When my father found out he had cancer, he moved from the mainland to Honolulu. Three years later he and my mother thoroughly investigated all of the assisted living facilities on Oahu; they decided on Arcadia because of the services, ambience, and staff.
My father never got to move there, but my mother did. The staff is incredibly kind to her, I get called whenever she has a fall or other incident, and the building is impeccably clean and well-decorated. It's nicer than my own home! There is a clinic for regular visits (or you can continue to see your own doctor or use both), a floor for acute care, and a floor for long-term care. They have their own gym, pool, library, DVD loan, storage facility, garden that you can work in, and probably other things I don't even know about! There are a variety of health classes, classes for continuing education and entertainment, presentations, performances, etc. Shuttles take the residents to local grocery and drug stores, and the Handi-Van will some pick up residents when scheduled. They even have extraordinarily clean guest rooms that family and friends can rent for a fraction of the cost of a local hotel.
The staff seems to genuinely care for the residents, and gives them the respect that they deserve. It is likely because Hawaiians tend to believe family is very important and that those older than we are should be treated well. My sister and I thought about moving our mother to the mainland, but couldn't imagine a place where that kind of cultural belief is present and practiced.
The only reason I am giving Arcadia 4 stars instead of 5 is because I think they should have a staff gerontologist who sees all of the residents. Other than that, I am extremely happy with Arcadia, and I can rest at night knowing that my mother is in their capable hands. read more
