We toured Harvard Square Retirement and Senior Living. The facility was clean and well-organized. The director was very knowledgeable and very understanding of our needs for memory care and how difficult of a time this is in our lives. The staff that we met was friendly. The memory care part was a separate building with security so that the residents cannot just leave the facility. It seemed that they had many activities throughout the day for their residents so that they are not alone in their rooms. The shared room that we toured was not fancy, but it had all the basic amenities. Overall, it seemed like a nice place.

Harvard Square Retirement and Senior Living did not have that many amenities. As far as memory care goes, it would probably be for somebody that was a little bit more self-sufficient. The staff did an excellent job and was attentive. We came after lunch, so we got a little snack that they were having, and it was good. They have courtyard spaces.

My father is a resident of Harvard Square Retirement & Senior Living. Harvard Square is dated, and its memory care unit is dated, but the personnel is all around. They're very caring and very involved with the residents. They're always checking up on them. They know their name so that that offsets it being dated. My dad's a wanderer, so he wanders quite a bit. One thing I don't like, and I know they do it for safety reasons, is that there's a courtyard but it's locked, and we have to get permission to go out there. I think they do that because the elderly and people with Alzheimer's and problems like that tend to fall. So, they want someone in that area at all times. So that's why they lock it. I understand that. But he can go into his room and sit in his room if he wants to, and he's not locked out. They have little events, and they try to help their memory and integrate them with the rest of the residents. The director is very caring. I just like Harvard Square and I like the people there. The big thing is the people- they don't treat it like a business. Pop has been there a month. We're having some issues with him transitioning from assisted living to memory care. He doesn't care for it, but unfortunately, he's up at that position where he doesn't have an option and we did not have any other options for him. Any time there are any issues, they're always on the phone with me, whether it's the CNAs that are with the residents or the director, or even Josh, who is the director of the main unit for Harvard Square. If you call and you don't leave a message, they have caller I.D. and they call you back. I did that yesterday. I forgot what room number Pop was in and Amy, who was at the front desk, called me, "This is Amy with Harvard Square, did you call? If we missed your call, how can I help you?" So, they make that added step to call you back. Not a lot of places to do that. I know that they have two separate dining rooms in memory care. One is for people that need the added assistance and the other one is for people that can eat on their own. Unfortunately, pop needs help eating. He uses a lot of finger food because his hands shake quite a bit. So, they do have the availability of two different dining rooms. Plus the food looks pretty good. It could probably use a whole coat of paint. But you're not going to interrupt all the people that have Alzheimer's for the painting. They have programs every day for the Alzheimer's unit. They try to get their brains firing. They have one in the morning and one in the afternoon and they have two people that are dedicated to hosting those events for those residents. They're trying to keep the residents of the memory care active and integrated. I know that they have activities for the retirement site itself, too.

My dad was originally in Assisted Living for 3 years but has recently moved to the Memory Care facility. The staff at the Memory Care facility are kind, patient and caring. The staff and caregivers have always kept us updated on matters of importance and involves us in the decision-making process in taking caring of my dad. Harvard Square management always keeps us posted on weekly happenings and events and truly runs a professional operation. There are numerous daily events and group activities (in both AL and Memory Care) that allows the residents to be social and make it feel like home. We are very happy with Harvard Square and would offer it our highest recommendation.

My father has been a memory care resident for a couple months. The care the staff has exhibited to help him settle into his new home has been awesome. Everyone is kind and caring. Menus provide a wide variety, never the same old stuff, and plenty offered so I know he will not go hungry. I have had a few meals with him and they were very good. He has actually gained a bit of weight since moving in which is good. The common areas are always clean and the housekeeping services to clean the rooms has been top notch. Myself and siblings rest easy knowing he is being watched over 24/7 and safe when we cannot be there. We are very thankful to have found Harvard Square.

My mother will be moving in at Harvard Square Retirement & Senior Living, and it looks wonderful. It doesn't look like a jail, and they don't treat it like a jail. The Harvard Square has lemonade socials and activities for my mom. They have a garden area for her. She loves gardening, and she loves getting together. I don't know how much she's able to do anymore, but she used to love it. Their menu is amazing, and the building is very clean. You bring your own furniture. They don't put you in a urine-stained bed. I'm sure they probably have beds, but they do give the option of bringing your own, and they allow you in the rooms. It's a locked unit, so you sign-in at the kiosks. Then someone walks you in, and you can go and visit in the social room or in the bedroom. Everybody was really pleasant. When you walk in, it's a great big lobby where you sign-in at the kiosk. It is set up as a huge lounge for the people in the apartments there. You can go down, and there's a fireplace. It's a nice big bay area, and you can socialize with other visitors as well as the tenants. They offer the opportunity for the patients to have a glass of wine if you bring it in. I think it's once a week or something like that (which I wouldn't know if everybody would appreciate that, but I know my mom would).