What Our Families Say
We could fill several websites telling you about our supportive, purpose-built design, personalized life-enrichment programs, and exceptional care and services … but, while remarkable and unique, those are merely the ingredients we use to create the real magic of Bridges® – the magic that is shown on the faces of our residents and felt in the hearts of their families.
THEY FEEL LIKE FAMILY
Our mom was one of the original residents at Bridges. She has been living there since August, 2018. Carol’s husband, my sister and I made the most difficult decision that summer to move our loving mom out of her house and into Bridges. I will never forget that morning. The four of us sat in a circle at their house and gently let my mom know she was going to spend some time away from her husband, so he could take care of his own health issues. Our mom was confused and only half-aware that we were taking her out of her home, but she trustingly followed us out of the house.
We had all heard nightmares about neglectful and depressing assisted living homes and had battled feelings of guilt for months. But we knew our mom was no longer safe to live at home and her husband’s health was slowly deteriorating. We hoped that Bridges would be different. We visited a few times and felt comfortable with the staff, decor and community program offered at Bridges. That was almost four years ago.
Initially, our mom participated in the many activities offered at Bridges including yoga, ‘bowling’, bean bag toss, sing alongs, arts and crafts, painting, cooking and more. She easily made friends with the other residents as well as the friendly and attentive staff. She can no longer participate in most activities and she has lost the ability to express herself with words, but her smile, giggles, gestures and calm nature reassure us that she is comfortable and happy in her home.
My sister and I feel welcome and at peace whenever we walk through the portal to my mom’s world. I share conversation with the receptionist and often break out in ‘hum’ to the piano player, a musical on T.V. or ‘Glee with Lee’. As I continue to my mom’s room, I can usually hear the entertainment director enthusiastically conducting some activity calling to each resident by name to join in the festivities. Occasionally, the director or the head chef passes by and mentions something sweet about my mom as well. Many of the staff have been there as long as my mom, and in a strange but calming way, they feel like family. They are my mother’s family. They see her every day! Thank you Bridges for making the most tragic and difficult experience for us a little more tolerable. We appreciate ALL of you.
– Diane & Debby, Daughters of Bridges® Resident
SHE LOVES EVERYONE
Bridges has been THE BEST! We had called and looked at so many places. We were so scared to place our mom somewhere, after her memory was really failing lately and we knew we needed a secure facility. After her living with me for the past several months, I knew it was time. The staff was so understanding to everything we were feeling. They answered any questions we had and made the transition so incredibly smooth! Within 1 week our mom was calling it home. She has friends and keeps so busy with the activities they plan all day! She is so happy, she tells me every day I visit how much she LOVES everyone that works there, that they are “A1” a term my mom uses when she loves someone or something! It’s such an emotional time when this decision has to be made, so I’m so grateful to know my mom is happy and well taken care of! Kirk is one of the aides that cares for my mom! He is the most caring person I could ever ask for, he goes above and beyond for all the residents! Treats them as if they were family!
– Debra, Daughter of Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee Resident
ALL SORTS OF PROGRAMS
We looked at Bridges by EPOCH at Sudbury. It was exceptional. It strictly does memory care and they had around-the-clock nursing. The room was very nice. Mom’s going to bring in her own furniture. It looks good, and it looks like it’s going to be a nice fit for her since it is a secure facility. They had a beautiful garden with raised beds.
Bridges strictly focuses on memory care from early dementia to even hospice care. They’ll be able to transition her from one phase of her disease to another, and that’ll be a good thing for her and a good thing for us, too. They have all sorts of programs. When I went in yesterday, they had a three-piece band and some of the residents were dancing. They have painting. They do lots of puzzles. What’s nice about Bridges is that my sister can bring her dog in, and she’ll just sit right on my mom’s lap, and I’m sure everyone else there will fall in love with her, too. We as a family can go in and sit and play cards with her and work on a puzzle. We can sit in the garden with her.
Each one of the wings of the building only has 18 residents, so it’s a very small, intimate group and every pod has its own restaurant bistro. My mom is going to have a pureed diet, so I’m not quite sure how that’s going to work, but they will take care of that for her. The staff I met was fantastic. It has a dedicated staff and small units and an open concept where people are always being looked at. I like that during the evening, they check on all the residents one time an hour. That was a huge plus for us.
– Kathleen, Daughter of Bridges® Resident
EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS
I am happy to say that when my mom cut the ribbon as the first resident to move into this new facility in the summer of 2018, I never thought our family’s experience with Bridges in Sudbury would be at the same level as it is today. As a home care nurse for a local agency, I have been into most of the assisted living and memory care facilities in the surrounding area. I have a very high bar set for my mom, and Bridges in Sudbury has exceeded my expectations. While my mom has had a slow and steady decline in her almost four years at Bridges, her journey has been supported by the amazing staff, many of which have been there since the day she walked in. She is well cared for socially, emotionally and physically. She enjoys the frequent entertainers that come to perform for the residents, loves the top-notch food prepared by Chef Gary, and most of all, she is content and safe in her environment. The staff care for her as one of their own.
Communication from Bridges staff has always been excellent. They note subtle changes in Mom and can identify when a medical intervention needs to take place. They handled COVID with amazing grace and strength, despite the enormous stress placed on them. I could not see my mom for three months because of COVID, and although it was the most difficult three months, I knew her needs were being met, she was safe, and that I would see her on the other side of the COVID shutdown. If your family is at this difficult juncture in life when you have to start looking for a place for your loved one with memory loss, I highly suggest scheduling a visit and tour at Bridges by Epoch in Sudbury!
– Tricia, Daughter of Bridges® Resident
DESIGNED WELL FOR PEOPLE WITH MEMORY LOSS
Bridges in Sudbury is beautiful, clean and designed well for people with memory loss. There are group activities throughout the day, many involving music or appropriate movement and exercise. The staff are interested in meeting the needs of residents and are responsive to questions or concerns.
– Susan, Family Member of Bridges® Resident
BRIGHTENED HIS DAY
I want to say how impressed I am with the Bridges staff in the Hollis residents’ house. A week or so ago my husband was sitting by the staff station doing nothing. I came in, sat down beside him, and said my usual stuff to him. He continued to sit there not acknowledging much. Then all of the sudden, this staff member came up to him and said “Hi, my handsome John. Will you dance with me?” She was singing and dancing and he got himself right up out of the chair and went along with her. (It was always like pulling teeth to get this guy to dance with me. I sure wish I knew back then what the Bridges staff had that I didn’t.) Then I realized this young woman had just been mopping the floor a few minutes prior. I am more apt to expect this from the caregiving staff. She was amazing with my husband. She brightened his day, and mine, too. Then, this past Sunday, I was visiting when an aide came and said John, there is live music in the community room in a half hour. I asked him if he wanted to go, and he said yes. That hour or so that I spent with him in that room with the other residents made my WEEK! As the singer sang, I realized these people may not know their own names, but they knew every word to every 50s and 60s songs. I listened to them all sing and clap their hands and tap their feet. When I left John, I had such a high. I couldn’t wait to tell my Alzheimer’s support group the next day at our regular weekly meeting.
– Pat, Wife of Bridges® Resident