My mother, at 94 years of age, had been living by herself in her big house for five years since my father died after seventy years of marriage. She had some mild deafness and minor short-term memory loss, but was otherwise amazingly healthy and alert, and attended to herself quite well at her home.
She had grown a little reclusive, understandably, but I knew it was time—maybe even past time—for her to be in Assisted Living. Oh, but she DID NOT want to go to an “old folks home”. She fought me, and her first two weeks at The Palms were not good. She was depressed and fearful of the change, and stayed in her (very nice) room, but the outstanding staff promised me that they would gently bring her out of her shell, and they did.
I think I helped by visiting often, as she was now very nearby me in Ponte Vedra. And she became a changed lady! Happy, talkative, making friends, enjoying the great restaurant (and I dined with her occasionally, and she loved that), getting exercise in the long hallways, sitting on the front porch, watching people come and go all day. Magic! In a month she thanked me for moving her to The Palms and began to call it “home”. She no longer had to cook or clean or do laundry or worry about her house and yard. Her life became a fun vacation in a rather nice hotel.
The care and friendship the staff provides to “their” residents is remarkable, and in turn, the residents then provide it to each other. More magic.
I have talked with friends and associates who might someday be in the position to recommend or perhaps rely on The Palms. But I wanted to write this testimonial to a wider audience so that others who face this big, difficult decision would know that The Palms exceeded my expectations in every way!