Buckinghams Choice

Pros

• Buckingham's Choice offers a lovely campus with well-maintained buildings and a friendly atmosphere among residents and staff.
• The staff at Buckingham's Choice is described as caring, responsive, and attentive to the needs of the residents.
• Many reviewers appreciate the diverse amenities available, including a gym, arts and crafts studio, chapel, and regular activities for residents.
• Prospective residents have found the dining experience pleasant with good food options during their visits.
• Families feel reassured knowing their loved ones are in a nurturing environment where staff is familiar with each resident's needs.
• The facility allows for flexibility in care, enabling residents to maintain independence while receiving assistance as needed.

Cons

• The nutritional quality and amount of food at Buckingham's Choice have significantly declined, becoming too protein deficient and carbohydrate saturated for healthy senior diets.
• A resident experienced inappropriate contact from another patient with dementia, raising concerns about safety measures in place.
• Rehabilitation services were rushed, and the physical therapy provided was deemed inadequate compared to home care received after discharge.
• Residents' complaints about the HVAC system went unaddressed, leading to uncomfortably high temperatures in apartments.
• The quality of food has deteriorated to cheap cafeteria standards, disappointing long-term residents and their families.
• Security staff were downgraded and no longer vetted or bonded, putting residents at greater risk.
• There is a perception that the facility takes advantage of residents by charging significant fees without providing corresponding quality care or amenities.
• After a change in management, there has been a noticeable decline in service and overall satisfaction among some current residents.

Review

Buckingham's Choice has garnered a mix of reviews over the years, reflecting a range of experiences from both current residents and those who have visited or considered it for their loved ones. The facility is often praised for its beautiful campus and well-maintained grounds, which include amenities like pools, lakes, and a variety of eating areas. Many reviewers appreciate the friendly and responsive staff, noting that they are attentive to residents' needs and foster a community atmosphere. For some individuals, this sense of community was a significant factor in their decision to explore living arrangements there, with several commenting on the active engagement from staff who seemed familiar with the residents personally.

While Buckingham's Choice has many positive attributes, there are notable criticisms that potential residents should consider carefully. A recurring theme in several reviews is the declining quality of food over time. Long-term residents expressed disappointment regarding the nutritional content of meals, specifically pointing out issues such as protein deficiency and an unhealthy carbohydrate ratio. This decline in food quality was juxtaposed with initial impressions during open houses when visitors found the food satisfactory but ultimately unsustainable for senior citizens in terms of nutrition. Prospective residents are advised to sample the meals before making any decisions about moving in.

Concerns regarding safety and healthcare at Buckingham's Choice have also been highlighted by former visitors and family members of current residents. Heart-wrenching accounts involve instances where patients were unable to receive adequate care due to understaffing or inappropriate treatment protocols. One reviewer relayed a particularly distressing experience involving their mother being groped by another resident with dementia, raising alarms about the safety measures in place within the facility. It appears that while management may have implemented strategies intended to protect vulnerable residents—like signs attempting to deter wandering patients—these measures fell short according to one frustrated reviewer.

The issue of accountability extended beyond immediate care concerns; some family members voiced frustrations regarding rehabilitation services offered at Buckingham's Choice following hospital discharges. They described physical therapy as inadequate when compared with home-care services received afterward, ultimately leading them to question whether their loved ones were receiving appropriate levels of care throughout their stay. Additionally, complaints emerged surrounding temperature control within apartments due to poorly installed HVAC systems, contributing further dissatisfaction among some long-term residents.

Despite these critiques, many still find reasons to commend Buckingham's Choice as an exceptional facility offering many options for independent living while catering to various levels of assistance as needed. Residents appreciate that Buckingham’s allows families more flexibility in managing care needs—charging only for actual time spent assisting rather than requiring blocks of service hours common elsewhere—which encourages independence along with compassionate support when necessary.

Overall, while Buckingham's Choice presents itself as a promising option for seniors looking for assisted living or an independent lifestyle mixed with healthcare support services, potential new residents must conduct thorough research before committing fully. The balance between friendly staff interactions and amenities versus serious structural concerns around care standards illustrates that Buckingham's has strengths worth recognizing but also weaknesses needing critical attention if it aims to uphold its reputation consistently across all aspects of service delivery.

Restaurants

• AKA Friscos (3.2 miles)
• Chaps Pit Beef (3.5 miles)
• Wendy's (3.5 miles)
• Cafe Rio (3.7 miles)
• Chili's Grill & Bar (3.7 miles)
• Silver Diner (3.7 miles)
• McDonald's (3.8 miles)

Parks

• Urbana District Park (3.5 miles)
• Ballenger Creek Dog Park (4.5 miles)
• Sugarloaf Mountain (5.1 miles)
• Carroll Creek Linear Park (6.5 miles)
• Baker Park (6.7 miles)

Physicians

• Frederick Psychiatry (3.7 miles)
• Halpern Lisa R MD (3.9 miles)
• Brook Lane Health Services (4.1 miles)
• First Colonies Anesthesia Associates (4.2 miles)
• Capital Women's Care (4.3 miles)
• Frederick Primary Care Associates (4.3 miles)
• MyEyeDr (4.4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (4.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.7 miles)
• Frederick Social (6.4 miles)
• Frederick Coffee Co & Cafe (6.7 miles)
• Gravel and Grind (7.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (4.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.5 miles)
• Walgreens (4.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (6 miles)
• Walgreens (6.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Frederick Memorial Hospital (4.5 miles)
• Advanced Urgent Care (5.2 miles)
• Children's National Medical Center (5.2 miles)
• Occupational Health Solutions (5.9 miles)
• Frederick Memorial Hospital (6.9 miles)
• FMH Or (6.9 miles)
• Frederick Memorial Hospital (7.1 miles)