Autumn Glen at Dartmouth

The journey to bringing my in-laws to Autumn Glen began two years ago, when my mother-in-law began to experience some health issues but my father-in-law insisted that he could care for both his wife and himself. We all watched as he stubbornly held fast to this belief, as they continued to embrace being "snowbirds" and heading to Florida in the winter, and back to their home on Martha's Vineyard in the summer. Fast forward to earlier this year, and with health issues affecting my father-in-law, family members began to point out that daily living had become a struggle for both of them, and my in-laws were relying heavily on neighbors to assist them. My in-laws knew where I worked, and while I kept telling them about what Autumn Glen could provide, they continued to be hesitant until one BIG health issue for my father-in-law provided the catalyst for the move. They moved in on November 1, a day full of emotion for my in-laws with them believing (and voicing) they were only going to stay at Autumn Glen through the winter and return to Martha's Vineyard in the spring. Within weeks the only thing my father-in-law was saying, or rather asking, is if Autumn Glen is giving Disney World a run for its money as being "the happiest place on Earth." He could not get over how friendly, supportive and caring the staff has been -- from maintenance to dining to reception to RCAs -- he marveled at the ease of living he was experiencing. Both he and my MIL are now eating three healthy meals a day, participating in programming, and the stress of wondering what the day will bring is melting away. They recognize how safe they are, that help is only a pendant-push away for any emergency. While I could offer nursing support, my family received a ton of guidance and help from Ann LaMere, sales director, and Erin Fowler, executive director. My husband was the leader when it came to moving my in-laws into Autumn Glen, and each time he reached out to Ann and Erin with questions, they went above and beyond to help him navigate the move, including being available by text after normal business hours. My husband thought they were doing this because I work at Autumn Glen, and I looked at him, puzzled, and said, "They do this for everyone. That's who they are." That's the culture at Autumn Glen. I would never have pushed for my in-laws to move to Autumn Glen but for the fact that good people work there, that my in-laws will be taken care of, and that regardless of what their future holds, AG will be their home.

If it was possible to give AG ten stars, I would. They have provided the most exceptional care for our loved one for over 3 years. From the start, they were encouraging to always do a schedule of activities that have allowed our loved one to enjoy a quality of life not imagined. The facility is in a lovely setting and the caregivers who are working here are very concerned and caring for all the residents. I have seen a consistency in staff from day one. If you have a loved one who is experiencing memory loss, this is an excellent facility. As you can see from the photos I have included, AG always does an amazing job with a family & friends celebration.

My dad moved in to Autumn Glen a few weeks ago! He is loving being part of the Autumn Glen family. Everyone is so welcoming! My dad felt like part of a family as soon as he moved in. The staff is fantastic! He is adjusting very well to living in this community and making friends participating in the social activities. He has said that it has exceeded his expectations and loves the delicious meals and enjoying them with the new friends he has made. It is a relief for me and my sister to know that he is well taken care of!

From our first encounter with the sales director Ann, we were very impressed with Autumn Glen. Ann was so helpful during the stressful time of determining the best placement for our mother when independent living was no longer the best option. The entire staff are so pleasant and they will do anything to help both families and residents become acclimated. They love the residents, and I nearly always saw hugs shared between residents and employees when I was there. There are activities all day each day of every type: exercise, mindfulness, games, musical, artistic, cooking, wine tastings, and outings. The staff go above and beyond to stimulate the minds and bodies of the residents. There are lovely family activities, too, like a recent cookout in May and the Christmas party in December. The food is also excellent. It could take your loved one a bit of time to settle in and to become accustomed to the routine, but overall, we are very satisfied with the care our mother received at Autumn Glen.

When it was clear that my mother needed additional care in her 80s, my aunt set up five visits in three days for us to tour assisted living facilities (with memory care) for my wonderfully and stubbornly independent mother, who insisted it was a waste of time because she was just going to stay at home. Autumn Glen was the only place out of the five where my mother was able to relax and finally admit that she did need some help. It was because Ann Lamere of Autumn Glen took the time, during that initial visit, to get to know who Mom is, and to listen to her individual concerns. She also acknowledged how difficult it was for Mom to even consider a huge transition like moving from her beloved home to a strange place to live with people she didn’t know. My father passed away 12 years ago, and she’s been sad ever since. Beyond the personal care, I knew that socialization would help her physical health and her mental health immensely, and I could see that Autumn Glen would be a terrific option. We finally made the move to Autumn Glen four months ago, and got my mother a room in their Avita memory care. It wasn’t easy at first, and my mother complained, and would often prefer to stay in bed. But in time, she adjusted, and the wonderful staff relentlessly encouraged her to join the group activities and took her on fun outings. She is so much more active now than she was during all the years since my father’s passing. She lost 13 pounds in 4 months, and her face lights up so much more often than when she was living alone. Today, I brought her to her primary care doctor, who has been seeing her since right after my dad died. She said she’d *never* seen my mother smile the way she did at her appointment today. Autumn Glen is the reason for this huge change. The activities and positive energy the entire staff bring to their day-to-day interactions with each resident has made an incredible difference in my mother. She’s always been an incredibly curious and cheerful person, and she has a wonderfully spicy personality and great sense of humor. But she was on a downward slope since my father passed, and some of that cheer was diminished and replaced by depression. Now that she is at Autumn Glen, surrounded by people who keep her busy and love and appreciate her for exactly who she is, I am confident that her memory and mental health will be preserved for much longer than if she’d continued to stay alone in her house. The food is very good, and they keep the residents on a schedule, so they have predictable patterns throughout their day. The nursing staff is very attentive, conscientious, and patient. I recommend Autumn Glen very highly and have been very happy with how they have cared for my mother.