Elderwood Assisted Living at Hamburg

My mother-in-law resided here for almost 3 years. While there, we (my husband and I) thought that she was being well tended to and really loved by the staff. When we went to visit (we live in Florida) the overall common areas appeared very clean, the wait staff in the dining area was exceptional and very friendly. Upon closer look though, things were not as "pretty". When we visited, we always stayed in her apartment to be able to spend more time with her. It was while staying there that we realized that the nurses would put her medicines (some were narcotics) on her little TV tray next to her recliner where she slept. They never made sure that she even ingested the meds. This became even more apparent when I went to go under the footrest on her recliner to retrieve something for her. It was like a smorgasbord of drugs under there - at least 20 miscellaneous pills that had been under there for who knows how long. This screamed 2 things to me - first, the nursing staff needed to be more attentive as to her medications and second, why are we paying for her apartment to be cleaned when they never move anything to vacuum under etc. She had been there for almost 3 years with basically a "light dusting" - never having that "deep clean". Over the years, mistakes were made (they once gave her the wrong medicine but they did tell her about it), magazines were stolen, a van service once was booked incorrectly so she had to take a taxi cab from Williamsville with an empty oxygen tank - oy vey. However overall, things were great...until she passed. We are shocked, devastated, angry and hurt that when she passed, NOT ONE EMPLOYEE OR MANAGEMENT ACKNOWLEDGED HER PASSING. It could have been through a text, phone call, card, or a visit to the funeral home which was in walking distance to Elderwood. At that time, it was very apparent that my mother-in-law was nothing more than just a paycheck to them.

My mother in law was at Elderwood for almost three years. In that time, her laundry was misplaced, her apartment lightly dusted (not deep cleaned and never did they lift anything up to dust or vacuum under it), her magazines were misplaced or taken, and a couple of times she was given the wrong meds - but they did admit it which was good. The nurses NEVER witnessed her actually consuming her pills and when I would visit, I would lift her recliner to find an entire smorgasbord of pills that she had unknowingly dropped. Of all of these mishaps and mistakes, the very worst of all is that when she passed, NO ONE came to her services, sent a card, or offered condolences with a simple phone call. She was nothing more than a monetary figure to them and for that I will always be resentful. The management quoted one rent price and continuously raised her rent knowing she would not/could not leave. Beware of them and if you elect to place your parents here, be sure to visit often and be on top of things.

When there was an open room available they called me and she was able to move in right away. Now everything is going good for my mom. At first the transition was slow but now she plays bingo or participates in the other activities. The staff are very attentive to the residents and my mom's needs. It is nice that they have all the residents go to the dining room for the meals. The community has given us a break by caring for our mom.