Columbia Cottage

Had a bizarre interaction and experience with Renee Thornton, the current activity director. After playing there since 2013, she had booked me, yet upon arriving 10 minutes early, there were only 3 residents in the room to hear the entertainment. I believe she was in a rush to get out for vacation. I believe she said 'I didn't know if you were coming or not.' We had had this booked months in advance, so if I weren't coming, I would have called to let her know. She had my cell phone number, so if she wanted to confirm, that would have been easy to do. I haven't heard back since which is a shame since I've done a lot for the community in terms of giving discounts whenever I can when I'm in the area.

Typical sales people running the show. Will find out something in common with a potential resident and run with that, promise things but never follow through. Once the "sale" is made you are forgotten. The care giving staff was good though but many staff are from agencies and not in house. The facility Dr. was also very dismissive of the hospice place we used and I believe it was because it wasn't the place they normally use but the hospice staff were phenomenal as was Lisa from the cottage but the management at this place is lacking. Our sales person stopped in to see Mom like twice in 3 weeks as Mom was in hospice and never a word from her when Mom passed. Very phoney sales people that will say whatever they think you want to hear to make the sale and that's all they care about, the sale.

Unfortunately, our experience with Columbia Cottage Hershey has been far from what we expected. While the facility appears well-maintained on the surface, there are several underlying issues that need serious attention. Some of the staff show a clear lack of concern for the residents’ needs, often dismissing requests or delaying essential care. This is deeply troubling in a place that is supposed to prioritize the comfort and dignity of its residents. Despite having a dedicated deep-cleaning staff, the presence of bugs has been a recurring issue—something that raises serious concerns about hygiene and proper facility maintenance. The biggest concern, however, is the conduct of Amber, the supervisor. She is consistently unprofessional, dismissive, and carries a very unpleasant attitude when addressing families or concerns. Her lack of empathy and accountability creates a toxic environment, and quite honestly, the facility would likely run much more smoothly under different leadership. It’s also worth noting that the state has been called multiple times due to ongoing issues at the facility, which speaks volumes about the level of care and oversight in place. I would strongly encourage management to reevaluate the culture and leadership at this location to better serve the residents who call it home.