Martha & Mary Nursing Home

Pros

• The staff are described as caring deeply for residents and as feeling like family to the families.
• Staff visit hospitalized loved ones and bring breakfast, coffee, hugs, and caring notes, showing meaningful support.
• Management's foresight and strict COVID-19 guidelines are credited with keeping infections low.
• The facility's location is praised as a pleasant place to walk and enjoy fresh air.
• The atmosphere is described as warm with caring staff, contributing to residents' well-being.

Cons

• The care for residents is described as despicable, with call lights ignored and criticisms met with excuses.
• The husband's care was not up to standard, with sheets not changed, inadequate daily bathroom care, and restrictions that left him feeling out of place, plus two nurses described as rude.
• The facility is perceived to prioritize profit over the well-being of residents and staff.
• A commenter warns others not to be a NAC, alleging lack of respect and back pain.
• A family reports neglect, finding their mother soaked in urine, not showered, and subjected to a loud TV with complaints ignored.
• Management's COVID-19 measures are described as painful for families, closing visits and isolating residents.

Review

A close look at the set of experiences shared about Martha & Mary in Poulsbo reveals a strikingly mixed portrait. On one end, there are accounts that feel the facility is a place where genuine care and kindness flourish, where staff become like family to residents and their visiting loved ones, and where a sense of warmth and tradition surrounds daily life. On the other end, there are accounts of frustration, neglect, and even distress, where basic needs were missed, staff appeared rude, and the overall experience did not live up to expectations. Taken together, the reviews show that experiences at this home are not uniform and can vary dramatically from one resident or family to the next.

Several reviews center on severe doubts about the quality of daily care. One caregiver criticized the overall care as despicable, claiming that call lights were ignored and criticisms were met with excuses. They described a spouse's two-week stay in which basic needs were neglected - sheets not changed, clothing and bathroom needs inadequately addressed, and a sense that residents were kept confined to their rooms unless accompanied. The reviewer also pointed to rude behavior from two nurses and warned others away from the facility, suggesting a profit-driven approach over resident well-being. Another account echoed these concerns with similar frames of reference: a lack of daily attention to essential tasks and a clear impression that the facility prioritized other considerations over the comfort and health of residents.

Yet, other voices paint a starkly different picture, highlighting devotion and attentiveness from staff. A reviewer praised the staff for caring deeply for both their mother and the visiting father, noting acts of kindness such as visiting the hospital, bringing breakfast and coffee, and offering hugs and thoughtful notes. This account described the staff as "family now" and expressed gratitude for the care and personal gestures that made a meaningful difference in difficult times. The contrast between this sentiment and the negative experiences above underscores how tightly personal interactions with caregivers can shape overall impressions of a facility.

The COVID-19 era brought another dimension to the discussion. A spring 2021 reflection credits Martha & Mary with foresight and strict guidelines that kept infections comparatively low, including mandatory masks and social distancing. This reviewer described management as decisive - closing visits when needed and screening employees daily - acknowledging the emotional toll of not being able to visit a loved one but arguing that the protective measures helped their father have a better chance at avoiding infection. The same review noted that, as vaccines arrived and routines evolved, visits gradually became more permissible, while still observing protective practices. For this reviewer, the ability to balance safety, care, and connection was framed as a pragmatic approach that, in hindsight, justified the difficult restrictions during a tense period.

There are also personal testimonials to care that felt deeply meaningful to the individuals involved. One account simply stated that the care was wonderful during a period of illness, with the writer attributing a recovery of clarity and cognitive function to the care received. Another described a warm atmosphere and a team approach to staffing challenges, with remarks about a remodel of the Marina Unit improving the environment and even noting increased sound levels due to smoother floors and walls. These pieces of feedback suggest that when the staff are aligned and resources are well managed, the facility can deliver a comforting, supportive experience for residents and their families.

Some of the most emotionally charged entries center on devastating personal losses and troubling observations. One review recounts a mom's experience during the last year of life at Martha & Mary, describing moments of distress: a wheelchair-bound parent found soaked in urine, a floor wet, a lack of regular showers, and a loud television that could be heard from the entrance. The reviewer felt there was insufficient responsiveness to complaints and that leadership - HR and the CEO - had sessions that did not yield meaningful changes. The emotional weight of this experience is clear, and it stands in stark contrast to the more uplifting stories about care and compassion that other reviewers shared. It is a reminder that even in facilities widely praised for their staff, gaps in care can have lasting, painful consequences for families.

In the broader view, another family member described a grandfather who lived the final years of his life there and found the staff to be "wonderful supports" who treated him like family and offered meaningful presence during his final days. That positive memory - of care, humanity, and a beautiful setting - sits alongside accounts of neglect and dissatisfaction, illustrating a spectrum of experiences that can exist within the same institution. The juxtaposition of these strong, opposing narratives invites readers to consider what factors might differentiate a good experience from a poor one: consistency in staffing, attentiveness to basic needs, effective communication, leadership responsiveness, and the degree to which the facility fosters a compassionate culture for both residents and their families.

Taken together, the reviews depict Martha & Mary as a place where dedicated, caring individuals can make a meaningful difference, particularly when families feel connected to staff and leadership. They also reveal serious concerns that can erode trust: missed basics of daily care, perceptions of rude behavior, and moments when families believe their loved ones were not safe or heard. The common thread is that the quality of experience at this facility appears to hinge on the day-to-day realities of staffing, the responsiveness of the leadership team, and the degree to which the community can balance safety, dignity, and human connection. For anyone considering Martha & Mary, these accounts suggest asking pointed questions about staffing levels, care protocols for daily needs, how complaints are handled, and the ways in which families can stay involved to ensure their loved ones receive attentive, respectful, and timely care.

This part of Poulsbo, Washington is a convenient and accessible area with a variety of amenities nearby. There are multiple pharmacies such as Rite Aid and CVS Pharmacy within a short distance, making it easy to access medications and healthcare services. Additionally, there are several reputable physicians and hospitals in the vicinity for any medical needs. For leisure activities, there are theaters like AMC Kitsap 8 and parks such as Battle Point Park and Fay Bainbridge Park for outdoor recreation opportunities. Various cafes provide options for socializing and enjoying a cup of coffee. Transportation options like Northgate Transit Center are also available for convenient travel around the area. Overall, this part of Poulsbo offers a mix of essential services and recreational activities that cater to senior living needs.

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (0.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Agate Dreams (3.7 miles)
• Rite Aid (6.2 miles)
• Walgreens (6.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (7.1 miles)
• Walgreens (8 miles)

Restaurants

• Envy Bar and Grill (0.6 miles)
• McDonald's (7.7 miles)
• Salt & Straw (13.1 miles)
• The Walrus And The Carpenter (13.5 miles)
• Stoup Brewing (13.8 miles)
• Tin Hat Bar & Grill (13.9 miles)
• Palisade (14 miles)

Physicians

• Puget Sound Rheumatology (1 miles)
• Silverdale Smiles Dent (5.6 miles)
• Joseph J. Bohonos, MD (5.7 miles)
• Knight Vision (5.8 miles)
• Silverdale Eye MD (5.9 miles)
• Jason C. Cheung, MD (6 miles)
• Kitsap OBGYN (6.1 miles)

Hospitals

• North Kitsap Medical Center (1 miles)
• Upper Cervical Health Centers Of America (6.2 miles)
• Northwest Hospital (14.6 miles)
• Swedish Medical Center (15.3 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Kitsap 8 (6.1 miles)

Parks

• Battle Point Park (6.1 miles)
• Fay Bainbridge Park (6.8 miles)
• Manette Playfield (11.6 miles)
• Richmond Beach Saltwater Park (12.5 miles)
• Ballard Playfield (12.7 miles)
• Carkeek Park (13.1 miles)
• Greenwood Park (14.2 miles)

Cafes

• Uptown Espresso (13.4 miles)
• Cafe Mox (13.4 miles)
• Walnut Street Coffee (13.4 miles)
• Starbucks (13.5 miles)
• Starbucks (13.6 miles)
• Diva Espresso (13.8 miles)
• Ugly Mug Café & Coffee Roasters (14 miles)

Transportation

• Northgate Station Seattle (15 miles)
• Northgate Transit Center (15.1 miles)