Charlotte Hall Veterans Home - Charlotte Hall, Maryland

Kizzy

I visited my uncle here a few weeks ago. The security is great! I was so touched when I walked through the doors to see the walls decorated with military emblems, logos and awards. I was so honored to see a structure with a sign that says, "REAL HEROS DON'T WEAR CAPES, THEY WEAR DOG TAGS." This is truth in its highest form! I am proud of our veterans and grateful for Charlotte Hall for caring for our veterans. I had the chance to interact with the staff during my visits with my uncle and they are kind, so helpful and caring. Had some conversations with the residents and they are grateful as well. Thanks Charlotte Hall!

Bernice S.

I would think twice before sending your loved one to stay at Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. While the staff is generally friendly, the Home leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to cleanliness. This has been a concern over the last five months since my dad moved in.

For example, this past weekend I was surprised to find a dead mouse along the wall by my dad’s bed. The previous week, I noticed that the floor had not been cleaned; my shoes were sticking to the floor as I walked around his room. In addition, the linen I removed from his bed for cleaning the week before was placed back on his bed even though the nurse promised to remake his bed with new linen. Furthermore, the bathrooms are unkept.

The website states that the MD Veterans Affairs works with the contract staff to ensure a clean and caring environment. If an audit were conducted to assess whether the Home is living up to this standard, the audit would reveal that the Home falls short.

In addition, my dad’s mobility has declined shortly after he finished physical therapy. He was given exercises to do on his own, but he needs someone to coach him along and ensure that he is doing the exercises correctly. If residents want to exercise, they must remember to watch an exercise program on tv. Why doesn’t the Home offer group exercise like local Adult Day Care Centers. Furthermore, the events manager led me to believe that she would ensure that my dad would be engaged in activities. However, my dad only attends activities if he remembers, which often he doesn’t. If I don’t call to remind him to attend bingo, he misses it. If I were you, I’d think twice about Charlotte Hall Veterans Home.

C D.

Horrible experience! Wish I could leave 0 stars! This staff does not have humanity. They did not want to provide the care needed for elderly patients with dementia. My grandfather was moved 3+ times for his first few weeks there because the staff did not want to monitor him correctly. They should not advertise memory care if the only care they offer is to place them on a lock down ward. The rooms are set up like jail cells with no offer of comfort or home. Staff is rude when asked normal questions such as why my grandfathers television did not work. So impersonal that they did not even know his name. It was obvious that we annoyed the staff by being present because it seems most people in this home do not have family visiting. Therefore the staff isn’t monitored or requested to do their job!!

All in all look other places…. this is not the place to put anyone with a failing memory and have expectations that they will be looked after, cared, and loved. This place comes with a hefty $6000 per month price tag which includes rude staff, dirty rooms/laundry, bed cots, broken television with no remote, loss of all personal items, and a very confused/scared love one! Don’t do it!!

Christa W.

Horrible Experience with my grandfather. This facility is ran like a jail. Paper thin cots, shared rooms, hard furniture in community rooms, no privacy for residents, paper think blankets & pillows. Not homey at all!! My Grandfather has dementia but it was still pretty well intact. They moved him over five times through different units in the facility. Which is horrible for someone with on-set dementia. They lost his entire wardrobe in one of these moves and had him wearing stinky clothes. When I visited and went to look for something clean to put him in he had no clothes in his dresser. Asked the staff and they said they were trying to find his stuff. Mind you he had been on that unit 2 days!! Ultimately the staff did not want to have to keep a close eye on him. Instead they wanted to put him on a unit where he could not socially interact with anyone, which was causing his health declined more rapidly and made him feel as if he was going crazy. We had to go all the way to the director to have him moved out of that unit, because the doctors and director agreed it was best for his health to be on a more socially functioning unit. Within a week of being in his new unit the cops were called on him by another resident for using his bathroom by an accident. The nurses Called us in the middle of the night threatening to move him back to the unit where we just had him moved from. We could hear my grandfather scared in the background apologizing because he didn’t mean to do anything wrong. The nurses were not monitoring the halls it is their jobs to ensure the halls were being monitored. My grandfather repeatedly asked for us to help him and was in fear of being there constantly. Since then we have moved him to a way better home care facility where he has gotten the best care moving forward and we have not once had him tell us he was scared or ask us to help him since leaving the VA. We are now having a hard time getting his prior medical information from the facility. When we called the nurses literally laughed and ask the other nurses if they remembered my grandfather and then proceeded to tell us that they don’t have the medical records because he’s been gone for almost 2 months. This is the worst facility you could ever place anyone that you truly care about and love. All they care about is collecting the check at the end of the month for the extorted prices that they charge to take care of these individuals. You would think paying over 5000 $6000 a month that you would get the best care possible for your loved one. Please look into homes thoroughly before placing your love ones and do not make the same mistake we did. Arcadia of Crofton is amazing. We pay about the same price. My Grandfather has his own room, flat screen tv mini fridge and recliner from home. As well as being surrounded by amazing staff that take the best care of him!

cheryl S.

Just upload two (2) pictures of a dead rodent we found next to my Father's bed this afternoon. It was readily apparent that it had been there for for two or more days. It is proof that the living quarters and lavatories for our "honored" veterans are neither regularly nor thoroughly cleaned. It is not uncommon to see unwashed bed linens, dirty, sticky, floors and hallways, especially on the upper floor(s). An unpleasant odor often permeates the upper floors, a sure sign of a lack of attention and care. Families should be forewarned to be vigilant and persistent to ensure that your loved one receives the care s/he deserves.

Shirley S.

My dear brother has been cared for at Char Hall for 4 years. I felt he was always very well cared for. He passed away on Sept 6, 2021. I stopped in to pick up his personal items today. I was impressed to find they were packed up and ready for me. The box was pretty heavy and would have been hard for me and my 77 year old back to carry. Officer Eaton stepped up and took the box all the way to the car. She should be commended for this act of kindness. I would never have made it.
Everyone I've met at Char Hall has been wonderful. Although sad at the loss of my brother, Frank Buddy Curtis, I'm comforted knowing he received great care.

Theresa

If your family member is self efficient - no issues. If your family member requires assistance - run! His has been here a little over 2 months. He broke his hip and needed rehab. I have had several group conferences thinking issues were resolved, not the case. Instead of redirecting he is placed in time out. Any independence is striped away not permitted to choose clothing for the day, must eat all meals in room or by nurses station even though was told he was allowed in the dining room. Nurse's, etc. prevent this from occurring. Not enough staff to adequately provide the necessary care and attention. Nurse practitioner won't return calls in a timely manner - requested a call from doctor - took 3 weeks until she finally got in touch with me. I could go on and on - but the topping on the cake was no one should have to call the nurses station because a family member used the call button, while waiting falls and is bleeding! Luckily I called him to check in only to be told "I have a little problem.". I immediately hung up, called the nurse's station and told them what happened and please get down there and help him!! Unfortunately another hip replacement due to the surgical incision reopened.

Patricia L.

My veteran husband was on 3-c. He was disrespected, he had to sit and wait to be cleaned up . He has to wear diapers. I would visit him everyday. Never had water on his tray. I got it for, and bought him bottles of water. I also got water for his roommate. One day the bathroom had dirty linens with nats flying around. His food was cold when he got it, and not cut up. He has issues with his hands. I saw bugs on the hallway. I took him home. It was sad to watch. He was to have rehab. He did but he kept getting UTI's. They did not change out his catheter when needed.