Winterberry Heights

Kate Smith _{on Google}

Feb 15th, 2021

This is the type of CNA’s they hire; to take care of your loved ones. Ariana Mae 👏🏼

Kathy Day _{on Google}

May 11th, 2019

March 30, 2019
To the CMAs, RAs and CNAs
I wanted to thank the hard working and dedicated caregivers who have cared for my Mom while she resided there this past almost 4 years. The issues I had with Winterberry Heights were not generally with you, but instead with the administration there. By in large, Mum was safe and well fed, until the past few weeks. There were past issues, but none as bad as what happened last week.
When I found my Mom in a state of neglect on March 25, it would been easy to quickly blame the RA on duty that day, but that simply is not the case. You all have impossible assignments. The facility accepts seniors and disabled folks who have needs far beyond what an assisted living facility can meet. It is a priority to keep those units filled in order to meet profit goals. Then they understaff the place. They assign one RA to an entire level of residents, maybe 35 to 40,, many of them needing lift assists. You are told to be in and out of a room in 5 minutes. This is a set up. This is a recipe for neglect and harm. This is exactly what happened to my Mom.
She never wanted to go there. She forgot about a lot of things, but she never forgot her home and she missed it every single day. And she did not want to live with me. So, I looked to Winterberry to be the solution to her needs because of dementia. Most days it was ok. And then when her health started to decline, it was absolutely not ok. I kept a close watch on Mum but I trusted people that I should not have trusted. I wanted so badly to believe all of the promises that were made to me and Mum in that place.
I truly believe that Winterberry has potential, but until the balance of only accepting the people who you can take care of, and having the essential level of staffing and skills in place happens, I believe that people will continue to be neglected and/or harmed.
This is not your fault. This is the fault of your director, the Hawthorn Corporation and the State licensing and regulatory oversight. Rules need to be made, regulations need to be in place and enforced that will ensure the safety and well being of our seniors and disabled. Our beloved seniors deserve this at the very least.
My mother is at Stillwater Healthcare recovering from pneumonia. She is ok and well cared for now. We are hoping that she can get back on her feet and be well soon. However, she will never return to Winterberry Heights.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart, for doing your level best, in impossible working conditions, to care for my Mom.
Kathy Day (Gerry’s daughter)

Joni Clark _{on Google}

Jul 29th, 2018

The administration is a joke, she talks about how much the residents mean but is always short staffed and come 5 pm she goes out the door goes home and apparently sleeps just fine. Neglect reported 'll the time but nothing ever done about it but she will fire you no problem if you don't like how she runs things,