Highlands on the East Side

The staff at Highlands on the East Side are very hands on. There are always three or four nurses in the room with them. They don't just put you on a couch all day to watch tv. They interact with the patients and genuinely look like they care for the patients. The rooms are quite large. My mom loves the screened in porch and coloring.

For the most part, I'm satisfied with the care that my mother receives. The staff are involved, from the Executive Director to the CNAs. I see them on the floor often. They know all of residents and the residents know all of them. I gave my mom a birthday (93) celebration, not only did they offer the room but they prepared the area. They set up the table for the guests with table clothes and silverware and table flowers. It was beautiful. For the first time in probably 4 years, since my mom hasn't been able to take of herself, am I able to visit with her without being on duty. It's not as clean everyday as I would like it to be every day but they immediately fix the problem. They can't seem to keep a cleaning company but I'm there often so her room is pretty clean. The staff is fantastic. Upper management and staff. The CNAs are so caring and loving. The nursing staff are thorough. I feel that they are fully invested in the care and wellbeing of the residents. The maintenance men, the kitchen staff and chef are involved. The food is good. I've been invited to several activity events (a Tea) along with eating lunch with my mom sometimes. When I gave my mom her birthday party, they were in a meeting discussing her party that was to be held the next day. Her party was part of the agenda for the weekend. They have great activities coordinators. They have lots of fun with the residents. I love that they have their nails done weekly. It's a steep price but it includes everything. Meals, cleaning the suite, laundering clothes, medicine dispensing, PCP. It's seems to be cheaper than other facilities and it has, to me, a few more perks. The price has gone up several hundred dollars since July this year.

I'm not happy with the room cleaning.Their dinner meals aren't appropriate. They've been through a few cooks in the year my loved one has been there. Some of their clothes and face clothes have been misplaced.

The secretary/receptionist, [name removed] the Director, and [name removed] the Marketing Director, all welcome us by name whenever we visit The Highlands. [name removed] the head nurse has been very attentive as to asking us about his previous medications, tests and hospitalizations. The food is excellent! He is very happy being there after living alone for the past 16 years in North Kingstown. After being there a month, he's participating in the daily activities rather than going back to his room to fall asleep. My husband and I just happened to visit a few times when special events and musical performances were taking place and we felt welcome to participate and were very pleased. The Director was extremely helpful to me recently and pointed me in the right direction when I was very concerned when we realized that he had been financially taken advantage of by a previous caretaker. She told him (after asking our permission) that it would be best if he didn't see or talk to her again and he agreed. He said he feels safe at The Highlands and very happy. The Highlands is a very attractive facility, the rooms are clean and well kept. The Highlands is very affordable compared to the three other assisted living facilities that we visited. [name removed] at a Place for Mom in Rhode Island certainly gave us excellent advice in recommending an assisted living facility. She is kind, compassionate, knowledgeable and well-informed. She and A Place for Mom certainly did their very best in assisting us to find the right place for our friend [name removed] , who unfortunately doesn't have family in Rhode Island. I couldn't have asked for a better place for him or a better advisor than in what is a difficult decision to make and for that I'm very grateful.

They have many activities to keep the residents engaged.The staff forms relationships with the residents.The staff keeps the family informed about the resident's progress.They are a bit expensive but it is worth it.

The community is fairly small and it feels more like a family environment. The staff is very friendly and helpful. They worked with me and my father making the selection process and the final decision very easy. My father mood and health bounced right back after a week at Highlands. Meals are very well balanced and good quality. He is hardly ever in his room as he socializes all the time. In emergency situations, they are prompt and when he had to go to the hospital for a couple of days, the staff visited him and made arrangements with the hospital to take him right back where he was followed by the nurse at the facility. He is back to his routine.

They participate in PACE program which kicks in after the $$ runs out. The rooms are big with nice windows that open. Staff really care about the residents and go beyond the basics to meet needs. It's not a luxury facility but the care is excellent. They interact very well with Hope Hospice to coordinate extra services. The food is basic and served on plastic plates but it is nutritious with the main meal served at lunchtime. Pets are welcome. All of the administrative staff are very available to family members. Because the staff keep residents involved in activities loved ones do so much better and look forward to participating.

Overall, Highlands on the East Side is a caring facility and I would recommend it to others. I think they lack the proper supervision, especially the overnight shift. Housecleaning could use a cleaning lesson, especially on how to properly clean a bathroom. Just like everything else, if you're not happy with the service(s) you bring it to someone's attention. Sometimes it gets fixed right away and it doesn't happen again often and other times there is no change and you have to contact the Executive Director. The food is hit or miss. Not to say it's not good, just that it could be much better. Maybe different cooks on different days. Moving day was easy, the Marketing Director was there to help welcome my mom. The staff introduced my mom to the other residents, they had tea and dessert that day. It's pricey, but it's all inclusive.

There has been a lot of unacceptable incidents.They need to address the care and housekeeping at this facility. I would not recommend at the present moment.

It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the staff at The Highlands. From the first phone to our most recent visit to see my uncle the experience has exceeded my family's expectations. My uncle has been treated with kindness and patience every step of the way. It was a difficult decision to transition from independent living to assisted living but they have made it seamless.

We think that they are very caring, but it has been hard at times to really assess things with all of the covid restrictions, and some still being in place. We still cannot freely come and go to see our loved one. Only recently have we been able to see his room. The community does strike us as a no frills place, it is kind of older. It does not impress you with the building or its surroundings. However that is not what is important to us, what is important to us is that they care for him and respond to us which is exactly what they do.

What activities we had before covid were wonderful.

We came up with a list that seemed to be a fit for my mother, then she went and visited them all and there was just something about Highlands on the East Side. She liked the size of the community, it wasn't overwhelming, she liked the apartments, and she instantly felt connected to the people here and very welcomed. The apartments were way bigger than expected, very large and spacious with a huge storage closet. I have eaten there and my mom loved it, it was very tasty. They were accommodating and had a large variety for residents to choose from. They served restaurant style. My favorite part about the community has been the staff members, they took their time with each person and were very caring. I would highly recommend. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

[Name removed] was a big help and showed mom and I around. We are not ready yet to move to assisted living but appreciate the time given to us. Highlands on the East Side was a beautiful home when mom is ready it would be my choice.

I'm so delighted that I made the decision to move into the Highlands on the East Side. It took me some time to make a decision but now I look back and I should have moved sooner. Love spending time with people my own age and the meals are amazing. There are a lot of programs to keep us busy throughout the day.

We had a wonderful tour at the Highlands with [name removed] and the Community felt warm and inviting from the minute we walked thru the door. The staff was very friendly and personable in greeting my mother. After we left the Highlands we knew right away that it was the perfect fit for my mother. She moved in the next week and is now thriving in her new home at the Highlands on the East Side.

We toured a couple of months ago and Mom has adapted perfectly to the Highlands. Staff are very caring and treat my Mom like a princess.

Mom has settled in and adjusted well from what I understand. She is starting to socialize and do some of the activities. From what I am told she seems to like the food. The staff has been wonderful very friendly and nice. The community appears clean and well maintained. I would recommend them to anyone.

Our experience with Highlands has been a good one! The staff is friendly, welcoming, and always more than willing to speak with you regarding any questions or concerns you may have. The facility itself is clean and well kept, and has a very pleasant comfortable feel. It's a nice place, overall.