Arbor Hill Assisted Living

    153 Dean St, Providence, RI, 02903
    3.2 Β· 5 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    • Skilled nursing
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    1.0

    Dark, dingy facility; rude staff

    I wouldn't recommend this place - the building and rooms felt dark, dingy and not clean, and there were privacy issues at the medication line. Most staff were rude and on their phones, though a few genuinely cared and the director was courteous and helpful. They have activities and a van, but overall it's not a good fit. Don't bother. πŸ˜”

    Pricing

    Schedule a Tour

    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Medication management

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Air-conditioning
    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Private bathrooms
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Community operated transportation
    • Transportation arrangement

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Computer center
    • Dining room
    • Fitness room
    • Gaming room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library
    • Wellness center

    Community services

    • Concierge services
    • Fitness programs
    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Planned day trips
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    3.20 Β· 5 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      1.0
    • Staff

      3.3
    • Meals

      3.2
    • Amenities

      5.0
    • Value

      3.2

    Pros

    • Courteous, helpful director
    • On-site activities program
    • Resident transportation van
    • Some staff genuinely caring
    • Positive reviews calling it a great facility

    Cons

    • Not clean / dark and dingy appearance
    • Rooms described as dingy
    • Privacy concerns during medication line/administration
    • Most staff reported as rude or ignoring residents
    • Staff frequently on phones
    • Overall negative sentiment / warnings to avoid
    • Unpleasant surrounding area
    • Perceived poor fit for some residents

    Summary review

    The reviews for Arbor Hill Assisted Living present a polarized picture, with a mix of clear positives reported by some reviewers and numerous, strongly worded negative comments from others. Several reviewers praise specific aspects such as an engaged director, available activities, and resident transportation, and a minority characterize the facility and staff very positively. However, a larger set of reviewers express consistent concerns about cleanliness, staff behavior, and privacy practices. The overall sentiment is therefore mixed but leaning toward concern for prospective residents and families unless specific issues are confirmed resolved.

    Facilities and cleanliness are recurring problem areas. Multiple reviews describe the facility and resident rooms as "not clean," "dark and dingy," or otherwise poorly maintained. This is a consistent theme that affects impressions of the environment and can influence perceived quality of care. The surrounding neighborhood or immediate area is also mentioned negatively, and at least one reviewer explicitly said the location made the facility a "not a good fit." These physical and environmental criticisms suggest prospective residents should inspect common areas and sample rooms in person and ask management about cleaning schedules, recent renovations, and plans to address appearance and maintenance.

    Care quality and privacy raise separate but related concerns. A notable specific complaint is that medication is dispensed in a way that compromises patient privacyβ€”references to a "medication line" imply public administration of medications or a system that does not respect individual privacy. This is an operational issue that could be addressed by management policy changes and staff training, but it is a concrete red flag for families to query and observe during a visit. Beyond privacy, reviewers report a split in perceived caregiving quality: while "some staff truly care," many others are described as rude or inattentive, with multiple mentions that staff "ignore patients". This inconsistency suggests variability in staff performance and possibly staffing or training issues affecting resident experience.

    Staff behavior and management are another mixed theme. The director is singled out positivelyβ€”described as courteous and helpfulβ€”indicating at least some effective leadership or administrative responsiveness at higher levels. In contrast, frontline staff receive predominantly negative comments: being on their phones, rude attitudes, and ignoring residents. The contrast between a helpful director and problematic day-to-day staff interactions could point to challenges in staff recruitment, retention, training, or supervision. Prospective families should ask about staff-to-resident ratios, turnover rates, staff training programs, and observe interactions during a tour.

    Activities and transportation emerge as concrete strengths. Multiple reviewers note that the facility "has activities" and provides a van for residents. These features support resident engagement and mobility and are valuable for socialization and outings. They represent tangible positives that some residents and families appreciate and may offset other concerns for certain individuals, particularly those who value an active schedule and transportation for appointments or events.

    In summary, Arbor Hill Assisted Living elicits sharply divided responses. Strengths include a courteous director, an activities program, and resident transportation, along with occasional reports of caring staff and some very positive overall impressions. The dominant negatives are repeated worries about cleanliness and a dingy appearance, staff behavior (rudeness, phone use, ignoring residents), and a specific privacy concern around medication administration, plus dissatisfaction with the surrounding area for some reviewers. There is insufficient information in the reviews about dining, medical/nursing capability, or clinical oversight, so those areas remain unknown based on the provided summaries.

    Recommendations for prospective residents and families: schedule an in-person tour focusing on cleanliness and room conditions; observe medication administration practice to assess privacy; request to meet direct-care staff and ask about staffing levels and turnover; speak with management about corrective actions taken for cleanliness and privacy; and evaluate the neighborhood for personal comfort and safety. Given the polarized feedback, a careful, evidence-focused visit and direct questioning will be important to determine whether Arbor Hill is a good fit for an individual's needs and preferences.

    Location

    Map showing location of Arbor Hill Assisted Living

    About Arbor Hill Assisted Living

    Arbor Hill Assisted Living serves adults age 62 and older who want help with daily life in a safe and comfortable setting, and the three-story building has both assisted living and independent living, along with nursing care for those who need more help after sickness or a hospital stay, so there are different choices depending on what's needed, and people can choose from studio or one-bedroom apartments with private bathrooms, kitchenettes, individual climate control, cable TV, Wi-Fi, and phone connections available, and they can bring pets too. Meals get prepared on-site by a professional chef, and there's all day dining in a restaurant-style room, with food plans that include special diets for allergies or diabetes when needed, and the care team will help with personal needs like bathing, dressing, and taking medicine, and there's staff around day and night with nurses and nursing assistants trained in CPR close by. Arbor Hill offers laundry, housekeeping, dry cleaning, and move-in help, and there's a beauty salon and barber shop so residents can keep up with haircuts and grooming without going far, while onsite health care includes doctors and nurses on call, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, homecare, vision screenings, dental, and podiatrist visits available right in the community, so people don't have to leave for most appointments. For social life and activities, there's a calendar full of crafts, movies, exercise, games, trips out to shop or visit local places, social events, and devotional services, plus there's a TV room, a library, outdoor walking paths on the park-like grounds, a secure courtyard garden, and even a rooftop terrace where residents can relax or chat with neighbors. People who use wheelchairs or need help walking can get around because the building is fully accessible, the showers are wheelchair friendly, and non-ambulatory care is available for people who can't walk alone, as well as care for people who need help with incontinence or diabetes. Security cameras and secure entry keep everyone safer, and there's parking for those who drive and shuttle service for trips to shopping, appointments, religious events, or group outings; buses and hospitals are close by for when someone needs to get somewhere quickly. Arbor Hill is a quiet, suburban community that's still close to the city and easy to reach, located in East Providence, Rhode Island, and it's a non-profit where care has been provided since 2011. Amenities help make daily life easier, like the community activity room, fitness classes, wellness room, library, movie nights, and special programs in arts and music, and the community allows for both short-term stays, like respite care, and more permanent long-term care, including hospice for people who need comfort at the end of life, and residents' families can get support too, including help with the paperwork for Medicaid or Medicare if it's needed. Each resident gets a personalized care plan that's reviewed often to be sure their needs are met, and licensed professional staff stay ready to help twenty-four hours a day, so people can keep as much independence as possible while getting support with daily life as they age.

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