Caity was extremely helpful. She did the research when we needed to find an assisted living facility for my brother. I found her very knowledgeable about the local industry and the assets and liabilities of each location. We decided to select the first place that we toured.To top it off, this was a free service. read more

I have known Sandra Wallace/Insight Memory Care since 2012 when she helped me find a new assisted living/memory care home for my mother. My mother had been living at Casa Sandoval in Hayward. (You can see my Yelp review from that time to find out why I needed to move my mother. I hope things have improved since then) The terrible management at CS had completely destroyed my trust in any facility but I had no choice but to start looking around on my own. I visited a place in Union City which was way out of my budget but the staff in marketing actually seemed like decent, caring people. They recommended I call Sandra Wallace, and I did. Sandra came to meet my mother and I at Casa Sandoval. I was immediately impressed by her experience, professionalism, knowledge of the state laws regulating care facilities and especially her knowledge of the various facilities and costs in the area. After looking at several places she recommended I check out, I moved my mother to Rosegate in San Leandro. She lived there for almost five years until she died at age 93, very well taken care of. I was very happy. I had some problems in the first six months at RG but Sandra helped me get them resolved. Her knowledge and understanding of memory and cognitive impairment is amazing. In addition to managing facilities she also has hands on experience taking care of her own mother and understands the every day challenges of caregiving. In 2019 we started looking for a place for my aunt, who also has Dementia. I called Sandra and she helped us find a place we liked in Castro Valley. But then the Pandemic arrived and changed everything. My aunt came to live with us instead, which was a very challenging time. In September when I was at my wit's end I called Sandra again and asked for help. She recommended Quail Garden in Livermore, which is lovely AND they were allowing outside family visits which was critically important to us. My aunt has lived there since October and it's been great. I cannot recommend Sandra more highly. She is a powerhouse of knowledge and support. She is a person of integrity and stands by her clients. She checks in from time to time to see how things are going and goes the extra mile to solve any problems that may be going on. read more

I am so grateful to Caity for supporting our family through the process of finding a good memory care placement. Caity and Sandra were so helpful- hearing out our concerns and priorities, and giving us guidance on how to think about potential options for my Dad. It has made such a big difference to have this advocacy throughout the whole process-- from visiting facilities, the decision making process, and move-in/transition. Thank you so much for doing this important work! read more

Was referred to Sandra from my cousin. She is an angel on earth. Compassionate, productive and patient. She becomes your brain when one is overwhelmed with the events of trying to take care of loved one. Her knowledge of this industry and providers took the worry and stress off our plate and gave Dad an excellent respite place read more

Sandra and Caity helped me find the perfect community for a family member with dementia. We started working together in early 2020. Then with the COVID lockdown, we were in limbo. However, Sandra stayed in touch - updating me on key developments during the year, helping me make the final choice when communities were opening up again, and supported me during the move-in which was challenging. She was a wonderful advisor throughout the 14 month-long process. I highly recommend Sandra and Caity to anyone seeking the "right fit" community for a family member. read more

I got hit with two members of my family incapacitated at the same time. I can't describe the relief of having a knowledgeable and caring individual step in, and make sense out of the moving parts that are involved in helping cognitively impaired family members. I'm not out of the woods yet, but I do see glimmers of light shining through. Thank you, Sandra! read more

Our family is indebted to Sandra for helping us find an appropriate placement for our 80 year old mother, who has advanced Alzheimer's dementia. Due to this and some other health issues, Mom needs a high level of care and we are paying out of pocket so our budget was tight, especially for the Bay Area, where care costs can easily exceed $8000 a month. When COVID hit, our mom's former facility ended all visitation in the name of safety for the residents. While we understood the need to do that, it came with consequences. Our mother was neglected by this facility, and as a result became gravely ill and nearly died of sepsis in early July. We knew we needed to find her a new place ASAP, but having been through that when we first placed her 7 years ago, we knew it was an arduous and overwhelming task. Through a series of fortuitous events I was given Sandra's name and contact information by the coordinator at Sunrise Senior Living in San Mateo. When I called her she was comforting and understanding, but you can tell this lady is a steel magnolia, and she gets shit done. She listened carefully to our wish list of needs for Mom, and said she knew of several possibilities that she thought could be a match. Even just hearing that we had options, was an enormous relief! With Sandra's help and guidance, we found a fabulous new care arrangement for Mom, that was within our budget, in four days. FOUR DAYS. If I were religious I would say it was a miracle, but I'm not so I credit Sandra's expertise and extensive network of resources and contacts. We visited Mom in her new facility a week ago and she is doing better than she has in years. We were astounded, because dementia patients are not known for reacting well to changes in their routine and moving to a new living situation is an enormous adjustment. In some cases it can take weeks for the person to settle in. Not so here. After about a week of confusion (night wandering, escape attempts) she settled in HARD. This was very apparent during our visit. Even though she lost her ability to speak due to the dementia, our mother's moods still come through loud and clear, and it's very easy for us to know when she is not happy or doesn't like someone/something. During our visit she was content, smiled a lot, and was extremely friendly with her new caregiver. For the first time in a while, our family has peace of mind and the certainty of knowing our mother is truly safe, in a good place, and that we have done right by her. We can never thank Sandra enough for her part in this outcome. You cannot go wrong by working with her, so if you have a family member in need, do not hesitate. Pick up that phone now and contact her. You will not be sorry. read more

Sandra was a life-saver - my family was so fortunate to have found her at an extremely difficult time. I so wanted to write a review that would express just what an important person she became to me and my loved one. It is now some years later and here I am still struggling for words.. May u be fortunate to find Sandra at the most difficult times of your life....she is amazing... read more

We were asked to move my mother jfrom her retirement community and had a very short period of time to find a kind, caring place who could care for her as her dementia worsened. We didn't have a clue where to start or even the questions to ask. Sandra was recommended to us by our Social Worker, and we could not be more appreciative. She was wonderful and helped us find a facility that exactly met her, and our, needs. She's now settled into a wonderful place and Sandra continues to check in with us to help with "after move" questions and help us with information on care and the best way to handle situations with our loved one. I cannot recommend Sandra more highly and am so thankful that we found her. read more

Insight Memory Care Choices is a phenomenal organization. I truly do not know what I would have done without Sandra's expertise, knowledge, kindness and caring. This process of finding a home for a loved one was for me emotionally devastating and confounding at the same time! Add to it the complexity of my Father's issues and it was a particularly challenging situation. Sandra's ability to assess what was going on for both my Father and me was amazing. She was able to educate me and then help me navigate this very confusing processes! Not only is she extremely knowledgeable and experienced but she has an innate ability to read the situation and the people she is helping. I cannot tell you the countless times she so caringly helped me focus and figure out what was best for my Dad. All the while making me feel heard and honored for the difficult situation I was in emotionally, financially and with making these huge quality of life decisions for my beloved Dad! Sandra helped me through all this during Covid 19 time. I was able to place my Father in a wonderful community. This community became his family the last 4 months of his life because of Covid we could not be with him until he was on Hospice. There is truly no way for me to Thank Sandra and Caity who also helped me! Sandra continues to check in on me and has reminded me that Hospice is there for me. This kind of dedication and passion is hard to come by. My Dad, me and my whole family have been blessed with her and the services she provides! read more

Sandra was a tremendous help in a critical time of need need. As a family begins to look into the next step for an aging parent with dementia issues, it is really hard to shop around on your own and try to find a place that works based on your situation. Sandra spent a good deal of time with us on the phone discussing all of the various options, gathering information on our situation, and then researched and came back with a number of options. She joined our calls with the homes, and gave advice all along the way to help find the right place. What you really can tap into is not only her help, but her years of experience with all of the options in the bay area. She knows which ones have complaints, which ones used to be good but were then sold to larger companies, etc. etc. You just can't do the work to gather that knowledge on your own. And you don't want to transfer an elder to a home only to find out 1-2 months later that they aren't living up to their promises, the experience is not good, or all those glowing reviews were outdated and the home has gone downhill with some new management. read more

I reached out to Sandra while visiting a parent living in another state who unexpectedly showed significant signs of significant dementia and cognitive decline. The parent is widowed with no other family and friends and yet was not willing to visit an MD. Sandra provided me with enough information while I was visiting the parent to reach out to some appropriate state and county agencies to get her assessed once I left the area. Sandra was very patient, kind and informative and really helped me overcome the inertia of what to do and take action. Thank you! read more

I'm very grateful for the help Sandra provided in locating an appropriate care facility for both of my parents who each have cognitive impairments. She was recommended to us by my parents' social worker at Kaiser. Although my parents have very different levels of impairment and have different needs, we obviously wanted to try to keep them together as long as possible. Unfortunately most facilities wanted to immediately place my mom in memory care as she has mid/late stage Alzheimers and my father in assisted living, since his cognitive issues are not nearly as severe. Sandra pointed me in the direction of facilities that specialized in couples and specifically facilities that were more flexible in how they integrated more impaired residents like my mom with other higher functioning residents in the facility. Speaking with Sandra gave me a crash course on how care facilities are structured. Without her I would have simply looked at online ratings of facilities and not really understood which facilities specialized in the care and structure my parents needed. Sandra is a great listener and was very patient with all my questions. I am very grateful that I was pointed in her direction to help me make such a good decision under very difficult circumstances. read more

Sandra was a godsend to me in helping find the perfect match for my mothers needs. I honestly cannot thank Sandra enough. Sandra takes a very personalized, detailed, tender approach when analyzing her clients needs. Sandra spent a very great amount of time with me, she met with my mother, she toured me around several great options for care facilities for my dear mother. My experience with Sandra taught me that Sandra really cares so much about her clients needs. Sandra is a true blue senior care afficianado"! She knows all the ins/outs of finding the absolute perfect match for her senior clients needs. I will recommend and refer my friends to Sandra. Thankyou Sandra for all you do! You are the leader in "Senior Memory Care Choices", matching your client for the best care facility. Big Hugs, Susie :-)) read more

I needed to find a memory care facility for my mother. I was not looking forward to calling all the facilities in the Bay Area and one by one checking them out to find the best one for my mom. I thought, this is going to take forever. My husband started the search on the internet, found Sandra's website and gave her a call. He talked to her briefly and then told me about her services, that she can help people narrow down their search because of her knowledge of the many facilities in the area. She had been a director at a memory care facility in Belmont and had experience moving her own mom. I made an appointment to see her. We met and I told her my situation and what I desired in the memory care facility. She immediately recommended a facility and we made an appointment to go for a tour. I loved the place and after a couple of months, moved my mom there. Sandra never pressured me to make a decision, did not bombard me with emails or phone calls. She was very helpful in giving us an idea of what moving day would be like, gave us a 'packing list' so we wouldn't forget anything, and other tips to help make the transition before and during moving day go smoother. She followed up with us later to find out how my mom was doing. It was a very stressful time - when events start to happen and you realize your loved one can no longer live alone. I knew this day would come, and thankfully earlier I had prepared for it (power of attorney, health care directives, etc). It was still a relief to have someone who understood what I was going through, who listened to my concerns, helped answer my questions, reassured me I was making the right decision, and helped me find a place. If you are having to make the decision to move your loved one to an assisted living or memory care facility, give Sandra a call and at least meet with her and decide for yourself if she is the type of person you can trust and can help you. I personally could not have done it without her. She was terrific. read more

Sandra Wallace has been the best dementia placement specialist that I have ever encountered and has been extraordinarily helpful in finding a place for my brother, who has complicated issues - a mental disorder mixed in with early stage dementia. It is not easy to find a fit for a family member with complex issues. I spent a lot of time on the phone trying to find a new place for my brother after he fell at his previous carefacility and broke his leg in January.He then spent a month at a skilled nursing facility and a month at a small board and care facility that did not fit his special needs. It was then that I was given Sandra's name as a referral and I feel as if my brother's and my luck changed for the better. Because he is on medication for his mental disorder, many places are not appropriate for him. Sandra was tireless in her efforts to find a good place for him - a place that both he and I would like, and a place that would be kind and caring and safe for him. Sandra and I were on the phone constantly. She met my brother, told me the particular questions to ask in my interviewing process of various facilities and went with me so I was not alone. It was important for the facilities to get all the information they could regarding my brother so they could assess if he would be a good fit and they would be able to care for all of his needs. I am a family therapist, and it has been so wonderful to rely on Sandra to be the professional with the expertise in this very complicated field. It is not easy to place family members and it has brought up so many issues. Sandra has been right there the whole time, supporting me in this process. We found a place for my brother and he has been there three months and is getting along really well. Sandra calls to check in, to see how things are going, and to answer or advise me in any questions or concerns I might have. Sandra is our guardian angel and I am so profoundly grateful she is in our lives. Annie C, LMFT read more

Sandra Wallace earns the highest marks possible for her extensive industry knowledge, insights, & professional care. If you are dealing with the challenges of memory care for a loved one, Sandra will be one of your most effective and trusted advisors. I thank my lucky stars for her counsel as I have coped with the cognitive impairment of my recently widowed mother. While I might have negotiated the entire journey on my own, Sandra knows how to step in lightly at the perfect moment with strategic, on-point, & humane guidance. The most critical help she provided was determining which assisted living facility would best meet the needs of my mom. Even though I had started this research and had already covered "the basic" territory, Sandra uncovered a wonderful, BETTER match due to her deeper knowledge of local options and trending practices. We could not be happier: Sandra's solution has been a terrific fit for my mom's needs. Her helpful guidance has continued for months after my mom's "move-in". As issues arise (and they do!), Sandra offers timely and deft suggestions that have made a big difference. Thank you, Sandra! read more

I ditto Dick G.'s review, as he summed up Sandra Wallace to a T! She's fantastic and has perfect work ethics. She found a fantastic memory care center for my mom and dad. She's also been great at following up with them. I can't begin to express how important she's been in our lives and so very much appreciated! I'm grateful for her services, as she is the best :-) read more

Sandra is a kind & knowledgable person. She helped us navigate our way while trying to find a home for my grandmother who had late stage dementia. Sadly, my grandmother passed away before we could move her. Sandra recommended 2 homes that were lovely. I didn't know that smaller home environments existed for people with dementia. Not only did Sandra give us great options but she helped me understand my grandmothers condition. She put me at ease with the information she shared. Prior to talking to her, I had anxiety about how the future would pan out for my grandmother. She always answered the phone and spent so much time and care to talk me through the process. It's a really tough thing to go through for the family and Sandra eased the stress and worry. She has invaluable knowledge and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a quality home for their loved ones. read more

My relationship with Sandra Wallace in placing my beloved mother in a care facility was the most professional, caring and compassionate, care and guidance that I could ever ask for . My situation was most difficult and rushed with my mothers placement. Sandra was at my beck and call. She is so calming and caring and it comes from the heart. I do not know what I would of done without her expertise care she gave to me and my mother. I have other friends that have used her Placement Services, and they all praise her. Sandra brought dignity to the end of my mothers life. I will never forget her and I will always recommend anyone that needs help in placing there loved one in a facility. She is the absolute best in my book ! Sincerely, Monica Meehan read more

Sandra Wallace is a gem! I was extremely fortunate to have her support for many difficult months while I assisted my elder friend in finding a facility where she could live out the rest of her years. When it comes to personal care, the cliché fits Sandra: she is one of those rare people who treats you as if you are a member of her family. She has true passion for protecting the elderly and providing the best care possible. Sandra has extensive expertise in dementia care and guided me through this unknown territory providing insight and guidance with a gentle hand. She had a deep respect for my friend and spent countless hours for many months trying to find just the right place for her to live. I met with Sandra, called her and exchanged emails. I got to know Sandra's dedication and integrity. She was consistently only interested in my friend's well being - even if that meant her time did not result in a placement fee. Sandra is calm and reassuring along with knowledgeable and trustworthy. It was a difficult period watching my friend's decline due to the ravages of dementia. Sandra was compassionate to my friend and me offering endless support. She understood my concern and worries. I can't imagine getting through it without her. Sandra is a one-of-a-kind dementia placement specialist who is both genuinely warm and highly professional. I recommend her unequivocally. read more

I don't usually post reviews on Yelp, but felt compelled to in this case in order to express my sincere gratitude to Caity Wallace for helping us through this process. We are trying to find a suitable place for my 80 yr. old mother, who has mild cognitive impairment. This is a major life decision, and Caity has patiently helped us to focus on the right questions. I'm really not sure what I would have done without her guidance. Thank you, Caity! read more

Sandra has been with me every step of the way for the past 7+ years, as I have helped my Mom through all the stages of Alzheimer's from initial diagnosis through to her current late-stage disease. In addition, my dad's cancer returned and he passed during this time; Sandra was so kind and thoughtful and made sure all the transitions we made between facilities went smoothly. Sandra dedicates herself to finding the highest quality care possible for her clients, within their budget. Her help is truly invaluable, and does not stop after her client has been placed - she has given me vital assistance in communicating with the facility nurses, contacting Ombudsman when necessary, and generally availed me of her excellent judgment in all things Elder Care. I highly recommend her! read more

I was very fortunate to work with Sandra a few years ago when my father in law suddenly became ill and we needed to move my in-laws out of their house and into a memory care facility quickly. She was very knowledgeable and patient with all involved. We toured a few facilities in our area and we were able to make the move quickly. When you are faced with having to make quick decisions with loved ones that have health issues and dementia the task can be daunting. The on-going support from Sandra was much appreciated. I am so glad I contacted her and highly recommend her services. read more

My husband of almost 46 years recently died after a 15+ year battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Over those years my family and I encountered many people who gave us tremendous support, directions, and advice as we did our best to provide the best care we could for him. Certainly, one of those people was Sandra Wallace of Insight Memory Care Choices. She was a consistently positive, caring, knowledgeable, and energetic resource for our family. She fully understood and supported our objective of providing the best possible care available for our loved one. I soon discovered that Mrs. Wallace's depth of compassion came from her personal and extensive professional experience of working with families who had to make tough choices regarding the care and placement of their loved ones. Not only did she have family members who needed such care in their waning years, but she also served in top management positions in diverse assisted living, hospital, and care facility settings. Her expertise, sensitivity, character, and compassion were always evident in every contact I had with her. It is clear that she is very knowledgeable in this field and that she works hard to assist families in making the best choice that fits their individual circumstances. She has on many occasions made riveting and informative presentations to a variety of audiences throughout the Bay Area. There are many people who played important roles in the many phases of my husband's end-of life journey. Sandra Wallace was one of those people. And for that my family and I will always be grateful. read more

We are so happy to have found Sandra. Our situation was very difficult and she proved more knowledgeable than I could have ever hoped for. Sandra has been there for us every step of the way. I can't imagine having gone through this process without her. Not only did she find us the perfect place but she has been there for us every step of the way. It's been 2 months since we transitioned my MIL and Sandra is still there for us with advice and guidance. Thank you, Sandra. So fortunate to have found you. read more

I highly recommend Sandra Wallace. She really listened to me and quickly figured out what my father needed. She found a home that was built so that residents could walk endlessly in loops without encountering a closed door. This new home caused my father to go from being a "behavior problem" (on 12 strong drugs) to being the "favorite resident" (taken off 11 of the drugs). She has the experience to really be able to understand what your loved one needs, plus she has the knowledge of what is available. I never would have found this home on my own. read more

I'm not surprised to see all 5 star reviews for Sandra. She is nothing short of a miracle for me and my family. I'm so glad I took a chance on reaching out to her after finding her website. She's patient, kind, understanding, flexible, and has a depth of knowledge and experience so vast, I really view her as a cross-functional specialist on living the best possible life with dementia. One piece of advice (among many) she provided right at the onset, was to place foremost importance on the skills, reputation, and caring nature of the assisted living facility managing director and to find a facility that promotes social interaction above all else (ie, not just a beautiful place and not just a luxurious place, but rather, a place that creates opportunities for and actively encourages residents to interact and socialize together for almost all of the day outside their living quarters). My mom's quality of life has improved immeasurably because of the transition to the right assisted living environment, which Sandra helped facilitate over a lengthy (over 1 yr) period of time. Thank you, Sandra, for the work you do, for how deeply you care for your clients, and for your practical advice, which has often been more useful than even the doctors and nurses can provide. read more