Parkwood Healthcare

A large brick building with black shingles houses Parkwood and its sister Alzheimer’s unit. An undeveloped portion of land covered with trees surrounds the facility. Oaks and maples shade the expanse of lawn fronting Parkwood, which is just a block from Harris Methodist HEB Hospital. A reception desk furnishes the stately foyer. Patterned rugs reflect the vivid hues of the floral lithographs hanging on the walls.

The building features high ceilings, fluorescent lighting and expansive windows. The hallways are exceptionally broad. The facility boasts several common areas; in one, a wooden grandfather clock and a baby grand sit near a fireplace and leather couches. An indoor courtyardprovides a gathering spot for residents. Several residents and staff members cheerfully bustled about the facility during our tour as they prepared for a Halloween party. Residents enjoy exercising twice a day. Other popular pastimes include puzzles and board games, as well as trips to a local library and nearby malls and restaurants.

Cream-colored walls, white baseboards and beige carpet lend an airy feel to residents’ sunny rooms. In the Mayfair, the facility’s Alzheimer’s unit, residents’ rooms feature pink privacy curtains that match the curtains on the expansive windows. Marble-patterned linoleum floors and white walls brighten the rooms. All bathrooms have spacious walk-in showers with seats. On the day of our tour, the menu listed a hearty breakfast of ham and eggs with toast. Pumpkin pie and cinnamon apples provided fall-themed desserts. The special snack of the day was rice krispies, which were available in each of the activity rooms.