Pricing ranges from
    $4,355 – 5,226/month

    Auxiliary House Memory Care Home

    5501 Southwick St, Bethesda, MD, 20817
    4.6 · 9 reviews
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    5.0

    Exceptional small home memory care

    I chose Auxiliary House for my loved one and couldn't be happier. The small, eight-person, home-like setting in Bethesda is spotless, close to the hospital, and full of warm, long-term caregivers who provide attentive, high-quality memory care, medical coordination, and engaging programming. Families are welcomed, my relative feels loved, safe, and valued, and I'm grateful - it was the best decision for us.

    Pricing

    $4,355+/moSemi-privateAssisted Living
    $5,226+/mo1 BedroomAssisted Living

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Coordination with health care providers
    • Medication management

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Transportation arrangement (medical)
    • Transportation to doctors appointments

    Community services

    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    4.56 · 9 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      5.0
    • Staff

      4.5
    • Meals

      4.6
    • Amenities

      4.6
    • Value

      5.0

    Pros

    • Small, cozy 8-person group home
    • Specialized memory care for residents with memory disorders
    • Warm, caring, and committed caregivers
    • Long-term and consistent staff presence
    • Attentive and high-quality daily care
    • Good medical coordination
    • Plentiful programming and engagement opportunities
    • Welcoming to families with opportunities for family involvement
    • Home-like, spotless, and inviting atmosphere
    • Excellent price point and overall value
    • Close to family and friends and located near a hospital
    • Opportunities for walking and outdoor access
    • Responsive to concerns and accessible caregivers
    • Residents feel loved, valued, safe, and cared for
    • Many reviewers strongly recommend Auxiliary House

    Cons

    • Reports of understaffing and overwhelmed caregivers
    • At least one reviewer felt management does not support staff
    • Not a luxury or high-end facility—limited in fanciness
    • A small number of reviewers would not recommend it

    Summary review

    Auxiliary House Memory Care Home is consistently described as a small, home-like memory care setting that specializes in caring for people with memory disorders. Multiple reviewers highlight the facility's size (an 8-person group home), calling it cozy and intimate. This small scale appears to be a central feature: it contributes to a warm, inviting atmosphere where residents are frequently described as feeling loved, valued, safe, and well cared for. The home is noted to be spotless and comfortable rather than luxurious, and some reviewers explicitly say it is "not the fanciest facilities," which many view as acceptable given the quality of personalized attention provided.

    Care quality and staffing are among the most emphasized positives. Reviews repeatedly praise attentive, capable, and committed caregivers who are patient and responsive. Several comments reference long-term staff and consistent caregiving teams, which families perceive as a stability benefit for residents with memory disorders. Reviewers also point to effective medical coordination and highly effective, efficient care. Many family members describe feeling grateful and say placing their loved ones at Auxiliary House was the "best decision," with several explicit recommendations in favor of the home.

    Programming and engagement are other strong themes. The home is described as offering plentiful activities and engagement opportunities, and the staff is credited with creating meaningful daily routines. The environment is family-friendly and welcoming to visitors, and reviewers emphasize that family involvement is encouraged. The location in the Bethesda neighborhood and proximity to a hospital are mentioned as conveniences; reviewers appreciate that the home is close to family and friends and that there are opportunities to walk outdoors, adding to quality of life for residents.

    Value and non-clinical features also come through positively. Multiple reviewers call out an excellent price point, suggesting that Auxiliary House offers strong value for families seeking specialized memory care without premium luxury trappings. The overall tone in most summaries is that people and relationships matter most at this home—staff have "heart in it," the setting feels like a real house rather than an institution, and families notice that level of personal care.

    However, there are some notable concerns and mixed signals to balance the largely positive picture. A recurring negative note is that the home is perceived as understaffed by some reviewers, with caregivers sometimes described as overwhelmed. One review explicitly stated that management "doesn't care about staff," and the reviewer did not recommend the facility. These comments suggest potential variability in staffing levels or management support that could affect care continuity and staff morale. While most reviewers praised responsiveness and attentiveness, these dissenting remarks point to a risk that families should investigate further—ask about current staffing ratios, turnover, and leadership practices during a tour or intake discussion.

    In summary, Auxiliary House Memory Care Home appears to be a well-regarded, small-scale memory care option characterized by warm, consistent caregiving, strong family engagement, good medical coordination, and solid programming—all delivered in a spotless, home-like environment at a competitive price. The primary caution from the reviews is the possibility of understaffing and management-related concerns highlighted by a minority of reviewers. Prospective families should weigh the clearly expressed strengths (personalized attention, experienced staff, proximity to services and family) against the negative reports and verify current staffing and management practices when making a decision.

    Location

    Map showing location of Auxiliary House Memory Care Home

    About Auxiliary House Memory Care Home

    Auxiliary House is a specialized memory care home located in Bethesda, Maryland, thoughtfully designed to support individuals living with early to moderate stages of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The home stands out for its warm, inviting atmosphere, set up in a cozy two-story residence that fosters a sense of security and comfort. With its convenient proximity to local hospitals and the downtown area, Auxiliary House offers families peace of mind, knowing their loved ones are not only close but cared for in a safe, nurturing setting.

    The intimate nature of Auxiliary House is reflected in its capacity, maintaining only eight private studio bedrooms, each featuring a private bathroom. These living spaces offer residents independence and privacy while also giving them ample opportunity to connect with peers and staff in the communal areas, including a living room, kitchen, dining room, and sitting area. The environment encourages residents to engage in everyday home activities—setting the table, watering flowers, or folding laundry—which helps to maintain routines from their previous home life and supports a sense of purpose and familiarity.

    Personalized care is at the core of everything at Auxiliary House. Upon move-in, every resident receives a carefully crafted biography, highlighting key life accomplishments, backgrounds, hobbies, and joys. This personalized approach forms the foundation of the “Family Album,” an in-house resource that not only helps staff build meaningful connections with residents but also shapes the activity program to suit individual interests. The emphasis on a close-knit, family-like atmosphere ensures that each resident is recognized for who they are beyond their memory loss.

    Culinary care is also tailored to individual needs and preferences. Residents are served three home-cooked meals and snacks daily in the communal dining room, with staff attentive to dietary restrictions, allergies, and personal favorites—even down to favorite ice cream flavors and coffee preferences. The act of involving residents in mealtime preparation, such as setting the table or clearing dishes, further enhances a home-like setting and offers daily moments of engagement and comfort.

    Auxiliary House staffs a compassionate and long-tenured team, with many caregivers having dedicated over a decade—and some even more than 25 years—to the home. The consistency and experience of the staff result in highly personalized care, with an excellent staff-to-resident ratio of 1:4 during the day and 1:8 overnight. Caregivers are available around the clock to support daily living activities, medication management, nutrition monitoring, housekeeping, and laundry. Supplementing the care team are a delegating nurse, directors, an activity therapist, a maintenance supervisor, a human resources manager, and a business manager, ensuring comprehensive support for all residents.

    Residents at Auxiliary House benefit from access to visiting medical professionals, including physicians, therapists, podiatrists, dentists, and geriatric psychiatrists. The home facilitates regular visits from these healthcare providers for convenience and enhanced monitoring, while also welcoming residents’ ongoing relationships with their existing doctors. When needed, arrangements are made for physical, occupational, or speech therapy services directly at Auxiliary House, further contributing to the holistic well-being of each resident.

    The activity program is uniquely responsive to residents’ backgrounds and interests, continually adapting to create meaningful experiences that bring joy and stimulation. Full-time activity therapists work individually and in groups, offering everything from gardening projects and reminiscence sessions to art activities and cognitive stimulation. Residents participate in daily exercise, singalongs, puzzles, and group crafts. For those with specific hobbies or interests, personalized groups or activities—such as a quilting group—are created to ensure ongoing engagement and fulfillment.

    Most residents make Auxiliary House their long-term home, including those receiving hospice care when the time comes. The home’s thoughtful design, highly trained team, and tailored care approach combine to create an environment where every resident feels respected, safe, and loved. Dedicated staff, individualized care, and a true commitment to each resident’s dignity and quality of life are at the heart of Auxiliary House, making it a trusted choice for memory care in the Bethesda area.

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