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

Connor-Williams Nursing Home is a real "home away from home," with a simple charm that larger centers sometimes lack. Residents enjoy the freedom to express and implement changes; for example, if a resident wants French toast for breakfast, than French toast it is. The no-frills building has a small front lawn and a few flower pots and chairs out front. The building's hilltop positioning creates a unique layout. The street-level front entrance leads into an area with four double-occupancy resident rooms that was once a private home. There's a large living room with homey décor, a TV and a piano. The first floor dining room is an ongoing art project for one resident who is a painter and wears prosthetics on his legs. Here, he not only expresses his passion for art, but also heals in the process. The physical therapist helps him reach further while standing so he is able to paint the walls with various designs—we glimpsed houses, stores and trains. The lower level, located at the base of the hill and accessible from the backyard, is also technically on street level. This floor contains eight double rooms, its own dining room and a living room with a TV and screened-in porch. Many residents choose to be served in their rooms so they can enjoy their favorite TV programs while dining. Each floor has its own activity coordinator. Entertainers often visit and perform for residents. The bedside activity program engages residents who may be inclined to spend a lot of time in their rooms. Staff members incorporate aromatherapy, reading and sensory stimulation, such as hand massage. Dementia residents especially respond to tactile stimulation, such as electronic stuffed animals, which are both soft and entertaining. Residents who require physical therapy receive it in their rooms. Through the Falling Star program, staff members identify and monitor those residents who are prone to falls.