Nursing Center At Freedom Village, The

Freedom Village of Bradenton had bigger apartments. The food was excellent. And it was restaurant-style. They also had smaller venues where you could go like at lunchtime in a smaller cafe or something. So, they had different options for eating. It was a big place. It had a lot of stuff going. They ...

Freedom Village of Bradenton had bigger apartments. The food was excellent. And it was restaurant-style. They also had smaller venues where you could go like at lunchtime in a smaller cafe or something. So, they had different options for eating. It was a big place. It had a lot of stuff going. They had lots of activities. They would supply transportation to cultural activities and doctor's visits, and that kind of thing, and parking.

Freedom Village of Bradenton had 450 residents, so they had a lot of things going on. The grounds were beautiful and the buildings were well-kept and attractive. I liked it very much. The only downside was their huge buy-in, plus there's a monthly maintenance charge. I probably could have affor...

Freedom Village of Bradenton had 450 residents, so they had a lot of things going on. The grounds were beautiful and the buildings were well-kept and attractive. I liked it very much. The only downside was their huge buy-in, plus there's a monthly maintenance charge. I probably could have afforded it, but I don't know if I would have wanted to pay it. Other than that, the staff was very good and very professional. There were a lot of clubs and activities. Pretty much no matter what your interest was, there was a group that was following it. There were plenty of on-site facilities like meeting rooms and things like that.

I toured Freedom Village of Bradenton. We started with an overview of what the community was, what I would be experiencing, and what I was looking for. We started through the foyer, and there was one section where it was the dining room with a little cafe and a breakfast area, and then we went to a ...

I toured Freedom Village of Bradenton. We started with an overview of what the community was, what I would be experiencing, and what I was looking for. We started through the foyer, and there was one section where it was the dining room with a little cafe and a breakfast area, and then we went to a possible apartment. As I was going through, there was a walkway that was closed in, and on both sides, I was able to see the outside and what I would be seeing every day walking back and forth. We had to walk through a beautiful foyer. We went to the elevator, we saw the apartment, and I went through everything in the apartment. It has everything. It's very fancy and very attractive. Then we went to see another apartment, so I saw two apartments, and they were very similar. One was a little smaller, and one was a little bigger. We went to the dining room, and she explained that it was right on the floor where I would be. The staff sent me home with some information and an estimate of what it would cost. I saw some of the activities while walking through right at the very beginning of the first building. There was a classroom, a sewing room, a group meeting doing a prayer group, and a Bible study. There was a hairdresser room, a swimming pool, and an exercise room. I was able to see it more on the second tour. I saw people doing the activities and even a woodworking shop for the men. They could bring their own tools if they wanted to. I was impressed because it wasn't just dealing with ladies, and that was very, very nice. The staff asked me what I was interested in, and so she the took time to find out why I was looking for independent living. And she invited me to an open house that they just happened to be having a couple of weeks later, so I went with that and met many people. Every table had a resident who was there to help us and answer some of the questions that we may have while we were sitting there, and the one I had was extremely pleasant. She gave her card, and she said, 'When you come, call me a couple of days before, while I'll make sure we will have much together, and I'll introduce you to some of my friends. That way, at least for the first couple of days, you have somebody that you could sit with.' Very, very hospitable. They take care of you and help you be comfortable. I took another tour, and I saw more people in the hallway that day, and they all said hello and everything. My sister came with me, and then she had gotten to a point that she couldn't walk anymore, and so she sat right there and two people came over to her. One says, 'Hello, how are you doing? Is there anything I can do for you? Can I get you a drink or anything?' This was a staff. The second person came over a little while later and he says, 'Hello, are you moving in?' She said she was looking at the apartments and she says, 'Oh, isn't this a lovely place? I have been here six years, and I have no regrets.' And she had a conversation with her, and I found that very impressive and she found it very impressive, too. I found everybody very, very helpful and very friendly.

I toured Freedom Village of Bradenton for my mom. It was nice for her. Right now she is at Bay Club Condominium, and it's just down the road about two minutes away. It's so close to doctors and family that a lot of her friends have gone there. They recommended it and some of them are there...

I toured Freedom Village of Bradenton for my mom. It was nice for her. Right now she is at Bay Club Condominium, and it's just down the road about two minutes away. It's so close to doctors and family that a lot of her friends have gone there. They recommended it and some of them are there now. All the staff that I met were really nice, very cooperative, and very honest in what they are upgrading. She was talking about upgrading the units and painting. Then she talked about what mom would need because she is a handicapped person and in a wheelchair or uses a walker. They would be able to upgrade the units so a handicapped person could use the sink and stuff like that; she wouldn't be standing up. They were very amicable to make those units work for her. It's a large studio with the bathroom that's handicapped acceptable. They have units that overlook a courtyard, that each member on the floor can have their own plants and can garden. They have staff that could be around. Also, they have bingo every day. It sounded funny, but the impression that I got from the director (the person that introduced me to Freedom Village) told me that there's a really good group of residents there that kind of make their own rules. They only had bingo one day a week, and then they say we want to have bingo every day. It's like they have their own kind of something that's separate from the rest of the village. We just visited the dining area, but nobody was in there because it was an odd time of the day. I did notice that people were taking their lunch and eating it in the library or something like that. They're just free to go wherever they wanted to go and have lunch and read a book. They also had a balcony where everyone could have their own plants on the floor that they can claim to regardless. In the courtyard, they could grow vegetables and herbs. They were upgrading the units when I was there. They were painting; they were renovating and updating. They're painting and upgrading some of the vanities in the bathrooms. Mom would be in assisted living, and this was important that it's separate because she's in assisted living. They recognize that she's not going to be going to the pool or to the gym. She's not physically able to be doing that. I rate them a four because I didn’t see what the end result was for the renovation and how long for the renovations. I only met that person that gave me the tour. She answered a lot of questions and showed me around. She wasn't trying to sell me anything. I didn't feel like I was being pushed into something. Mom is going into assisted living, so she's not buying in. Her next step is going to the nursing facility.