Monarch Communities

I would definitely say the place feels like it's understaffed, the caregivers are seem taxed, there doesn't seem to be follow through on feedback, they are concerned with getting people in but not as concerned with maintaining satisfaction. They are not detail oriented. They could customize support per patient vs one size fits all mentality.

Food can be an issue. There has been some turnover of staff like Chef so quality is not consistent and sometimes staffing in dining room makes for long wait. Room Service also affected. Seems Less staff at night so longer wait time when aid is called. Staff do a good job of cleaning and building is well cared for. Front desk staff kind and helpful.

More help and the food could be better. Compared to some of the others I would recommend it

The staff we interacted with during the admission process were very kind, supportive, and helpful. However, our experience with the medical care was mixed. We felt the facility may not have been fully equipped to handle someone with more complex health needs. While everyone was compassionate and well-intentioned, there were moments where communication and confidence in managing care could have been stronger.

It's nice and clean and most of the staff is wonderful, especially the ladies at the front desk and the gentleman who transport the residents to appointments. The wellness center is not the best. There have been frequent mix ups with medication or medication running out without being refilled in time. We also use outside doctors. The food is mediocre, at best and there are not enough healthy or vegetarian options.

I was told this facility provided respite care, so a meeting was scheduled. When I arrived, I was told respite care was not an option. I did not meet with the person I was scheduled to meet with, and although the person I did meet with was pleasant and welcoming, she couldn’t answer some of my questions. If respite care was not an option at this time, that should have been told to me before meeting with a representative from the facility.

Room size is very good. Staff is excellent. The facility is top notch. Mom does not like the food. And activities seem ok but mom isnt a big joiner so not as involved in activities.

It was okay. We had to hire private staff to be sure my friend got the real care she needed. It was probably one of the better ones out there though. The staff was always kind. Their response time varied. At night there was times when there was no response for hours. That's why we hired our own folks. I did bring all of this to a new director of nursing so hopefully it improved since my friend passed. The food was delivered with care.

She has only been there a month. She is adjusting. The RNs and aids on the memory Care floor seem very good and proactive Overall experience-not very organized. I think they just changed management company. Cleanliness - my mom's room has not been very clean. The hallways could be cleaner. Memory care really needs an upgrade Friendliness - every one is very friendly Quality of care - not bad. Always room for improvement. Some are 5's and some are 4's. I like that they have RNs 24x7 Admin staff - I think they are all learning a new process with a new Management company. Food. -They need to find a cook/chef, I believe. My mom is always hungry and I heard today that they need to be better organized in the kitchen. Activities - activities in memory care are very good. So far so good Value for the money - Cleaning of my mom's room could be better and the food needs to improve and learning new processes could take a bit of time for the admin. Best room in memory care that we have seen in the area with a small kitchenette. My mom makes her own coffee with her keurig and the refrigerator and sink with cupboards is very good. Activities director is excellent in memory care.

The facility and staff are nice. My issues are their poor handling of getting my fathers prescriptions setup properly. Meals are ok, and my father has not participated in any activities.

Our families experience with Brandywine Moorestown Estates community

An item was delivered to her room before my cousin moved in. When I looked, the box was open and the item missing. I contacted them immediately, and there has been no resolution to date. Room size and layout seem good. There are lots of windows in her unit.

- Overall experience - It's a complicated choice to make, but the sales and in house staff made the transition easier to make and ultimately to live with. You HAVE TO communicate ALL CONCERNS as they come up thoughout the entire process. Be engaged WITH and FOR your loved one to get the most out of any facility. - Quality of care - this location has nursing staff available and visiting drs. All outside dr visits you must provide your own transportation. Medical concerns with heart related issues will generally result in ambulance transport to a hospital ER. The staff communicate prior to transport and offer a their best support and advice. - Food - it's bland. Many aging people eating communally have restrictions on diet that would be impossible to fully accommodate. They serve plates, they don't restrict residents. Pack your loved one with spices and seasoning to their taste and teach them how to make the food their own. They may also have their own food/meals delivered from outside or prepped in room (microwave). Bring your own food to the table to stay engaged. Activities - The residents have been more vocal about specific fun things to do, but if you are not a social person, there is no one aggressively attending to you. It can be lonely sometimes. So check in and send board games or shared activities to engage your loved one with their new friends.

Our initial experience at The Fountains was disappointing. The staff was unprepared to receive my mom, and her emergency bracelet failed to work throughout the entire week we were there. Despite my repeated alerts, it took three days to convince them to test it. Additionally, no staff responded when I pulled every emergency button in her apartment, as the bracelet clearly wasn’t functioning. I strongly recommend that families test their loved one’s emergency devices, regardless of assurances. One aide also made my mom’s bed while attempting to cover up an accident, ignoring the soaked mattress. This was unacceptable, especially considering the high cost we’re paying. The quality of nursing care varied significantly — some staff were excellent, but others provided subpar care. The first week was particularly distressing, and we had to escalate the situation with a call to the Executive Director, [name removed]. While she offered a sincere apology, progress in addressing the issues was slow. At upwards of [fee removed] per month, we expected much higher standards. While it’s better than previous facilities we have experienced - the level of care still fell short of expectations for many months. Communication was another challenge — staff rarely answered the phone, and assistance with coordinating outside appointments was minimal. It’s crucial to manage expectations, especially for out-of-town families, as they will likely be left to navigate many of these challenges alone. That's a BIG deal. On a positive note, The Fountains offers many onsite activities in a beautiful space, and has good dining options. The residents enjoy the food in a restaurant like atmosphere. Art classes. Movies and frequent religious services are available along with a great physical therapy team and area on the lobby floor. There is a reliable shuttle service for transportation.

If you are looking for a facility with skilled nursing do not place your loved one there go to sunrise ! If you have questions about your bill or the service and you are looking for answers expect the staff the make excuses like they are tied up in meetings all day everyday ! It was ridiculous. Also if you need care that keeps you bedridden you have to hire an outside aid to assist your loved one. It is a brand new facility too and they are short-staffed. They have their aids setting tables for meals - that should not be their jobs.

What they could improve on is just keeping the cost down, but I guess I would recommend this community to other families.

I would recommend to others. I would say overall it's a good place. My concern is with administration they do not clearly communicate with residents and do not explain increases. My mom was increased with no satisfactory warning or explanation. Then a rent increase followed. We picked Bella Terra based on the cost.

Our loved one appears to be cared for and healthy, and thinks the food is really good and the aides are nice, those are very important positive points. The communication around appointments with visiting doctors has been uneven but they have tried to improve it, so they're making an effort which is also good. The other residents are nice and seem happy. If the level of care goes up under their new, more expensive cost structure, the overall value will decrease substantially and the overall cost will be comparable to more expensive assisted living facilities in other areas like [removed].

I toured this community and it was ok. The memory care unit didn't seem to be very focused on memory care. Cleanliness was good. There wasn't a lot of mingling among the residents, we were told the price could change, food is a la carte and was confusing.

Our family had an in person tour and we just did not get the best feeling, it was not very clean, it was old and needed updating.