unfortunately the director at The Birches decided not to give him back the full refund and with NO RESAON. It’s stated in the contract that he would receive the full security deposit back and he DID NOT. I would NOT recommend the Birches for the Memory Care Unit. My grandmother lived there from 11/25/23 – 1/31/23 (when she passed away). She was there for a little over two months. The director and managers were awful. There were so many issues and all they did was make up excuses. They did NOT take her safety or health into consideration. We had to request an ER visit because they would get her checked out after she had visible signs of a stroke. They ignored it for 4 days until we made them send her to the ER because they wouldn’t listen to us or do their job. Her transition to The Birches went well. She was involved in the activates. She had a couple falls so she started with physical therapy and that was going really well for her. We really liked the physical therapist that was working with her. Then she had 3 falls within 4 days. My Father the POA did NOT receive any call for either of the 3 falls. He showed up to visit her the one day and she wasn’t there. He had NO IDEA that she had fallen 3 times. The managers claim that a new employee was working there and was calling a phone number that we never gave them. POOR TRAINING. One of the falls she rolled out of bed and hit her head really hard and had a ton of bruising. After those falls, she wasn’t the same. We asked them right away what could be done to make sure that she didn’t roll out of bed again and have a repeat fall. They said NOTHING. We weren’t allowed to have bumper, a little gate, a pillow next to her to prevent her from roll out, NOTHING. All they did was put a ½ inch mat on the floor, a “fall mat”. That wouldn’t have done anything. They said the State doesn’t allow another of those things because they are considered restrains. Because the director and managers were not concerned about the wellbeing of my grandmother, we pushed for a bed that lowered as close to the floor as possible. So that is case she did roll it would lessen the fall distance. Took over a week to get that bed and it was still two feet off the ground. After the fall with the head injury, she couldn’t sit up in her wheelchair. She was hunched over and her head was in her lap. This is NOT OK. NO ONE should be sitting in a chair with their head in their lap. That’s NOT OK and she is at risk of falling out of the wheelchair. We brought this to the director and mangers attention right away. They were NOT CONCERED. They offered NO suggestions to fixing this issues. The one manager said to my Dad “oh she is probably getting a good back stretch”. WHAT, ARE YOU KIDDING ME. So, we took it upon ourselves to suggest that she get a reclining wheelchair. One with a taller back so they could lean it back and she could lay back in the chair and not be leaning forward in her lap. That also took A WEEK to get. NOT OK. This is my grandmother’s health and The Birches should be advocating for her health. That’s why we are pay them.
• KB

  Katrina Brady

  Mar 30, 2023
  1.0
  We had the misfortune of a family member living here for a year. If you have a loved one who suffers with dementia, do not send them here. They do not have the capacity to properly care for dementia patients, and that is not just our opinion but the hospital they often sent him to when he 'misbehaved'. They even have carpets in the memory care centre knowing dementia patients will have urinary accidents and then charge for the 'surprise'. Other than keeping him fed and locked up so he couldn't wander, other basic needs were not fulfilled. Family members would often have to go in and change/bathe him. If they were away that meant coming in to see him not bathed for weeks. We were also not very welcome as visitors. I had travelled from overseas so see our loved one and was made to feel particularly unwelcome on our last visit, I was disgusted. Very fortunately we were able to move him to a different place where he is getting amazing care. He has come back to himself a bit and his demeanour has completely changed which is evidence to the very poor care he received before and, I expect, possibly was over medicated.