Testimonials

“Thank you for all you are doing to keep our loved ones safe and comfortable during this difficult time. You give new meaning to essential and we keep you in our prayers as it is difficult to find words to express our thanks. Sending a virtual kiss there to mom and please send our heartfelt admiration to all those providing care and nurturance.”

“We are grateful to all of you for continuing to provide such excellent care for all residents. Everyone at Columbia Cottage is giving so much of themselves.”

"I have only been to Columbia Cottage on a few occasions as I live in Vermont.  I am writing to thank you so much for your constant updates. I truly appreciate the challenges and problems running a residence like this can cause for you. You are handling everything to the utmost best that you can do and your communication with us is greatly helpful. 

You know we, and I’m sure all the families, would love to be able to meet our loved ones in person but we ourselves are sheltered in place for the most part and are so happy that she is in a safe environment throughout this terrible time. I thank you for keeping your residents and staff safe and I hope soon we can be past this all and be able to get in to see her.  She doesn’t understand anything much but we try to talk to her and help her through the days ahead."

"There are simply no words that can express our gratitude for the care, love, and friendship you provided our wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, Mrs. Mary Josephine Miller. She meant so much to so many people. Not only did each of you welcome Mary with open arms, but you welcomed our entire family. You deserve so much more than just a thank you.

We know your jobs are sometimes thankless, stressful, and frustrating, so we want you to know that we are deeply grateful for all that you did for Mary and our family. Saying thank you seems hardly fair considering all that you’ve done, but please know, your gracious, unyielding care for Mary meant the world to us."

"On another note, my family would like to thank you, Jenna, Nikki, Amber, Lynne, Heather, John, and the remaining staff at Columbia Cottage for working with our family (a lot of details and things to think through in the past 3 months with our father as a new resident).  Not only have we enjoyed getting to know (and work with) the employees, but the other residents and their family members as well.  Dad has come a long way in these past 3 months in terms of mobility, his mindset, forming new relationships, and getting involved in some of the activities.  I know he feels "cared for" at Columbia Cottage.  

Thank you for all that has taken place with our father to date!"

“I wanted to thank all of you for coming to work during this scary and extra ordinary time to take care of my mom, Gloria, and all the other residents. I know you are all risking your health & safety to take care of my loved one and I want you to know how much I appreciate it! Although I don’t have enough words to thank you, I have enclosed a small token of appreciation. Wish I could do more. Thanks again & may God bless you and your families!”

“Hope your day is filled with smiles, laughter, and special moments to remember always. Happy Easter! Thank you for the heartfelt care you give, especially during the pandemic.”

“I just wanted to let you all know how much we appreciated the care and kindness that you all gave to Bill. I cannot think of one time during either of his stays that he was not greeted with a smile and cared for with dignity. Your support and kindness to our family during difficult times is very meaningful.”

“For all that you are doing for the residents during this challenging time, I send a heartfelt, Thank You! So many times, I find you in my thoughts. For nearly 5 years you cared for and watched over my mom. With genuine affection and good humor, you made her days better in every way.”

“Hope and happiness, joy and laughter…and special people like you! We appreciate very much the excellent care you give to Mom and all the residents!”

To all staff and management of Columbia Cottage Wyomissing,

In past years at Christmas time the family of Ruth Eshelman brought a little artificial tree over to the cottage to decorate together. Seeing as that could not happen this year, I decided to decorate the tree before bringing it over. Pondering what to use for decorations, I decided that angels would be appropriate – angels to watch over our mom.

But as I brought the decorated tree up to the door of the cottage, I realized that the real angels watching over our mom are all of you. In a year when nothing is like it has ever been before, you have been the lifeline for not only our mom but all the residents living in your care at Columbia Cottage.

We especially want to recognize your care and support in helping to make our mom’s 100th birthday so special this year, despite the pandemic. Because of the beautiful weather, a few family members were able to enjoy a brief outside visit with mom on her birthday and share well wishes from other family members and friends who could not attend in person due to restrictions. Your efforts at the cottage to help her celebrate her special day - decorating her door and providing festive balloons and lovely celebratory birthday cake - were greatly appreciated.

But there was and still is a pandemic raging. During this time, you made and are still making sacrifices and difficult decisions every day to ensure everyone stays safe. It certainly can’t be easy telling loved ones not to come to visit, or carrying out your duties garbed in masks, gowns, and plastic shields. Yet you persist to follow protocol, ensuring that each person living at the cottage stays safe. And we recognize that comes in addition to the personal risk and sacrifice each of you face dealing with your own family circumstances. For all these things, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

So as this year comes to a close, we look toward next year with hope for some semblance of normalcy for everyone. But for now, we pray for your safety and good health and we support what you are doing to keep everyone at the cottage safe. And again, thank you for being the angels watching over our mom.

With love and appreciation, The family of Ruth Eshelman

"My mother has been a resident of Columbia Cottage for the past 6 months. She started out in the memory care unit. All of the caregivers were so kind. My mother was kept with the group which limited her fall risk. Appropriate activities were provided to her. After a massive stroke in February, my mother was moved out of memory care as she required a higher level of care, which she received. In Columbia Cottage, my mother was able to receive the care she needed in a beautiful & dignified environment. This is a well run assisted living with kind & caring caregivers. I would recommend it!!"

"I wanted to reach out and say THANK YOU for your time and attention when my mother and I visited Columbia Cottage on Friday, December 29 to find long-term care for my father.  

You were so kind to lend your advice and ear during an extremely difficult time.  My mother and I greatly appreciated how you treated us and the situation with dignity and respect although Columbia Cottage was well above our price range.  

A lot of area places could LEARN a lot from you and your level of professionalism and most importantly empathy.   

I could not let the new year start without me taking the time to say THANK YOU! 

UPDATE:  We are still navigating the next steps for my father William Jefferson but I was able to successfully win an appeal for a little more time at Capitol Rehab as we "shop" around.   

Again, thank you!  Words simply can not express how your kind words and advice helped us."

"I am very pleased with the care and attention that my mother has received since moving to Columbia Cottage last February. Unlike in her home, there are daily activities (physical & cognitive), and opportunities for social engagement which I feel is so important to a person’s overall well-being.

She looks forward to her weekly visit to the in-house ice cream parlor and beauty salon.

The entire staff are very caring and treat all of the residents with dignity and respect."

"I visited many relatives at a variety of care facilities and I must admit, there is only one residential care facility I would highly recommend, Columbia Cottage. I am at peace knowing my sister is receiving the quality care she deserves! The staff is loving, professional, and meticulous caregivers for our loved ones. It is a blessing in knowing our loved ones are safe and healthy at all times with 24 HOUR CARE! In addition, CC provides nutritious meals, created by a personal chef for the residents. There are special events and Holiday Meals. There is very little time for boredom, as the activities provided by the facility allow all to participate. On special occasions, there are ice cream socials and live animal sessions, and a beauty salon and barber is provided for all residents. The building is brand new, modern floors, carpeting, and window treatments. The private rooms are odor-free, spotless, along with the private bathrooms for guests. The facility has an Open-Door Policy for family and friends to participate and meet their loved ones, providing rooms, with ample tables and seating for entire extended families, encouraging all to meet for special occasions.

In closing, I am comforted by the realization of knowing my sister is in the best care for the debilitating disease of Alzheimers-Dementia. Last week, in the middle of the night, my sister needed immediate medical care.The Columbia Cottage staff came to the rescue! She was taken by ambulance, received emergency surgery and proper medical care. I have no one to thank but the staff at Columbia Cottage and its dedication to our loved ones by providing fast reactions to avoid a potentially fatal outcome. If it were not for the constant care of the staff of Columbia Cottage, 24/7, I honestly would not hesitate to say my sister would have died, going above and beyond expectations. There were several CC staff that visited my sister during this time! Columbia Cottage is looked upon as the “Angel’ caring for our loved ones with respect, love, and compassion, not found, to the degree of no other facility. I am giving Columbia Cottage the highest recommendation of all!"