Palliative Care For A Loved One

This is more than a review. It’s a story of lives that have been touched by Culver Meadows and may give you some insight for your loved one’s future care. Please bear with me; and read our story all the way through to the last season, last moment of our lives, and the last period (.) of this review. Read only if you want to be encouraged.
I actually miss being at Culver Meadows watching over my sweet wife like a mother hen. Donna and I shared a special, deep love. She certainly was a sweetie and gave so much in return. She greeted me with a kiss, and others with a touch, a smile, and a verbal greeting, leaving sunshine in her wake; as I pushed her around the corridors. The staff, including the administration, took such good care of her, and permitted me to participate in that care. “Our stay there has been a highlight in our lives”.  

Being able to actively give her spiritual and personal care, and to help with meals was precious to me. Culver Meadows and Hospice of Michigan were able to make her comfortable, and I was able to give her a more intimate comfort. There is a huge difference between the two, and both are needed to help your loved one through this difficult season of their life. To offer my Wife, Donna, that kind of comfort was like squeezing the last bit of sweetness from our union. What a blessing to me, and her!!

You have options at CM. You can leave their care to others or participate in the care of your loved one. Culver Meadows would be an excellent choice. The staff is able to give appropriate care, and relatives are allowed to help in that care. Good and difficult work is carried out there by the friendly staff. It takes special people to give comfort to those who are placed in their care. Yes, there were times when I wished more could be done, but I soon was faced with the question, “What more could be done?” Most of the residents in Culver Meadows are there because they can no longer be cared for in their homes. About all that can be done for them is to help them be comfortable.

The staff does their best to make the residents comfortable, and is attentive to the wishes of the resident, as much as possible. For example: When the staff noticed that my wife was restless, and couldn’t sleep, they would give her a body pillow I had purchased with my image on it; she would calm down and fall asleep. She died wrapped around that pillow. A precious memory for me, to say the least.

I highly recommend Culver Meadows to anyone who wants palliative care for their loved one. That kind of care is for people living with serious illness. I wanted to take care of my Donna at home. When I look back, I question whether or not I could have accomplished that. I would also recommend that when you are looking for a place, you go inside Culver Meadows. Stay for a while, an hour or two, to discover what goes on there.
Notice the relaxed, warm, lodge-like atmosphere, with upholstered furniture, unlike the typical hospital-like, antiseptic decor. Check it out before the time comes and you are forced to. Being prepared prior to that day of decision will eliminate the rush at the last minute and enable you to choose well. It would be worth your time to find a good fit for your loved one, demonstrating your love and respect for them.

God bless you in this endeavor, which is another part of our lives on earth, and which many of us will have to face. I did and am better off because of it. Thank you, Lord.
I write this in memory of my dear wife, Donna, who died in the early AM hours of April 9, 2023. Our wedding anniversary was April 5. Thank you, Father, for allowing her to pass through our lives.- Wes Hendrick (husband of resident)

Culver Meadows is a Blessing 

We were so happy when a place came open at Culver Meadows for our Dad. Dad's advancing dementia made it no longer safe for him to live at home. Culver Meadows' peaceful setting and clean and spacious layout make it a serene home for Dad and the other residents; it's just the right size and has just the right number of group activities, for Dad to get involved if he wants to, or to retreat to his single room for rest if he needs peace and quiet. Culver Meadows is like a real family for Dad and I know they take better care of him than I could in my home.- Laura K.

Smaller Care Home

This is a smaller care home and the people I have met were nice. They offer some activities and they do the laundry at no charge. I think dad is going to be happy with this community. - Anonymous

Good & Hardworking Staff

Culver Meadows is primarily for dementia patients, and that's the reason why we chose them. I was impressed with them. Each resident has their own room of substantial size. My brother has been there for a couple of weeks now and is doing well. He's further along with his dementia and needs a fair amount of help. The food is good; the few meals I've had there are better than just adequate. There really aren't that many activities. The staff members are all very good and hard working. - Mike

Compassionate Care

Culver Meadows was wonderful taking care of our dad. All the staff was very compassionate and treated our dad with dignity as they did with all the other residents. Jamie, the administrator, was friendly and caring and keep us updated on all of dad’s care. I highly recommend Culver Meadows for your love ones. - Russ S. 

Teamwork

My sister was a resident at Culver Meadows for five years. Due to a closed head injury suffered in 1970 at age 15, she had had a difficult life. When she came to Culver Meadows, she had lost her ability to walk and was emotionally volatile. Other assisted living facilities found it difficult to care for her, but Culver Meadows’ staff developed a good rapport with her and used humor to put her at ease. Over time, she developed dementia and became bed-ridden, and the staff continued to give her great care. When hospice was called in, Culver Meadows worked well with hospice staff. - Bill N.

Five Star Rating

I am updating my review of Culver Meadows to provide a Five star rating. We are so glad our Dad has found a home there. The addition of Culver Meadows' landscaped outdoor patio, with custom plantings, for residents to enjoy the outdoors, makes their community a complete living environment that is safe, welcoming, and peaceful. The staff are very professional and helpful and they even arranged for Dad's prescriptions to be delivered by a local pharmacy. I am so thankful our family found Culver Meadows.

During her entire stay at Culver Meadows, the staff was very communicative with my wife and me so that we could monitor her declining health in between our in-person visits. Since we lived several hours away, we wanted to be alerted if it appeared she was close to passing, so we could be with her during her last hours. Because of the staff’s attentiveness, we were alerted to my sister’s imminent passing and were able to be with her on her last day of life.

Through difficult circumstances, the Culver Meadows staff were patient and attentive, providing fabulous care with kindness and grace. Owner Trina and administrator Jamie set an exceptionally high standard for the physical and emotional care of their residents. Such great care in a difficult situation was an enormous blessing for the family, too. -Laura K.

Above Our Expectations

My father in law was there for hospice care in conjunction with Munson Healthcare and it was a great experience for him and us. Jamie and the staff were attentive to his needs and went above our expectations. Highly recommend them for memory care and hospice. - Debbie S.

Kind & Loving

I have known the owners for years and cant think of two people so kind and so loving to their residents, family and friends. I have seen them working with the residents and all are treated like family!! if you are looking for a safe loving home for your loved one, look no more. - Lisa L.

High-Quality Staff

I work in healthcare and we work with Culver Meadows closely on the number of the residents . They are an excellent facility with the high-quality staff who genuinely care for the people who Live there. - Tonya C.

Great Place

Great place with great care. My mom spent several years in their care and was well taken care of with kind and compassionate care. - MG JT

Friendly Atmosphere

Grandma's been there 2 years friendly atmosphere - Gregory J.

Exceptional Care for Our Loved One

With love and gratitude - We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for the last two years of loving care for our loved one. You have been her extended family when she had to leave her world of Utah for the unknown of Michigan. We have been so impressed with your care, love and patience and treating her with dignity and respect. Culver Meadows exceptional care was most evident recently, after being bed bound for over 9 days she did not have one bed sore. As fellow medical professionals we know how difficult, almost impossible this is. Your dedication blew us away and we cannot thank you enough. To have such care for a loved one means more than you’ll ever know. Please know that you are all a very special group of people and you will forever have a place in our hearts. - Josh, Carrie, Baylor and Brenna

Safe and Family Atmosphere

Aloha Trina, Brad, ALL Wonderful Helpers ~ Our best to all of you, with Aloha & Hugs. 
We want each of you to know that having you all with Mom, when Debbie and I couldn’t be there, was the very best we could have hoped for. Each of you help make Culver Meadows a “Home Away From Home” for all the residents. For Mom to be able to have Hospice Care there made it “Home” for Mom in the end as well. - Thank you Trina & Brad for providing a safe and family atmosphere for all who need to be there. You’d make a difference. 
P.S. Gretchen, thank you so much for staying with Mom on her last night. 03/12/2015 - Vickey & Debbie

Special Place in My Heart

Dear Trina, Brad, Jamie, and Culver Meadows Family,

When I got your lovely card, I cried and cried when I read it over and over. The words from you all were so heartfelt and special. I am so grateful that mom got to spend her final days at Culver Meadows! Thank you for embracing her beauty, talent, kind heartedness, and fun-loving nature. Thank you for taking care of her and making her feel so special and so loved. You all will hold a special place in my heart, always. I look forward to checking in from time-to-time. Much love and gratitude! -Rinda (daughter of resident)

Kind and Caring Staff

Thank you so much for the helping care for my Dad during this difficult time! You guys were so kind and caring! I'm so grateful for you all. - Rachel (daughter of resident)