The Nathaniel Witherell

Nathaniel Witherell — It is a family, and, like all families, the love you put in is what comes out. From the caring staff to the clean rooms, we could not ask for more. As it is close to where I live, I am able to visit often, to supplement my loved one's care. One special place, this Nathaniel Witherell!

My father has been in the best hands for the past three years on the Memory Care floor and the wonderful family of staff know exactly what he needs. Even though my father cannot communicate, they are always looking out for him and our family is very blessed to be here. We have felt this way since the day he arrived and continue to feel strongly that there is no other home like NW. Thank you to everyone there who makes this home for us.

Over the years I have had several relatives and friends who were residents or rehab patients at Nathaniel Witherell. When I retired, I began volunteering there and am now in my 12th year. Despite the challenges it faces, as do ALL senior-care and skilled-nursing facilities today, it is head and shoulders above most. The staff is caring and attentive, and treat residents with respect and dignity. An active Resident Council and a Family Council meet regularly to offer views and suggestions, giving everyone a seat at the table. A fabulous recreation team keeps residents engaged and having fun with a variety of games, chair yoga, films, ice cream socials, lectures, art projects, music programs and of course, Bingo. There are summer barbecues in a beautiful garden setting, and occasional "field trips" to local parks and beaches. Residents in the memory care unit are not left forgotten but are engaged daily in activities to stimulate and enrich their quality of life. Religious services in a beautiful chapel and pastoral care provide spiritual comfort and guidance. An on-site beauty salon, a gift shop, a café, and a library are here too. The Rehab gym, where I volunteer, is staffed by exceptional physical and occupational therapists for short-term rehab patients and long-term residents. Is Nathaniel Witherell perfect? Of course not. No place is. But there are so many reasons it has been called ‘the jewel of Greenwich’ for generations.

My mother has been a resident of The Witherell for 10 years. While covid was quite challenging, my mother has been incredibly well cared for. She never smells, she's always looking her best and has never had a bedsore. She has been wheelchair bound for all 10 years and never a bedsore. That is huge!! The Witherell is clean and comfortable and never smells. The recreation staff are the absolute best. I have worked with families in almost every state who have loved ones in a nursing home. While all nursing homes have their issues, The Witherell is one of the best around. I am proud to be a Greenwich resident where we care about how we care for our elderly.

My sister has been a long-term resident at The Nathaniel Witherell for over two years. Prior to that she was in a privately owned nursing home in the Midwest. Her quality of life at Nathaniel Witherell is SO superior to that at her previous nursing home. Many staff have been at Nathaniel Witherell for years and are clearly vested in patient care. The facility is lucky to have a large cadre of volunteers who assist with numerous enriching activities - Bingo, Snap, many musical events, religious activities and more. There are special events galore - holiday dinner, ice cream socials, spelling bees. Maintaining high quality of life at a nursing home is difficult, and no place is perfect. Based on my experience with my sister (and my mother prior to that) I can say with confidence that Nathaniel Witherell is superior to other options. Friends and family of residents have the option of joining the Family Council whose members meet regularly with administration to provide feedback on what's going well and what's not.