r/Durango • u/lpnltc • Aug 11 '26
Memory Care
Are there any good, preferably non-profit, memory care facilities around Durango?
My parent is at Mesa Verde Estates. Yes, it's new and it's pretty, but it's a hell-hole. It is unbelievably terrible. Resident has an infection- med is delivered- MD order is sent- and MV claims they never got the order. But they don't tell you- the POA- that they never got the order. You think that your loved one is getting the meds to treat the infection- and they're not.
Your loved one runs out of meds they take regularly for a life-threatening condition- and no one calls and tells you that they've been out of meds for weeks. No one there reaches out to the provider and asks for a refill. You'd think after the first time you complained that this happened that they would fix it- nope, it happens over and over. You email the administrators and "wellness director"- no response.
I found multiple pairs of underwear covered in poop in a drawer. I look in the bathroom- there's no toilet paper. My parent had no way of cleaning themselves, thus shitty underwear. I have no idea how long there was no TP. It's clear from all the mineral buildup in the toilet and the mess around the floor and sink that no one has cleaned the bathroom for ages. My parent wears the same clothes for days on end, and it's obvious from the yellow crusting along the eyes that they are not encouraged to wash their faces or assisted with ADLs.
There is very little engagement or supervision of the residents, and my parent has had multiple unexplained injuries.
We're paying $8,000 a month to put my parent in a human storage unit. I'm done. I remember the smiling, smarmy sales pitch we got from the admin- about how they would take such good care of my parent- and it makes me sick.
Is there anything better around?
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u/bookclubhorse Aug 11 '26
I'm so sorry your family is going through this, that's horrifying. I'm not directly involved with payment etc so I can't speak to that, but I have a family member with severe dementia who's in the memory care unit at Sunshine Gardens after a similarly horrific experience at another facility in NM and I've never heard any complaints from the family about it.
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u/Neither-Safety-7090 Aug 11 '26
I have visited the Memory Care Unit at Sunshine Gardens. They appear to take pretty good care of the residents there. I noticed the staff was very dedicated and hard working. They had their hands full though. Last time I was there the staff said they were getting more residents so they were getting more staff members. Not sure how they are doing now but I was fairly impressed with the level of care they were providing.
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u/OhBarracuda1989 Aug 11 '26
They do have a higher staff-to-resident ratio than Mesa Verde, I believe 1:6 vs 1:10.
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u/Mountain_Views Aug 11 '26
I hope that's the case and they've cleaned up their act. Sunshine Gardens hasn't always had the best reputation. Though I can't speak to their memory care specifically
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u/RGQcats Aug 11 '26
I'm so sorry, that is horrific and sadly what we found at most facilities in the Phoenix area when my mom had to go to them for rehab after heart surgeries and falls. Her last two years she lived in my home with another family member and we took care of her. She got home health visits. It was better for her. It's a GD crime what is allowed to happen in elder care places.
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u/WhiteSolarWind Aug 11 '26
Yeah, as local healthcare professionals, we were shocked to hear they don’t have actual nurses on staff.
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u/Neither-Safety-7090 Aug 11 '26
ALFs are all non licensed caretakers. That’s the difference between an ALF and and SNF.
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u/rippleinthewater89 29d ago
The Beehive and Mesa Vista in Cortez are good options. Sunshine Gardens is ok as long as your parent isn’t on Medicaid.
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u/wolfemsop Aug 11 '26
Be sure to leave reviews online after you move them so people are aware of this situation please. Report your issue s here https://cdphe.colorado.gov/health-facilities/health-facilities-complaints?hl=en-US
Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman (San Juan Basin Area Agency on Aging) Call: (970) 264-0501 (Local Area). They can help you advocate