I posted a positive review in November 2011, and this is a followup.
My mother is still at Sunshine Villa and so far, so good. Based on declines my family saw before she came to SSV, we were not surprised that mom had to move from Assisted Living to Memory Care. At SSV this only meant moving from one apartment to another without having to leave new friends and now familiar surroundings. She participates in the ""Illuminations"" program where she can socialize, go on scenic bus rides, participate in various activities, etc. As a bonus, the Illuminations director plays classical guitar with a Cabrillo College ensemble and often entertains her SSV guests. At mom's semi-rural home she used to spend most of the time watching satellite TV on a favorite couch, so these new opportunities have been a godsend. We are still very happy with Sunshine Villa. The staff is wonderful.
Based on our 9 months there I have trouble reconciling the January 22, 2012 ""Not a good experience"" SSV review, which seems to be unfair. Our experience has been just the opposite. The reviewer said her mother had ""experience(d) six other facilities"" before Sunshine Villa. I wonder about some sort of serious adjustment problems there. Facility hopping is very disruptive plus is expensive with the move-in fees charged by all facilities. We've seen no reason to leave SSV and expect that it will be mom's final residence. The reviewer's seven relocations in a row seem inconceivable to me. This has to be a red flag.
I can understand why the reviewer had to ""scramble to find another facility"" for her mother since a given geographical area only has so many assisted living places! They're not like gas stations on every street corner.
Finally the reviewer says that her mother was a ""medical social worker whose professional experience included licensing smaller elder care facilities"". Be that as it may, many SSV residents and their families are well-educated observant people who could readily frame vigorous articulate complaints if they felt the need. In fact my mother and I often have dinner with a resident who is an attorney in good standing with the State Bar of California. His Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree is from my own alma mater, UC Berkeley. As well there are UCSC Professors Emeriti who are residents. There is a wide range of resident backgrounds, and I would say that this is not a stereotype hopelessly vulnerable crowd as painted by the ""Not a good experience"" review.
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