Monticello West

After visiting several senior living communities, I chose Monticello West for my mom because they offered an “enhanced assisted living” option, which was supposed to accommodate residents needing two-person transfers. I was also impressed early on, especially with Nan who was responsive and helpful in answering all my questions. Things started off okay, but one issue showed up pretty quickly. My mom uses a wheelchair and needed help getting to and from the dining room. Staff would take her down for meals, and when she was ready to return to her room, she’d press the button on her fob for assistance. On multiple occasions, she was left waiting alone in the dining room for over an hour. This was frustrating and embarrassing for her. There was also a staff member who pushed my mom to do more than she was physically capable of. Something happened (I was never told exactly what), but I was informed that the person was written up and instructed not to go back to my mom’s room. Additionally, Nan stopped replying to my emails, and messages to other staff were often ignored too. We had an initial meeting where I was told I’d be introduced to all the department heads. Only a couple of people showed up; apparently my mom wasn’t considered important enough for the full team. The director, Tom, was not present and I had no contact with him until I gave notice to move my mom elsewhere. To her credit, Sandra, who managed my mom’s floor, was always responsive to my emails and phone calls. However, about a year into my mom’s stay, she called to tell me they could no longer meet my mom’s needs. She said that my mom now needed more than two people to assist with transfers. I asked how much time I had to find a new facility, and she said, “About two weeks.” That’s not what the contract says, but at that point, I didn’t want my mom to stay somewhere that couldn’t or wouldn’t care for her properly. My mom later told me they’d recently hired a bunch of new staff who weren’t well trained, so sometimes it would take 3 or 4 of them to transfer her. They would also gather in her room to chat with each other. Ironically, just a few days after Sandra’s call, I saw one of the experienced caregivers transfer my mom by herself, quickly and with care. When I asked her how she did it, she smiled and said, “Patience.” I found another facility and scheduled my mom’s move for a Sunday. Since her birthday was the day before, I asked about reserving a room for a small celebration. I was told that due to Covid concerns, no rooms were available. That was fine; I told my mom’s friends we’d meet outside on the patio to play it safe. Several of her guests, most of whom were senior citizens, told me that Laura Rooney (the activities director) raised her voice at them and told them they weren’t allowed to be there. She also raised her voice at me. I explained we were outside and following all the rules, but it didn’t seem to matter. The whole thing left a really bad taste. After we moved my mom out and cleared her room, I asked when I’d receive the refund for the unused portion of the month’s rent. I mentioned that I had accidentally taken her fob and would return it as soon as I could. Tom implied I wouldn’t be refunded for the days I had the fob, which seemed petty, but the facility eventually processed the full refund. Still, it wasn’t the kind of support I needed during such a stressful transition. To be fair, some staff were wonderful. Kam, TT, Cynthia, and Willis were kind, respectful, and truly cared about my mom. The maintenance guys and housekeeping team were always polite and helpful. Thankfully, my mom is now in a facility that truly values her. They care for her with patience and compassion. When friends visit, they’re welcomed, not scolded. Phone calls and emails are returned. When my mom needs help, she gets it within minutes, versus hours. She’s happy now, and that makes me happy too. Looking back, I wish I’d installed a camera in her room at Monticello West from day one. If you have a loved one there, I strongly recommend you do.