One of the hardest things to do is to remove a parent from the home they have lived in for many years. When it is necessary to do so, there are several things that seem to stand out in looking for a new home for them. First and foremost, would be to assure that the staff at the home is friendly and you feel a level of trust with them. We wanted our mother to be somewhere that people would treat her with respect and make her feel comfortable, especially because her dementia had made her afraid. When we talked with Jason, we had that comfort level. He seemed genuinely kind and concerned and said he took great care in hiring his staff. This was our most important item on our list. Another important part of choosing Heartwood Homes was the fact that she could have a private room with some of her own furniture, and yet have a safe place with a specially equipped bathroom. Also it is a smaller facility than some and the design is simple, so we knew if she needed help they would be close by and hear her. Heartwood Homes is beautiful, yet it has a homey feeling and eating area (like being in a home and not an institution). The private rooms have enough area that we as a family could come visit her in her room, watching her TV and sitting on her recliner. However, when we were not there, we were happy that she was encouraged to sit in the central area with other residents and did not hide away in her room. We were encouraged to visit as much as we wanted. There were very few days that one of the family members didn’t stop in to see her. We got to know the staff and also other residents and their families. We were there at all times of the day and evening, and never felt that we were coming at a “bad time” and we never experienced the feeling that anyone was not receiving excellent care. Gary’s sister lived out of town and called daily to talk to her or the manager in charge. They answered her questions and were able to give her a personal update on her condition. Heartwood Homes is a special place for those who are suffering from dementia. We felt from the first day that we made the right choice.