I went to Heidi's Haven. I talked to the caretaker that was there, she was very nice, and gave me the man's name and number, but when I called him, he couldn't get off the phone fast enough. He wasn't interested at all. They only care for six people, four inside the big house, and two in a converted garage that they turned into two bedrooms. It was very nice, and I liked it. My friend needs a community-type setting. It's a big house, kind of an impressive looking place. I asked about the food, the girl said, "We give them what they want, we know what they like, and we fix that for them." It's not very practical though, who wants to cook seven different meals, for seven different people? The people there were in bed all the time, like they were waiting to die.

We have found a place for my friend. She is all settled in Heidi's Haven. She moved in as soon as she got out of the hospital. The one she's in is in Fruitland Park. It's a small facility. She gets the supervision she needs, and she does have to have help with medications. She's resisted, but they've worked very well with getting her to go along with and taking help that she needs. She feels independent enough while she is there, but we know she is getting care, so it works. The staff members have been very attentive to her needs, so I'm very pleased with them. The first month I paid for a single room, which is more than my friend can really afford, but that's what they had open. It's really been nice. They are trying to accommodate her getting into a double room with somebody that she'll be comfortable living with. They're doing all they can to make it right. She is content, and that's a big deal. They're very flexible on the meals. Because there's only six people there they'll cook whatever the residents want. Sometimes my friend helps, or she thinks she's helping make the meals, and that makes her feel good even though she can't put her head together to do it herself. Being a part of it is very positive. She also gets to eat what she wants to eat within reason. They supervise the offerings as far as nutrition, but it's all been good. The place is clean, but it needs some outside landscape type of work around it. They said that they're in the planning stages with that. Inside, it's clean. Although it is a no-smoking environment, there are a couple of residents who smoke, so just outside of the building there are ashtrays. I would prefer not to be there outside, but I understand that some people have to have it, and it's not in the building. I know that they keep my friend busy. They work with her with cooking and things around, but structured activities are not there. There is no activity director per se at this point. Value for the money is fair.

I Cannot speak highly enough of Ms. Arlene, house manager at Heidi's Haven in Fruitland Park. She was so kind to my mom and kept me informed of any changes with my mom.