This letter is a testimony as to the wonderful, caring, loving, family type relationships provided by Open Arms With Love Assisted Living Facility.
In August of 2006, our family had to entrust the care of our mother to someone else. This in itself is a difficult decision, finding some place with people who care makes it even harder. Our task was easy once we found Open Arms With Love.
From the beginning, we all fell in love with Lorna and her staff. They treated mom as if she was a family member and the facility was always clean and welcoming. All of us visited at different times of the day and evening. Even our friends visited mom and they were made to feel welcome and a part of the extended family group. It didn't matter when we arrived, everyone was clean, up and dressed, involved in something going on in the home.
For over two years mom was a resident and an involved member of the family that resided and worked together at Open Arms With Love. They shared holidays, outings and each other's company. This was a home – not a "facility".
Towards the end, when mothers' care could have been turned over to another type of facility, Lorna and her staff worked to keep mom in the home she had become familiar with, and helped her to pass with dignity and peace. They didn't have to do this – they wanted to for their "family".
There are not enough words to express what having mom at Open Arms With Love meant to our family. We would be happy to talk with anyone considering the placement of their loved one in a facility, as we know this is so hard on a family. All of us would recommend Open Arms With Love as it was just like adding on more family to take care of family. An experience we all felt blessed to receive.
Please contact Open Arms With Love for information on how to contact us.
God bless you all.
Debra Thompson
March 6, 2009
Lorna and Staff,
Our family wants to thank you for the loving care you gave my mother, "Sue", during the two and a half years she lived in your home.
During our search in Brevard County, we found to our dismay, some of the smaller home environment type facilities, were crowded, lacking in cleanliness and uncaring to the needs of the people in their care, both physical and emotional. When we found you, it was a breath of fresh air, and not once was anyone in our family disappointed in her attire, the condition of your home, the food and snacks served, and the over all attention given to her everyday needs, even though we stopped by to see her unannounced at all hours of the day and night.
Prior to moving Mom to your home, she was in a large assisted living facility in Brevard County for a period of about 4 months. During her stay at that facility, she fell so often that she spent more than half of her time in the hospital emergency ward. The facility said they could not give her special attention during the night since they only had one attendant for 12 rooms in each cottage. We knew we had chosen the right place for Mom when you cut the legs off the bed so she could reach the floor and you monitored her during the night. Needless to say Mom stayed out of the emergency room while in your care and we were able to answer the phone without fear of being called to the hospital.
Mom felt so at home in your care that when we took her out on weekends, she would give us a run down on where you had taken her and what you had done, but always wanting to go back before nightfall to "Her Home".
The one thing she never failed to tell us was how good your food was, which all in our family can attest to. Not only was your food delicious and nutritious, but the extra effort you did for Mom is greatly appreciated. You made it so she could eat even though she was missing all her teeth and part of her jaw bone, which she lost to cancer years ago.
When we first brought Mom over to you, Lorna, you told us that when in your care she would be treated as you would treat your own mother. I never forgot. "THANK YOU", you lived up to your every word.
Thank you and your staff for being there for Mom, especially her last days. It was a comfort to us knowing that she was loved every moment while in your care.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
THE RODRIGUEZ FAMILY