After ten stressful months and thousands of wasted dollars at another facility, we were asked by…read morefacility administration to move our mother out ASAP. We frantically began trying to find her a spot, but it was hard because of her somewhat unique care needs. When we toured Aegis, we were skeptical. Without exception, the recruiting/admissions staff roll out the red carpet no matter what facility you're considering. They engage with staff during your tour, hype up the longevity of their employees, brag about the extensive amenities provided, answer all of your emails and calls immediately. Unfortunately, as we discovered at Atria (review pending), that treatment can end abruptly once you sign the contract and write that first check. But not at Aegis. Here, that excellent sense of security and care you get during your first tour is something they obviously strive to maintain. And it shows!
After a full month at Aegis, all I can say is that I'm more impressed every day with everything, from the grounds to the staff to the food to the activities. Even the admissions coordinator continues to assist us and answer every question we have. The staff is happy, even if you're not touring. Someone comes in to check on my mom no less frequently than once an hour whenever I'm there, usually twice. If it's not the pet therapy, medication management, snack cart, or other scheduled thing, it's someone popping in to ask mom if she'd like to go to dinner or an activity, or simply if she needs anything.
It's clear Aegis takes pride in its facility. It's well-maintained and concerns are promptly addressed. If the person who'd normally take care of it is out, someone will be there to try to fill in. The difference is night and day from the last place. For example, at the prior facility, we were only able to arrange transportation successfully about three times. The remaining fifty or so times, they ignored us or gave excuses. At Aegis, I had a last minute request to get mom a ride to the dentist and their response was "Don't worry about it. We'll make it work!"
The grounds are well-kept and the facility is clean. Plus there's an adorable fluffy white dog that lives there and lots of times is just cruising around greeting folks. Aegis feels more like a giant shared house than a hospital, like some other places do. Many residents leave their doors open. It feels safe and I feel good knowing my mom is in such capable hands.
Finally, they make extraordinary efforts to get to know you and your whole family. Some staff actually take notes about conversations with residents and families in an effort to personalize every single experience. I don't know how, but Aegis seems to have perfected the art of residential care. I cannot thank them enough.