Laurelwood at The Pinehills — Local services in Plymouth

My sister Marian's Alexa has recently changed my life. It also made me recognize how good her care was for her last 18 months while she lived in memory care at Laurelwood at the Pine Hills. Every morning at 7:00 am, I am gifted with an automatic playlist of top r&b, disco, and funk songs from the 1970s. I return from my morning run and am greeted by the Pointer Sisters, the Ohio Players, Patrice Rushen, the Gap Band, Diana Ross, George Benson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool and the Gang. They lift me up every morning as I stretch, shower, make my lunch, and dance around in the kitchen all by myself, surrounded by the very best memories of my childhood with my big sister. Some of my fondest memories are of dancing disco with her in 1977. I was 8. She was 18. This is the joy she gave me, and is giving me again, even two months after she passed. Someone at Laurelwood programmed this playlist into her Alexa when she was struggling. She had early-onset Alzheimer's, diagnosed at 53 and lived til 61. Devastating, to all of us. But someone knew that music from the best years of her life would help as the disease took over and she began to experience intense anxiety and agitation late last fall. The playlist they cued up for her wakeup alarm says so much to me, as a musician, as a sister, and as a student of the incredible healing power of music: Someone at Laurelwood understood what my PhD-level music therapy friends at Berklee College of Music have been trying to get medicine to legitimize for decades: Music is a highly effective therapeutic tool to awaken deep memories of happiness and thus effect improved emotional well-being in people living with dementia. Someone at Laurelwood knew this. This is big.

I know Laurelwood is sparkling clean. I know the food is excellent. I know the staff are responsive, friendly, and kind. I saw that they create a busy schedule for their residents to stimulate them and improve their quality of life. I know that her laundry never got lost, her teeth were brushed, and her bodily health was watched over with great care. I saw all of this with my own eyes and through the eyes of hired private caregivers who were there to help her when I couldn't be. It was horrific having her there, especially through COVID, but we always knew she was in good hands. And here's what we didn't see til I plugged in her Alexa: When it came to finding creative ways to heal her fragmented emotions, Laurelwood knew just what to do.

Now, two months after her death, I too have fragmented emotions to reconcile. I have to heal, after eight years of grieving the painfully slow loss of the big sister who changed my diapers as a baby, dressed me as a toddler, encouraged me as a teen, and helped me update my resume and cover letters as a young professional. She also kept a watchful eye on my emotional well-being. You know who's helping me rediscover emotional well-being now? Unwittingly, the fine folks at Laurelwood—just like they did with my sister.

Even when bad things happen, there is always something to be grateful for. Me? Deeply grateful to the consummate and skilled professionals...

My dad had a second stroke at 83 that left him with not only aphasia but a very limited ability to speak. There was simply no way he could continue to live alone anymore as he couldn’t drive and couldn’t communicate without great difficulty. After using the fabulous service “A Place for Mom” (Yes they help dads too), it became obvious that he would need an assisted living facility. Laurelwood at the Pinehills was one of the places recommended and after my initial visit I knew it was the right fit for my dad. The building itself from the outside is amazing and just very beautiful. It reminds me of a Norman Rockwell country inn setting with its front covered porch sitting area where the residents often come out and sit and chat. And the interior is just as stunning as you walk in, again with the feel of more of an atrium of a four star hotel. The rooms are well amended with options for one or two room units, and there are couples that live comfortably together. Each unit has the feel of a condo, often with good views of the Pinehills greenery outside though the large windows. The food at the restaurant style dining area is simply amazing and could rival any good eatery on Cape Cod. But aside from all of that, the real strength of Laurelwood is its people. Director Sue McKenna’s team is warm, sincere, and welcoming. They immediately work with you to ensure your loved one will not only be well cared for, but treated with humility and respect as well. My dad had no bedroom set initially…not a problem. Brenda the marketing director reassured my sister and I that he could borrow a full bedroom set until we could get one ourselves. Jeannine, head of the caregiving professionals, assessed my dad’s total situation with an interview that was thorough and compassionate. I was very happy to find out later that she told Sue, “We have to get this man here, he’ll fit right in with the residents.” And the folks that live there are amazing as well, they’re more than just residents, but a family of people who look out for one another and truly care for each other as well. They made a point of going out of their way to ask me about my dad’s background as well as his wants and needs because of his limited communication abilities. The end result from both them and the fabulous staff has been great personal relationships my dad has formed with friends there as well as caregivers. I couldn’t be happier with everything Laurelwood has to offer and feel very confident with the peace of mind in knowing that he’s not only well taken care of, but thriving among people who both work and live there. Laurelwood at The Pinehills has simply been the perfect...

Laurelwood is a terrific place that is easily described as “like college without homework”! But getting started was not easy because neither my wife or I wanted to leave our beautiful Pinehills home. However, at then 82, it became increasingly clear, we needed a change and waiting would only make the eventual move more difficult. Laurelwood was a wonderful help in this process. I looked at assisted living residencies all over the South Shore and in North Carolina where our Son and his Family live. We also looked hard at Cape Cod where we had summered and then lived for 40 years. Some places were close, but none fully compared to Laurelwood. But importantly, after our visit Laurelwood visit, there was never any pressure, and we took over a year to make the move. But during that time, it was great to come for lunch as often as we wanted while considering. Upfront I should say my wife was not in favor of this change. But she now says “this is pretty nice, isn’t it? Her attitude change was very important as Sue came here on a walker needing a new knee. I cannot imagine how we would have handled her recovery in our previous home on our own. Since moving here, I have had two very telling health surprises. The first was when a PT specialist showed up unannounced in our apartment. She said “the nursing staff had noticed my walking was a little wobbly” (after a back operation). She was there to start me on balance retraining! I had already talked to my back doctor about another operation. Today I told his office I will not need it. The second health surprise was even more surprising (because I knew my balance was deteriorating. I came to Laurelwood on two blood pressure medicines to keep me in the 120/65 range (way down from years ago). Until three weeks ago when I fell twice in the practice sand trap, I did not know my blood pressure was much lower. After daily consulting with the Laurelwood nursing staff and my doctor, I’m off all blood pressure prescriptions and today my readings...