(Provided by Gilbert Guide's on-site reviewer)

A neatly trimmed hedge borders the front lawn at Chapin Home for the Aging. The red brick building with white trim paints a classic picture in its quiet residential neighborhood off of Chapin Parkway. The enclosed front patio features bench seating that overlooks a green expanse with two grand firs and various shrubs. The cheery lobby extends into a gorgeous seating area with skylights, warm peach walls, a grand piano and the stately chime of a grandfather clock. A group of residents and their visiting spouses were carried away in conversation when we entered the room. Rich wood furniture dominates residents' huge rooms. Most have lovely views of the surrounding tree-lined streets. Personal belongings such as family photos and decorative bedspreads are a recurring trend in the décor. Each floor boasts a spacious dining area and separate activity room. A staff therapist was leading a group of residents in a current events discussion in one activity area. A mural depicting a town square adorns the walls of one highly trafficked seating area conveniently situated outside the beauty shop. Book lovers and TV buffs flock to a second common area, where a big-screen TV sits opposite the shelves stacked with books. A combination of natural light and soft artificial lighting bounce off the spotless linoleum in the facility's wide hallways. By the end of our tour, we understood why several residents chose Chapin Home simply on the advice of friends. One gentleman, the husband of one resident, spoke plainly about his wife's tenure at Chapin Home: "My wife has been here four years and gets very good care. Eventually, everyone becomes friends here." Family members take an active role at Chapin Home; another resident's son informed us that he brings his dog Maxie to visit his mother and her friends regularly. Pet therapy is a staple in the program, which residents thoroughly appreciate. Other services include physical, occupational and speech therapies, peg feedings, wound and hospice care. Currently, the facility does not accept HMO contracts.