Balanced Healthcare

Nursing homes are the last refuge of indigent elderly Americans, whose families cannot care for them. Thank the Medicare and Social Security safety net that keeps these poor souls off the streets. After being widowed, my cousin became one of those lost men, residing in 4 different nursing homes in the last years of his life. He spent his last 9 months at Balanced Healthcare, where he received compassionate care for severe depression, and eventually for rapidly progressive neurologic deterioration. I appreciated the sincere efforts of his inpatient team, particularly the weekly psych nursing visits he enjoyed, and the expert pain management service. He was followed closely by the nutrition team, as he lost the ability to swallow safely. Balanced facilitated percutaneous feeding tube placement. Communication with me (his New England-based health care proxy) was generally consistent, including notification of major clinical changes. I found the administrative team very responsive to my concerns over time, as my cousin's speech and mobility status deteriorated. Like any long-term care facility, staffing is never enough, but I was pleased with the efforts the team made to help my cousin communicate with me by phone. My last meaningful conversation with him was thanks to a wonderful nurse who recognized a rare lucid moment, and called me late on Thanksgiving night. After my cousin's death (at Hospice), the director and social work service went above and beyond to collect and mail my cousin's art book and devices to me.

My sister has been a resident at Balanced Healthcare for over a year now and my 11th visit with her yesterday was the best to date. After 4 years of bouncing back and forth from assisted living and lengthy psychiatric hospitalizations, her declining health finally led her to an acute care facility which recommended her to Balanced Healthcare. I write this review as a thank you to Administrator Dan and the key members of his dedicated staff. Yes, the residents are highly challenged, the building and interior are dated and stark and maintenance requests are sometimes necessary, but all is safe and clean. And I understand theft is unfortunately a common occurrence in every type of nursing home. Even so, from the start, I immediately sensed a camaraderie--mutual trust, loyalty and good-natured friendship---among the workers, who with intensive focus, earnestly tend to the residents and even welcome me, a visiting family member, as part of the care team. I notice the reviews for this facility range to the extremes, and it is possible to view the experience either way, depending on the viewer. In my case, I am so grateful for the tolerant, patient and persistently kind attitudes of the faithful staff as they navigate the most challenging problems that plague human beings. In the short 5 hour period of my recent visit, 6 services presented themselves in my sister’s room: housekeeping, laundry, meal delivery, mail delivery, head nursing staff, and head housekeeping staff. I’m also utterly impressed and grateful for the intimate and detailed knowledge they all possess of my sister’s personal challenges, and with LOVE. In my opinion, these workers are the star players of our society and they will be the ones highly esteemed and rewarded when all is said and done. It’s an honor to feel a part of their high calling. Thank You, Balanced Healthcare!

Trashy disgusting place and the staff matches the environment. Do not go here if you have a choice at all

Its better than your loved one being on the street I guess

The residents are very kind and sweet