The Hickman Friends Senior Community of West Chester

Joshua Coyne

I can’t speak to the quality of care the facility provides, but I can speak as a neighbor of The Hickman. Quite often we neighbors have been disturbed by loud noise after hours. The West Chester borough has a noise ordinance where heavy machinery, trucks, yelling, etc. is not allowed after 9 PM or before 7 AM. The Hickman has violated this rule many many times. They sometimes have contractors there until 10 or 11pm. The landscape company they have on contract shows up Before 7 AM most Mondays regardless of holidays. In winter months, they have people shoveling and using a snowblower on the sidewalks at all hours of the night. I walk my dog in front of their entrance on Walnut Street and often see discarded rubber gloves and masks littering the street. I’ve lived here many years before the pandemic and this would happen pre-2020 as well. The flowerbeds and gardens are often full of weeds and dead plants too. If this is how the Hickman treats the neighbors in the neighborhood out in the open, I can only imagine how they treat your elderly family members behind closed doors. EDIT: This is my response as I can not directly reply to their response... For about 125 years you were a respected part of the community. Since the new expansion, the last 5 or so years have been disgraceful and disrespectful. I am not interested in a tour of the facility. I am interested in you becoming a better neighbor and respecting the rules of the borough and the neighborhood. I have called before to complain about noise and trash and I am met with little concern from the staff. Other neighbors have done the same but no change occurs. Your business in not in a corporate or medical center, its in a quiet residential part of town. Treat it so. If there is a Stanley Steamer truck parked on walnut st or marshall st and its obnoxiously loud after 9pm, shut them down. We should not have to call you or call the police at 11pm on a Wednesday night because of noise. Teach your shift managers to deal with contractors who violate the regulations of the borough. Tell your contracted landscapers not to start before 7am and not to plow, shovel or snow-blow the sidewalks at all hours of the night. Teach your staff to not litter. I have seen "nurses" throw latex gloves in the street while getting in their car. Our streets are not your medical waste depository. Be a better neighbor.

Maria S

I am moving my parents from out of state to PA to live near me, and the Hickman is the first place I am touring. I have heard great things. It is a hard choice when relocating parents. All children want is their parents safe and secure and treated with dignity and respect :) I think this place has a wonderful history and caring staff so I am looking forward to scheduling my visit :)

Betsy Stratton

I have known of The Hickman for as long as I can remember. I have known numerous people who chose to live at The Hickman over the years, including my mother at the end of her life. Her first night there she had become confused during the night and called me to tell me about a phone pole falling on the railroad track in the snow and her concern that the train would not be able to come through. I'd never experienced this disorientation with my mother before so it was concerning. I assured my mother I would be sure things were taken care of, hung up with her and called The Hickman. They connected me with the person working on her floor that night who assured me she would check on my mother and be sure all was ok. Within half and hour the staff had called me back, said they had helped my mother get settled back in bed and would be sure to check on her a couple of times during the night. I was very grateful. There has always been some sort of indescribable magic to The Hickman that you sense as soon as you enter the doors. It's so impressive that the staff has kept that feel over time and I sense it whenever I go on campus. The staff is very devoted and understands that The Hickman is home to the residents and work hard to keep that front of mind. The food is amazing thanks to Chef's Rodney & Zach and their crew, and the variety of activities never ceases to amaze me. It's been one of the honor's of my life to serve on The Board of Director's of The Hickman and be part of the work to keep up the proud traditions that have served the community for over 130 years.

Diana Hodgson

As a member of the Board of Directors at The Hickman, I am inspired by each staff member who I meet. They come to their work with a depth of health care experience to serve each resident with an extra dose of kindness and grace. I am very proud to be affiliated this fine organization.