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August 2023 by Steve Dolan
My mother, a fiercely independent 86 year old who was living alone, suffered a severe stroke in January, 2023 which left her paralyzed on her left side and in a wheel chair. After being released from rehab my sister and I tried to provide the care she needed and after a couple of months, even with some outside assistance realized it was beyond our abilities. Though my mother was somewhat resistant to leaving her home, with Shawn's help we arranged a tour of the Pines for her (Shawn picked her up in the Pine's van). She felt very comfortable with the facility and loved the recently renovated apartment that was available for her. She asked that I quickly put a deposit on the unit and she moved in a week later. My mother and I agreed to give it 60 days to see if she would be happy at the Pines or to assess if her on site rehab had progressed to the point where she could live independently in her own home.Shawn, the sales & marketing director, said to expect some bumps in the road initially until my mother and staff got her care needs and routines down. Yes, there were a few bumps, all of which were addressed in a timely matter. After about 45 days, though we were not counting days, on a phone call with my mother she asked, "Steven, can I live here forever?". I was thrilled and relieved to see she was so happy, well taken care of, and continues to receive onsite Physical, Occupational and Speach Therapy delivered by excellent team of therapists who work closely with my mother and I as well as the Nurse Practitioner, Susan Henderson who sees her regularly at the Pines.What really makes the Pines special is the staff. Yes, like other organizations, there are staffing challenges, but there is a core team that are capable, caring and reliable. Mary, the Wellness Director who oversees most of the care giving team, is absolutely fantastic. She is experienced, dedicated, patient, caring, and personally checks in daily with residents . She routinely coordinates/translates healthcare needs/orders from outside medical staff, family members, etc. into to plans/instructions for her caregiving teams. Mary is ALWAYS available if there is a problem or concern. The Pines recently hired Haven as the Social Director. Wow, what a great find, my mother and other residents are thrilled to have Haven with all of her ideas, energy and compassion. There are so many activities and Haven is always open to suggestions. Camille provides "concierge" services, making sure my mother receives her newspaper every day, and most recently coordinated and drove the van for three medical appointments in one morning for my mother. Amy oversees the entire operation and is personally committed and readily available to residents, their families and the staff of the Pines, to ensure residents are well cared for and thriving.Saving the best for last, none of this happens without the incredible staff that provide the day to day personal, personalized care. Each and every one of them treats my mother like family and she feels the same towards them. Though I live 5 hours away and visit periodically, I know many of them by name myself as my mother speaks of them every day. I am reluctant to call them out by name for fear of missing one or more of these wonderful hard working compassionate people.Thank you, Pines team, for all that you do to care for my mother physically, emotionally, and socially. Not only is my mother so happy to be one of your residents, but our entire family is thrilled that she is in such good hands.
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March 2023 by David Spence
My name is Dave, and I am a resident at The Pines at Bluffton. I have given The Pines 5 stars in this review for various reasons to be referred to below. The Pines has a family feel, and although there may be certain issues to fix just like with any other facility, management and staff do their level best to make sure the residents are kept comfortable, the food is good, and there are plenty of activities in which residents can participate. There’s no reason for residents to be bored! At 57, I’m the baby of the group, but even so the residents, staff, and management have been so welcoming to me as part of The Pines family.Concerning the staff, there’s always turnover in this industry, but the staff here go out of their way to make this place as comfortable as possible. A rotation of staff are with the residents on a 24/7 basis, and respond quickly if there’s any indication of trouble for a resident. They make sure each apartment is cleaned, meds are given out properly, residents are given delicious meals 3 times a day, and any resident concerns are handled. I wrote that there is turnover, but there is a core group of ladies who I would say are the best anywhere in Bluffton, and I try to to tell them that every day. As I am the baby of the residents, they do spoil me quite a bit, which is much appreciated.Regarding management, I will focus on 3 people, but that is in no way to suggest other managers/directors don’t do a wonderful job, because they do every day. Amy Smoak is our Executive Director. With everything going on every day nonstop, Amy constantly has a smile on her face and helps the residents on any issue big or small. She is incredibly easy to talk to, and she knows every resident’s needs or desires. Not only is she head of the the assisted living portion of the facility but she also manages the memory care unit of the facility. I know everyone believes she is doing a fabulous job! Amy makes every resident feel great, and she is super in delegating and managing work to make this facility run smoothly and efficiently. It’s definitely not a job for the feint of heart! Shawn is Director of Marketing, and he gives tours for caregivers to determine if their loved ones are good fits for The Pines, and visa versa. He and Amy both work with the maintenance department to make sure new apartments are properly renovated, and existing apartments are repaired as necessary. Shawn is the man who keeps every apartment full with residents. Shawn’s job is not easy as he competes daily with the several other facilities in this area. Camille is Director of Concierge Services, and is the first smiling face that visitors and residents see walking into the the facility. Camille wears many hats and interacts with residents on a daily basis. I don’t know how she juggles everything, but the good news is she’s great at her job and a true friend to many.Bottom line, I would highly recommend The Pines at Bluffton for a family member who needs the type of care that unfortunately cannot be offered by friends or family members. I really don’t believe you can find a better place for the money in Bluffton. One last thing - we have several social functions/parties during the year as well as wine and cheese receptions every Friday. I would highly recommend that those looking for a comfortable place for loved ones come to one of these functions as it’s a great opportunity to see what makes The Pines at Bluffton a home away from home.
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March 2023 by Ashley-Marie Kilmore
I went for a tour, of course I did research on staff to help decide if I wanted my family at this building. I was more than shocked to find out that one of the top people in that building has such a back ground.Please do your research. The marketing guy that does the tours has been been on the news for KKK activity and also threatening his family member. Someone that will do that to their family member will definitely to it to your family member!Always research these buildings before placing a loved one in them.
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March 2023 by Gary Taylor
The Pines at Bluffton is a great place to work. The team cares and is compassionate about the residents.
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March 2023 by Harriet Schrader
My husband, Jerry, is a permanent resident of the Pines at Bluffton. He is very happy and satisfied with all aspects that the Pines has to offer. The staff are very pleasant and friendly. The recent rentovations are great and really have made a huge difference in the overall appearance. Jerry has no complaints. We are glad we moved him to The Pines of Bluffton.
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March 2023 by Kelly Perry
Pleasant and very professional clean
