Need Help Choosing Assisted Living/Memory Care Facility
 

We are researching various Assisted Living with Memory Care, for when it is needed. Has anyone had any experience or thoughts about Atria, Harbor Chase at Villages Crossing or Mission Oaks? Any input would be appreciated. Thank you

Call Josephine Cirrinone at Your Key to Senior Living at 352-973-2729. She is a Senior Living Advisor that will assess your needs and help you find an appropriate facility. Her services are free to you and she has about forty years experience in the field. Give her a call. She will not disappoint..

I just sent you a private message

Mission Oaks seems to get very high customer ratings.

We used Mission Oaks a few years ago for my mother in law, seemed to be a very nice facility.

My wife chose to live in Trinity Springs in Oxford. She had excellent care.

Many years ago we had to put my mother in an alzheimer's unit, up in RI . The first one was a pit. We found a much better one near our house in MA. The point is do your homework.

Rule of thumb: the best facilities have the longest waiting lists.

It doesn't have to be all-or-nothing though. If there is an extended wait time, there are in-home services available too.

You can find some information on medicare.gov by clicking on ‘Find Care Providers’ and then ‘Nursing Homes’ and then put in the zip code.

There you will find ratings that are the result of inspections, reports, etc. There are some details available.

The Medicare site also shows whether a facility is a non profit or a for profit.

Wherever you choose, visits are extremely important.

Boomer

They asked about Assisted Living/Memory Care, NOT nursing homes. Big difference.

I understand.

The Medicare site is cumbersome. The only way I could find Memory Care on there was limited to CCRCs. That was found under Nursing Homes, but it was necessary to scroll through the page to check individual listings to see if they are Continuing Care Retirement Communities, including Memory Care.

I typed in 32162 and Freedom Pointe showed up as a CCRC, but then you have to go their website to find the Memory Care part.

But if Memory Care was on there anywhere else — other than with a CCRC under Nursing Homes, I could not find it. I wonder if maybe Medicare does not inspect those facilities that do not have a skilled nursing care section, but I don’t really know how that works.

So I guess I was not very helpful. It looks like others here have been though.

Boomer

We looked at a couple places in TV a few months ago and were told that most facilities run about 90 to 95% full, although with the pandemic most had more availability.

Hubby's family decided to keep my MIL up north rather than move her down by us but had they chosen Florida, we would have gone with Atria/Watercrest in Spanish Springs. She is now living in Atria Center City in Philadelphia. We were favorably impressed with both Atria locations.

Good luck.

kathy

I would NOT recommend Freedom Pointe. Personal experience with my Mom. Horrible!

I was not recommending it either. I was just explaining how it popped up on the Medicare site. The Medicare “stars” — or lack thereof — can speak volumes.

This can be such a difficult decision. I wish the OP well as she goes through it.

Boomer

Thank you to everyone for your advice. It is not an easy decision, especially when the person doesn’t want to go.