Forest Hills of DC

Forest Hills of DC is the Little Engine that Could. It is lovely because it is small and intimate and everyone knows each other. The staff works very hard to keep things running well and to make sure there is fun. The staff is keenly aware of who the residents are, what their nature is, what their habits are. The staff is accessible and responsive, all the way up to the CEO.

I cannot tell you how pleased I was with the care given my 100 year old Mother at Forest Hills. The Head of Marketing and Admissions guided me at every turn as I sought care for a limited period for my Mother as extensive renovations were being done on her home. Every staff member I encountered was friendly, warm, and courteous, and I felt completely at ease in intrusting my Mother's care to the folks at Forest Hills. Any and all calls were always returned promptly every time. I cannot recommend this facility highly enough. My experience there ( and My Mother's ) was exceptional !

My sister has lived at Forest Hills in the Health Care Center for a while. Before the pandemic, they had wonderful activities as well as great nursing care. In the pandemic they have done an incredible job to keep everyone safe, to figure out ways to have safe activities and/or virtual or safe visitation zones (following CDC guidelines). The staff is working under challenging circumstances and they continue to be kind, patient and deliver high quality care. We are so very grateful my sister can live in such a great facility.

In the past year, I had been treated for cancer and I had a full-liver transplant so I am severely immune compromised and have to be careful about my exposure to Covid and any other germs. During Covid I needed skilled nursing care and wondered what it might be like in a nursing home during Covid. After the transplant, I couldn't walk up and down stairs (I have lots of steps in my home) and I had 26 medications to take day and night every few hours. The nurses and doctor at Forest Hills took great care of my needs. Vivian is a great nurse and really truly cared about me. They helped manage my blood sugars with a healthy diet and taught me how to use an insulin pen which I never used before then. The rehab team started me with exercises in bed, then in my chair, then walking in the hallways, then on the stairs. I laughed and enjoyed the rehab guys that treated me. It was clean. I eventually walked out of there by myself, with no wheelchair or walker to move back to my 3-story home.

The day I realize that my mother had dementia and could not take care of her self was a very sad day. We chose Forest Hills because of our loyalty to and admiration for, [name removed]. The choice has proved a good one for so many other reasons...the safety precautions during the pandemic, the communication of the staff and the compassion and professionalism of her caretakers. I sleep easier at night knowing my mother is receiving the best care available.

We chose Forest Hills because the rehab center recommended it and we toured this facility and really liked it. With that being said, it was a very expensive facility. They moved her up in levels of care while she was here, so the price increased quite a bit they only had 2 levels of care. Her apartment was really nice that she had and good for her needs. Just know that it goes from independent living to full assisted care, there is no middle type of care.

I would recommend to review management and make sure they have the compliments of complete management. In the assisted living the care services were very limited, and the people weren't qualified to interact positively with the residents. There was a very limited welcoming to the floor. The staff never tried to get to know my loved one. It was very poor with staff not knowing what residents needed to move into the community. The food is excellent. The community is less expensive than others.

My father was there after a fall, and he has dementia. Some of the nurses and staff are rude and unfriendly. They frequently yelled at him when he wandered into areas they didn't want him to enter, without understanding wandering is a common aspect of dementia. Although were were told their staff were trained in how to communicate with patients and residents with cognitive impairments, many of the staff clearly did not receive or ignored their training. My father was often agitated and depressed while at Forest Hills. It was awful. Do not send an elderly family member with any sort of cognitive impairments.

Turned down dad for skilled nursing

From the day my mother arrived, the staff has been warm, welcoming, and willing to work through any transition issues. There are enough activities but no excessive pressure to attend them. Independent and assisted living residents use the same facilities which is particularly nice for those who need assistance making their daily life feel more as it always has been.