Krystle D.
1/5
We recently moved my 74-year-old grandmother to Red Oak – Autumn Wood in hopes of bringing her closer to family in Sudbury. She is completely sound of mind, but has very low mobility, osteoporosis, and requires a colostomy bag. Unfortunately, our experience with this residence was incredibly disappointing and upsetting from the very beginning.
Upon arrival, there was no one to greet or assist us. We were simply handed keys to a room that was not ready—there was no fridge (which we had confirmed ahead of time was necessary for her medication), and the bathroom had a full bathtub, even though the staff was well aware of her severe fall risk and physical limitations. This information had already been provided by her longtime family doctor, and discussed in detail during a one-hour virtual consultation with the home's Wellness Manager. Only after pushing for better accommodations was she moved to another room with a proper shower—at an increased cost, of course.
The building is older, and her room door was too heavy for her to operate safely on her own. This meant she was essentially trapped in her room, unable to come and go without fear of hurting herself. We even offered to purchase a door-opening device ourselves, but maintenance gave no real solution.
As the first week progressed, it became painfully clear that the home was not equipped or willing to provide the level of support my grandmother needed. Despite our many conversations with staff—including daily visits by my father—we were constantly met with resistance. Her PSW was unfamiliar with how to care for a colostomy bag, and even refused to wash her hair because she requested to wear waterproof gear to protect her appliance in the shower.
We had also informed the home during our initial tour that she was gluten intolerant and had specific dietary needs due to her digestive health. When she tried to provide polite feedback about meals that were making her ill, things took a disturbing turn. Instead of working with us to find a solution, we received a written notice from the home evicting her after just 7 days, citing that she “wasn’t nice to staff” and “complained about food.”
Speaking confidentially with a few staff members, it became clear that the truth was simpler: she was too much work and the staff was unwilling to meet the level of care required—even though they knew exactly what they were signing up for before she moved in.
To make matters worse, two weeks after she was forced to leave, the home kept her $500 deposit and then attempted to withdraw nearly $9,400 (first and last month’s rent) from her account—despite her having stayed less than two full weeks.
This experience has been emotionally devastating for our family, and especially for my grandmother, who was made to feel like a burden and ultimately bullied out of what was supposed to be a “home.” Thankfully, she is now in a much better and more supportive residence where she is treated with dignity and care.
I share this review not out of anger, but as a warning: if your loved one requires real support, especially for physical or dietary needs, please think twice before trusting Red Oak – Autumn Wood. They may present themselves as a warm, accommodating home, but our experience was the exact opposite.
