Our Lady's Haven

Pros

• The front desk is friendly.
• The nursing care is kind.
• The staff are among the hardest working people caring for the elderly.

Cons

• The reviewer states that her mother fell and the reasons were not explained.
• The reviewer describes the room as a tight community room facing a wall with no TV.
• The reviewer notes that the mother's room was the size of a closet.
• The reviewer says there are horrible people working there.
• The reviewer questions why families would put loved ones in such a place.
• The reviewer would rather go to the cemetery than to this so-called nursing home.
• The reviewer asserts that the facility should not exist because none of them are any good.

Review

The accounts paint a stark and emotional picture of a nursing home that left a family reeling. One voice opens with a distressing incident: the narrator's mother fell and the cause remains unclear, a detail that gnaws at them as much as the fall itself. The setting around that moment is described in claustrophobic terms - the mother was placed in a tight community room that faced a wall, with no television to distract or comfort her. The room is likened to the size of a closet, a description that amplifies a sense of confinement and detachment. In the midst of this, the writer blasts the experience with an intense verdict: "Horrible people working here." The words carry a blend of anger, fear, and disappointment, as if the very atmosphere and the staff's demeanor contributed to the suffering rather than alleviating it.

This painful vignette goes deeper into the personal resolve formed in the shadow of it all. The author shares a vow made to a husband that seems to hinge on a fear of losing loved ones to care facilities. "I promised my husband that he would never be in a place like this, that he would never leave me, along with all the care that I gave him." The sentiment is not merely about a building but about protection, devotion, and the belief that proper care should be an act of love rather than abandonment. The rhetorical question that follows - "If people love their families why put them here." - cuts to the core of the author's emotional response: why endure a system that feels purposefully distant from the families it serves?

The intensity escalates into a moral condemnation that feels almost existential. The author declares that "They shouldn't exist because none of them are any good," a sweeping judgment fueled by the combination of a troubling incident and the cramped, oppressive surroundings. The language conveys a total disappointment in the concept of a nursing home as they understand it, as if the entire institution stands broken in their eyes. It's a stark plea for a different standard of care, a different approach to honoring the dignity and needs of elderly residents.

Yet the narrative is not a single-note indictment. Interwoven with the harsh critique is a contrasting perspective that acknowledges aspects of care that can be found even within the same environment. A second voice offers a more affirmative appraisal: "Front desk is friendly and the nursing care is kind." This slice of experience points to moments of humanity and competence, suggesting that individuals within the facility can and do provide genuinely compassionate service. The description is nuanced: while the premises feel crowded and loud at times, it is recognized that the staff are among "the hardest working people you will find caring for our elderly people." The appreciation is not for the building or the atmosphere, but for the dedication and kindness exhibited by the people who show up day after day.

Taken together, the two threads create a complex portrait of a place that can provoke both heartbreak and gratitude. The negative account underscores the urgency of humane conditions, clear communication, and respectful treatment - elements that many families rightly demand when a loved one's well-being is at stake. The positive note, meanwhile, highlights the everyday acts of care that do occur, even in challenging environments: front desk hospitality, empathetic nursing care, and a workforce that perseveres in the face of high demands. The juxtaposition is not merely about two moods; it reflects a broader truth about elder care: experiences there can be deeply personal, volatile, and variable from one moment to the next.

What emerges is a narrative that captures the fragility and complexity of relying on a nursing home for loved ones. Physical conditions - the look and feel of the rooms, the claustrophobic closeness of space, and the constant bustle - can shape perception as powerfully as any staff interaction. When communication falters after a frightening incident, trust erodes and fear takes hold, often coloring every subsequent visit and memory of the facility. On the other hand, when staff offer warmth, attentiveness, and competence, those same spaces can reveal the best of what caregiving can be: a commitment to preserve dignity, provide comfort, and support families during trying times.

Ultimately, the text presents a candid, unfiltered snapshot of a care environment that is capable of both pain and kindness. It speaks to the joys and sorrows that families experience when navigating elder care, reminding readers that behind every room, every door, and every routine, there are real people with real emotions, fears, and hopes. The closing takeaway is not simply a verdict about a single institution but a broader reflection on how care markets can honor loved ones - through transparent communication, humane physical spaces, and a workforce whose hard work and compassion deserve recognition.

This part of Fairhaven, Massachusetts offers a convenient and bustling area with a variety of amenities within close proximity. There are several cafes, restaurants, pharmacies, physicians' offices, hospitals, places of worship, and even a theater nearby. The Nook cafe is just a short distance away for a cozy coffee spot, while Honey Dew Donuts and Starbucks provide options for quick bites. Several healthcare options are available in the area such as New Bedford Health Center and Southcoast Business Center for medical needs. Additionally, there are options for shopping at Walmart Pharmacy or Walgreens. For entertainment, seniors can enjoy movies at AMC Dartmouth Mall 11 located within a reasonable driving distance. Overall, this neighborhood offers convenience and accessibility to essential services for senior living in Fairhaven.

Cafes

• The Nook (0.2 miles)
• Honey Dew Donuts (1.9 miles)
• Starbucks (5.1 miles)
• Mirasol's Cafe (5.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Wah May Restaurant (0.3 miles)
• Honey Dew Donuts (0.6 miles)
• Sweet Ginger (0.7 miles)
• Burger King (0.8 miles)
• McDonald's (0.8 miles)
• Taco Bell (0.9 miles)
• The Pasta House (1 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Speciality (0.7 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.3 miles)
• Southcoast Clinical Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.1 miles)

Physicians

• Child & Family Services (1.2 miles)
• New Bedford Health Center (1.3 miles)
• Greater New Bedford Comm Health Center (1.3 miles)
• Guillermo Gonzalez (1.4 miles)
• New Bedford Medical Associates (1.4 miles)
• Metromedic Walk In Medical (1.5 miles)
• Horizon Pediatrics (1.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Southcoast Business Center (1.2 miles)
• Saint Luke's Hospital of New Bedford (2 miles)
• St. Luke's Hospital (2.1 miles)
• Southcoast Health System (2.1 miles)
• Hfcn (2.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Grace Episcopal Church (1.5 miles)
• St Mary's Religious Education (3.7 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Dartmouth Mall 11 (4.8 miles)