I have visited a couple of ALFs which are part of the Five Star Senior Living company. I've been quite impressed with them at first glance and on paper. (fivestarseniorliving.com) I was attracted to them because they have dementia units which I believe are called Bridge to Rediscovery. In a couple of them like "Morningside" the dementia unit is separate but still very nice as opposed to a couple other ALFs or NHs I have visited where the dementia wing seems so much "less than" the rest of the place. I believe all the Five Star places have SIX LEVELS OF CARE and the price is increased with the services needed.
The one in Richmond VA is called Heartfields and is very impressive and they do not separate out the dementia patients but deal with wandering through security methods like bracelets perhaps. I can't recall at the moment. The marketing person said probably half of the 50 patients have some form of dementia or AD and many others have Parkinsons. It seems too god to be true.
As I said in another thread I have asked all these places I've been visiting under what circumstances they ask someone to leave and they mostly say they handle that with the nursing staff, doctors, etc. Maybe I should come up with a more specific question?
So anyone with knowleldge of the FIVE STAR SENIOR LIVING places please post what you know. THANKS SO MUCH.
Terry--If you are seriously considering these places for the future, ask for family references (people you can contact whose LO's either live there now or did recently). It would be best if they were males, around your hb's age. We ask for personal references before hiring workmen for our homes, etc., this is just (or even more) as important an issue!
I had a woman about my age stop me one day when I was visiting my Dad at his ALF for that specific purpose. She asked me some questions about how satisified we are, etc. I thought that was a good idea too.