Pearls of Wisdom

Pearls of Wisdom sits in Columbia, Maryland, running as part of Pearls of Wisdom Assisted Living Centers, Inc., and what you notice first is how they really try to keep an independent feeling for people while still giving help when it's needed, so most folks stay in private living spaces or bedrooms and sometimes even have kitchenettes, but you'll see they've also got shared rooms and fully furnished options, with private bathrooms, air-conditioning, telephones, internet, and cable set up, and different arrangements depending on what someone wants or needs. There's a focus on helping folks hold onto their independence, but staff are always around and available, with round-the-clock employee presence, a 24-hour call system, and supervision all day and night, so there's someone to help with things like bathing, clothing, toileting, hygiene, and just about any everyday personal care, plus hands-on help and standby assistance within reach if someone needs steadying support. For health needs, they handle medication management and administration, coordinate with nearby health providers, offer diabetic and high acuity care, and have staff that speak English, and they can work with folks who use wheelchairs or need non-ambulatory support, plus they do specialized memory care for people with Alzheimer's or other kinds of dementia. Pearls of Wisdom gives families choices of assisted living, memory care, nursing home services, independent living, in-home help, and residential care homes, all within a Continuing Care Retirement Community setting so people don't have to move as needs change. You get three home-cooked meals every day, organic food and special diets if you ask, and there's housekeeping, laundry, linen service, and a maintenance-free setup so you don't spend time on chores, with extra help from a mobile hairdresser and access to amenities like a reading room, garden, hairdresser, beauty shop, sometimes a jacuzzi or health area, game room, and outdoor paths, with daily programs or activities, movie nights, art and music therapy, fitness, tabletop games, animal visits, and scheduled transportation for shopping, faith activities, or trips to doctors. Social events are built-in, and the staff arrange many ways to stay active and connected. Move-in support helps with getting settled, and families work with local senior living advisors for guidance, with the service for families being free since the community pays if someone decides to move in, while costs for living start around $3,000 a month depending on care and room type, and payment can come from private pay, long-term care insurance, or Veterans Aid and Attendance, since Pearls of Wisdom holds a license from Maryland's Department of Social Services.