My Mom was a resident in the memory care area of Watercrest for several years. I don't have much…read moreto compare to as this was the only facility she was in other than a couple of short term stays in rehabilitation facilities prior to Watercrest. But you really have no way to know if a place is good until your loved one is actually a resident there - and that can be scary. I can only comment on my experience, but here goes... The place is relatively new, very nice and clean. The security in the memory care area is great. The residents have indoor and outdoor areas that are secure - so they can be mobile within the unit, but not get out of the secure area. The staff is what makes this place great though. I believe the staff truly care for the patients and their families. It seems that everyone there is so nice. As I said, my mom was there several years (just before the start of Covid) and so there were many staffing changes. Every new staff member cared about my mom just like the prior staff members. I don't know if they have a pipeline of excellent people or if they teach a culture that provides the results of truly caring. Regardless, it is seen and felt and a blessing during the difficult time of trusting someone else to provide the care your loved one needs. An example of this occurred in January. My mom was all but non verbal at this point. The staff one morning said she just did not seem like herself. Nothing specific was wrong, she was just different than the day before so they wanted her to go to the hospital to be checked out. When you have several patients, I imagine it would be easy to just run through the day and not notice little things like that - but that is not how they treated my mom. They noticed. They were concerned. So they reached out to us and let us know why they were concerned and what they recommended. It turns out my mom did have a medical concern and it was caught early due to the staff paying attention to my mom and recommending a trip to the hospital. We knew my mom would be at Watercrest until her dementia and all the side effects of it eventually took her. She left Watercrest recently upon her passing. So many staff comforted my sister and I. Some prayed with us, some prayed for us. All were amazing. At the end of the day, buildings are nice but the staff is what we loved about Watercrest. As I said, I cannot comment on other places. However, I am well aware that the people here make all the difference. To the Staff: Thank you all for making a very difficult situation for my family as easy as possible for several years. It was much appreciated and we slept well at night knowing how you cared for my mom. God Bless You All and Thank You for the caregiving you do for so many every single day.

My mother-in-law didn't like Wildewood Downs. In any event, the positive did not outweigh the…read moreunpleasant experiences. They never assessed her after discharge from rehab for her next living arrangement, even though they had agreed and we signed for long term care. I just got a call one day saying they had another meeting, without us, and decided among themselves, "We think she can go to assisted living." Recently, the director blamed me for Wildewood's failure to go through the normal process to assess her. Before this, I got a call from the social worker saying that the doctor signed my mother-in-law's annuity paper we gave him, saying she was finished rehab and not a candidate for getting her insurance to pay for Wildewood. I was there when he saw her--for the first time I might add--and all he said, was, "Do you want me to fill this out?" He never assessed or asked any questions about any activities of daily living. During assessment, a patient should be assessed for memory care, long term care or assisted living for example. You just don't say, as the director said, we didn't assess her for assisted living because you told us to keep her in that room. But that was only after they said they didn't have another room. They assessed her when she came in and wrote, and we signed for long term care. When I called Wildewood assisted living, after they called and informed me of a meeting changing their minds. They told me they just have one fee, $7,000 a month, and the client pushes the button when she needs help. So there's no levels of care in assisted living. We quickly transferred my mother-in-law to The Blake after a nurse came from the Blake and we took her to a provider at MUSC to properly assess her. She was appropriate for their assisted living at a higher levelof care than Wildewood. It's a beautiful place and it's very clean, unlike the Wildewood facility. I went in Wildewood's public bathroom and it was dirty. Also, my mother in law's bathroom needed cleaning and straightening up. During her stay at Wildewood, there were multiple problems with communication. Other residents had serious falls right at the desk where they're supposed to be watching them. But they stay on their computers. I learned that the staff is mostly contracted. And they don't communicate with the next person coming in. One day my mother-in-law had an appointment with the optometrist. When it was time to go, the girl at the front desk said, "She's not going anywhere. Her primary care is Dr. Macon while in this unit." I said, "She has an eye appointment." She said, "Oh, she said she has primary care." I told her she has memory problems. But she should have known that. There is no continuity. Well, we paid $12,000 for holding her after rehab for two weeks because they said they didn't have another room to put her in, so I said keep her in that room until I could arrange a transfer out of there. She was staying in a rehab room and not getting rehabilitation. So in essence we paid for rehabilitation she wasn't getting. The doctor gave her 100 days of rehab under Medicare, which would take us into May, but they suddenly cut it short April 24th. When the transport came to pick her up, and our caregiver and my husband, her son, met her, they didn't know she was leaving that day and didn't have any discharge papers ready. Zee, the head nurse, apologized later, as I left the messages with her because I did not know they said somebody else does the discharging. They did get the papers ready quickly, and she got out of there before they charged us one more day. Originally when we got the bill, they charged us for all of May, and for the upcoming month of June, even though she left on May 17th. They changed it but they charged us for April 24th to May 17th.

My Aunt was here for 21 days for rehab. Everybody was nice and accommodating, but I want to give a…read morespecial shout out to Georgette Tubman. She is the social worker here at Wildewood Downs. Georgette's care, expertise and customer service was invaluable for our family by creating next steps for my Aunt. She was kind, knowledgeable and communicative which is so appreciated when you don't know how to navigate systems of elderly care. Thanks to everyone for assisting us at a difficult time!

I cannot say enough good things about Amara Place; they have been an absolutely perfect find for my…read morefamily. I was recently faced with having to find a safer independent living alternative for my Mom and brother who wanted to maintain their independence, however, needed a little assistance with meal preparation, and getting around to medical appointments and such. We visited Amara Place and right away felt we were home. The staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. The homes and property are all beautifully maintained. And most important, I don't have to worry about Mom. The staff at Amara Place really care about their residents, and they go above and beyond to make sure residents' needs are met. I highly recommend Amara Place for anyone looking for an independent retirement community for themselves or a family member.

From the owner: Senior Living at Amara Place…read more It's time to let the good life begin. At Amara Place Senior Living we are devoted to turning your golden years into the most exuberant years to date. While aging can be a challenge, growing older doesn't have to be. Now is the time to let the team at Amara Place Senior Living serve you and allow you to have the greatest peace of mind while living out your life long dreams. Today is the day to experience the difference of Amara Place Senior Living.

Ramona Britt and her team held my hand every step of the way, from identifying a budget to…read moreselecting properties for me to consider, taking me to properties that fit our needs and wants. She has done all the research ahead of time, knows the properties and their staff, and can answer all the important questions about each property. Then she made the appointments, met me at the properties and helped me to make a decision. My husband is extremely happy after only 6 days in care, and it is obvious that Ramona helped me find the very best situation for him. I do not know how anyone can choose a facility without the expert help of Ramona Britt and Assisted Living Locators of the Midlands!!!

Never, ever let your senior parent or partner try to navigate the terrain of senior living on their…read moreown. There is so much to know and understand about what is the perfect fit for you, your loved one and your budget. Ramona Britt is a caring, heart centered woman who understands the ins and outs of the assisted living and senior care industry. Because she is thoroughly knowledgeable of everything that is available in this market, she will put you at ease knowing that she always has your best interest first and foremost. I highly recommend her and her service to seniors.

I have personally recommended Brightstar Home Care of Columbia when my clients are not yet ready…read moreto move to Assisted Living. They have also provided transitional care in a community to help a new resident settle in. Owners Brian and Betsy go above and beyond what is expected to make sure their clients are taken care of.

From the owner: BrightStar Care is a leading home care and medical staffing agency aimed at providing A Higher…read moreStandard to those entrusted to our care. Our professional care teams, each led by a Registered Nurse, deliver expert, compassionate, and personal care to clients of all ages, including Veterans.

I'm a current tenant at TerraBella Place as of November. I'm still adjusting and trying to get use…read moreto my new lifestyle. First let me say that there are pros and cons to everything in life. TerraBella is quite a clean and welcoming environment, the only time things look array is when maintenance or contractors are making needed repairs or upgrades which benefits the tenants. The food that is served is good quality and tasting. The tea in my opinion is one of the best and can compete with many of SC restaurants. The staff is majority well equipped individuals who enjoy their jobs. If something isn't clear to miscommunication it rectified in a timely manner. If there are any cons it would be certain amenities that came along with the building date and haven't been upgraded or updated. I would also like to acknowledge Jessica Brown who has been very helpful in my transitioning. She is a great Director and is hands on,intelligent,compassionate, knowledgeable,caring,problem solver,always available for clients even after hours in emergency. This type of leadership is rare these days and should be acknowledge and rewarded. I hope my 1 year review will be even more cons as my transitioning comes to an end.

From the owner: Retirement community in Richland County, South Carolinaread more