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Praise for Riverbend
You don't have to take our word for it, when you can see for yourself what our residents, their families and our community say about our facility, our services and our family.
Riverbend Honored for
Rays of Kindness
State of Vermont
Executive Department
A Recognition
WHEREAS, Jennifer Doyle spreads joy and kindness to Vermonters, by creating a warm and inviting experience for residents and their visitors at the Riverbend Residential Care Home.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Philip B. Scott, Governor, hereby recognize and honor
JENNIFER DOYLE
for lighting the way and being a ray of kindness and goodwill.
Vermont Biz
Annual State House Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
From Governor Scott:
I want to take a few minutes to welcome some special guests who have been recognized through my “Rays of Kindness” initiative. This is something we started during the pandemic because we needed to be reminded of the “good” that was still there. But it’s just as important today, so I’m going to share a few of these “Rays of Kindness” with you now.
Rays of Kindness
Letter to Jennifer Doyle, Riverbend
Dear Jennifer:
I want to thank you for your efforts to spread joy and kindness to your community and support your residents and their families throughout this pandemic. The outstanding level of care you’ve helped provide at Riverbend Residential Care Home has been recognized by those families and is greatly appreciated.
Testimonials
from residents & their families, staff and community
Judith Ingalls, Resident
I am writing this in support of Riverbend RCH and Jen Doyle, owner and Manager at Riverbend. I have lived here for 18 years now and have experienced many changes in staff and residents. Jen insists on the highest quality of care both for the residents and the building, as well.
At all times the staff is very patient and caring with the residents - as well as with each other. The food is mostly home-cooked by the staff and the menu is changed weekly. We at no time have had a bad meal. Likewise for our clothes and bed linens. Our sheets are washed when we take showers and our clothes are washed twice a day.
Some of the more capable residents are given chores to help us keep busy. If we need a break, we are given time off as needed. To say I love it here would be an understatement. I do love Jen Doyle and her staff and most of the residents. Jen is very careful to choose residents and staff that are compatible with one another.
I would recommend Riverbend very highly for superior care. It is a great place to work as well as to live.
April Doyle, Staff Member
The residents are fun to work with and I enjoy making them laugh and smile. "Laughter is the best medicine" is my motto - along with caring about everyone as the individuals they are - not just physically, but emotionally as well.
My coworkers are family - if not in reality, then we act as family - we've got each other's backs and work well as a team towards giving the best possible care.
Sandy Conrad, Southwest Vermont Council on Aging
Dear Jennifer,
How happy and proud I am for you and Riverbend. When I read the really nice article in the Herald and saw the smiling faces of old friends, my heart filled knowing you are there in Chelsea giving such a wonderful opportunity and home to so many who deserve it. Thank you for caring so much!
Keep up the good work…
Chris Zubryd, Resident Family Member
Michelle was a flower planted in too much hardship and trauma to bloom. Until Jennifer made the decision, after meeting Michelle, to take her on and replant her and feed her and now she has blossomed in ways no one knew possible.
The beautiful thing about Riverbend is that you don't just give them your family members to care for; which they do brilliantly, you welcome Riverbend into your family as well.
Ronald Jones, Resident
I like everything at Riverbend, Bear (our cat), meals, porches front and rear. I like the staff and they help me with plants and tasks. I like the care given. I like all the people here.
Iris Beede, Staff Member
Working here at Riverbend doesn't even feel like a job, feels like a second home. The residents care for us, just as much as we care for them. It's like one big happy family.
Emma May Cook, Resident
I came to Riverbend two years ago. The staff have been great. I have a lot of fun with the residents and staff. The rooms are clean and tidy all the time. It's nice here.
Jennifer Poor, Resident Family Member
The care my mom receives is outstanding. Jennifer and the staff are wonderful with her and they have made many provisions to keep her safe and healthy. I would highly recommend anyone to place their loved one in their care. The pandemic has been handled with everyone's safety in mind and they kept it at bay for over 2 years, outstanding in my opinion. My mom is 63 with Alzheimer's, they have committed to care for her for the long haul and are in constant communication with me. It is a relief for my family to know she is being so well cared for and happy.
Michael Fitzgerald, Resident
I like this place. I think this place cares about the people. This place is home. The cooks are fantastic. I like the workers. They are great. The place is friendly. Meals are great. I love this place. I have been here quite a while and it is terrific.
Philip Picknell, Resident
I want to thank you, Jen, for taking me in here. I love my home and how you take care of me by getting me to appointments and for meeting my needs. And also the staff has been great. They go out of their way to make sure they have what I need. I love being home because this is the home I was hoping and praying for.
This is a great place to live, and I'm grateful to God for the blessing of being here in Riverbend. I would like to express my gratefulness for the quality of caring and loving that I have in my life every day.
I especially want to thank you for your assistance and experience in helping me make my decisions on all my medical issues.
And finally, I would like to thank you for allowing me to minister to my congregation through Zoom for the few weeks I was able to be in contact with my loving congregation here in Vermont.
May God bless you abundantly for your love and care for all of us as a family.
In the Media...
Our Herald
Riverbend Elder Home Recognized As One Of Vt.’s Best
Chelsea Facility Gets High Marks in State Assessment
For the second time in three years, Riverbend has earned high marks with the state for the care they provide to elders. For the second time in three years, Riverbend Residential Care Home’s report card is full of high marks for the care they provide elders.
Seven Days
A State-Funded Program Recruits Caregivers to Eldercare Homes in COVID-19 Crisis
A single positive test put Riverbend Residential Care Home on a knife's edge.
Jennifer Doyle operates the small, homelike eldercare facility in Chelsea that her parents owned before her. A self-described "drill sergeant" about COVID-19 precautions, Doyle nearly made it through 2020 without a case...
Vermont Public Radio
COVID-19 Kept Families, Regulators Out Of Eldercare Facilities
What Happened Behind Closed Doors?
Some operators acknowledged that their residents missed out on an important part of their care during the last year. Prior to the pandemic, Riverbend Residential Care Home had an "open-revolving door." Families didn't even have to call; they could just drop by the Chelsea facility, said owner Jennifer Doyle...