The Village of St. Edward was ranked number 1 in family satisfaction in Medina County by The Ohio Department of Aging

By Patricia Nugent

Congratulations are in order to The Village of St. Edward in Wadsworth, which recently was recently ranked number 1 in family satisfaction in medina county and in the top 25 in Ohio through an annual satisfaction survey conducted by the Ohio Department of Aging.

“I believe we scored so highly because our employees and leadership consistently demonstrate their commitment to caring for our residents,” says Administrator Aubrey Harmath, who notes they have scored above average every year since opening in 2019, and that this year was their highest performance. The survey touched on the areas of dining, care, administration, activities, environment and overall satisfaction within the community.

“We are blessed with wonderful residents and families who we have built relationships with over the years,” she says. “This is a true community that people say feels like home. There is a warmth here.”

She says the factor that differentiates VSE from most other places is that once people call it home, they won’t be asked to leave if they outlive their funds.

“It’s part of being a faith-based, not-for-profit facility,” she says.

What Families Have to Say
We caught up with several family members to see why they rated the Village of St. Edward so highly.

Debbi James, daughter of Vi Brown, an assisted living resident: “Since I live in Texas, it’s been a godsend to know my mom is taken care of in a setting that offers a continuum of care. She began in independent living then moved to assisted living. When we first walked through the Village, it seemed so light, bright and cheerful. There are windows everywhere looking out onto the green scenery and she loves that. She sold her house when my dad died and was looking for company. As a retired schoolteacher, she likes to stay current. One of her favorite pastimes is The Daily Chronicle, a group that meets daily to discuss current events. It’s run by a staff person and they have lively chats.”

Vi adds, “The goal here is to offer so many different activities that you don’t spend too much time in your room. The staff and other people who live here couldn’t be any nicer. Happy hours on Friday afternoons at the pub are always a great time and there’s a library with all large print books that I enjoy. Everyone here goes out of their way to take care of us.”

Stacy Peters, daughter of Dee Richmond, a resident of memory care: “When we knew it was time for my mom to go in, that she was no longer safe on her own, I remembered visiting the VSE location in Fairlawn for a board meeting and noticing the residents there always seemed happy. Mom was worried about her cats and we were thrilled she could take them here. They do so much in memory care to keep her engaged and active.”

Pam Douglas, whose mother Shirley was a resident of assisted living: “My mom’s physician suggested we tour three places. We toured VSE first, and she said she didn’t even want to look further at the others. This place seemed like home, and she loved the staff. She was involved with many things, from puzzles to music and crafts. The staff made sure she was plugged in to everything. Even when she became wheelchair-bound they took her to all the activities.”

Woodsy Setting, Rustic Atmosphere

Tucked back on rolling acres of green space, the Village caters to the physical, spiritual and social needs of its residents. The atmosphere is welcoming, with a modern farmhouse esthetic punctuated by sliding barn doors, reclaimed wood, white-washed shiplap walls and roaring stone fireplaces.

There are many inviting aspects here for every stage of care—from independent living to assisted and memory care—including the peace of mind of knowing there is medical staff on-site 24/7.

The Village of St. Edward has three locations: Wadsworth, 880 Main Street, 234-217-8735; Green, 3813 Fortuna Drive, 234-294-0010; and Fairlawn, 3125 Smith Road, 330-668-2828. There are no long-term contracts and residents will not be asked to leave if they run out of funds. Pets under 20 pounds are welcome. For more information, or to take a virtual visit, go to VSECommunities.org.