Sunshine Village Memory Care

I was only able to visit my sister three times in the seven years she was in Sunshine Village.  I hated how she was just plopped in front of the television but she was clean and they fed her.  I would have wished for some stimulation but I had no power nor was my input appreciated.  I hated how her clothes disappeared and I hated how her dignity was violated by photographs that were taken by a stepdaughter and posted on-line but that Is no reflection on the care center - just an indictment of the photographer and her lack of sensitivity.  My sister's illness took a toll on her sisters.  I wish the staff had been more sensitive to the needs and feelings of the designated sister who made the trip to visit before our sister's death.
Mar 25th, 2022

My sister passed away at Sunshine on March 25, 2022. She had been there for about 7 years. Her husband called and told me that she was near the end so I immediately scheduled a flight from Salt Lake to tell her my last goodbye. He let Sunshine know I was coming. My niece and I were treated with the utmost disrespect and were treated as if we were the greatest inconvenience possible. We were told we might not able to see her, that we had to wait to get clearance, needed a Covid test, double masks, etc. We complied with everything. We were then told that my sister would need to be moved from her death bed to a wheelchair and taken outside. This broke my heart because I knew it would cause her discomfort. The apparent woman in charge was rude and dismissive. She had gray hair and I failed to get her name. She told me repeatedly that when the children got here we would have to leave because only 2 visitors were allowed at a time. We went to see my sister, clearly near death, and left when her children came. The rude woman in charge was nearby and asked me the asinine question if I was having a good day. I told her that would be difficult because I just told my sister goodbye for the last time. When we went back to the main lobby this same woman was there with the other rude lady at the desk and they were obviously trying to impress the man with them because they were suddenly sugary sweet. "Oh, you could stay". I told her that she had made it clear earlier that we had to leave when the other visitors came. The woman at the desk stupidly got up to "help us with the door". It was an automatic door and we are both in perfect health. This lack of compassion for people losing a loved one to a disease as brutal as Alzheimer is unacceptable. I suggest these women find another line of work.
Apr 12th, 2022

My sister has been in this care center for approximately seven years. At first I thought it was an acceptable care center but after putting my other sister in another one in Salt Lake City I've changed my mind. I went one time to see my sister and she was sitting in her cottage with eight other residents and not a caregiver to be found. At the time my sister was able to move her hands and was making a motion that she needed water. I could not find anyone who worked there so I got another resident with Alzheimer's to show me how to get water. This gave me great concern. My sister lost her life this weekend and I flew from Salt Lake City to Phoenix to see her before she passed. The people in the front office were anything but compassionate and helpful. They were rude, and condescending and acted like it was a great inconvenience to try to help me. We waited a very long time and they insisted on bringing my sister out in a wheelchair instead of letting us into her cottage. I'm sure it was uncomfortable for my sister and unnecessary. They had given us a Covid test and the Covid test was negative. When we got ready to leave the rude woman cheerily asked me something ridiculous like if I was having a great day. I told her it would be pretty hard to have a great day when I came to tell my sister goodbye for the last time.  We were also told that when my niece and nephew got there that we would have to leave so we did. When we got back into the unfriendly lobby the same rude woman, apparently the director, told us we could stay. I reminded her that she had made it abundantly clear that we had to leave once my sister's children had arrived. I told her that I had come to tell my dying sister goodbye and that I had done that and I was leaving. This lack of  compassion towards family members experiencing this type of grief is unwarranted and inexcusable. I am very aware of the concerns with Covid but it can be handled in a much more humane way. This center was told by my brother-in-law that we were coming and the Director and her secretary or whatever she was could've treated us with more kindness. The entire staff at my sisters care center in Salt Lake City should visit Sunshine Village and give them some lessons on compassion. I would never put a loved one at Sunshine Village. I do need to mention that one caregiver in Aspen cottage at Sunshine was amazing and I will never forget how good she was to my sister. Her name is Emely and she is an Angel on earth.
Mar 25th, 2022

This place does NOT care about keeping families connected to their loved ones, respecting the families of those in their care, and being kind and respectful in their communication with families. When we ask for explanations for their policies and ever changing, sometimes arbitrary rules on visitation (not taking temperatures when we visit outside instead of inside, not asking for proof of vaccination consistently) they responded with We dont have to tell you why, you just have to listen. This seems to be what they now say to anyone who asks about policy related to my grandmothers care. From what they say to us, it sounds like they talk about us internally and all have agreed that the best way to deal with our questions is to just say You dont have to know. The statement comes off as very collusive. It is ludicrous to hear from more than one staff member that my grandmothers family doesnt need to know why COVID protocols are what they are, or why her standard of care is what it is. Other complaints are that she is not showered regularly, even though they claim to have her on a regular shower schedule. We visit her one day after her scheduled shower day and she smells, and the staff says it is her fault because she refused a shower. My grandmother has dementia so she cant remember what she refused to do or not do and she also is very often confused; she needs a shower regardless. We have witnessed staff members arguing belligerently with my grandmother, again, who has dementia and is often confused. Weve visited and her bra hasnt been secured right and her skin is chaffing. When we ask her what happened she says, They were just in a hurry this morning. Worst of all is how the sales representative makes you feel about the care here and then disappears from the picture once your family member is moved in. We were told blatant lies about the standard of care, rules about visitation, and staff standards when we toured. Do yourself a favor and pass this one by. If your family member is currently living here, make sure you listen to their complaints carefully and dont dismiss them.
Jan 28th, 2022

In 2018 - My Father-in-Law suffered a complete break with reality and spent two weeks in the ICU and a month in diagnosis at a local psychiatric hospital.  He was diagnosed with advanced dementia / advanced Alzheimer's and was unable to handle anything on his own including dressing. My wife & I became conservator and co-guardians. We needed to find a memory care qualified care facility where he would adapt, be taken complete care of, and thrive. We are fortunate that we elected to have him stay with Sunshine Village because the entire staff and level of care is amazing! He was always clean, shaved, hair cut, with his clothes on correctly. He gained weight, was involved with attending the music and games programs - and the community loved him. His last years were spent in a truly compassionate setting.  As his medical complications worsened - Sunshine Village staff kept us informed each time he had to go to the hospital and made sure we understood the situation.  As a teen, I worked in a series of 6 nursing homes in Massachusetts - and had an uncle with Alzheimer's. I have seen first-hand the comparisons that can be made with Sunshine Village and say without reservation that Sunshine Village is one of the most caring (if not THE MOST caring), committed community of professionals,  delivering an amazing 24x7x365 program of memory care and personal care in a beautiful setting. They are dedicated to serving all their patients with dignity and respect.  Most importantly - the caring attitude and kind approach to everything done at Sunshine Village, including the communications from staff, nurse, doctor, and administration - (at every level) exceeded all of our expectations. We regularly visited prior to COVID and when restrictions were put in place to protect the residents (THANK YOU!) - we asked for and received telephone updates. When visitation resumed - before being admitted to the facility - we were checked for temperature, required to properly wear our masks, and keep an appropriate distance from residents and staff.  WELL DONE by following guidelines.  We wish to express sincere appreciation for all that is done at Sunshine Village where residents and their families are treated with respect and kindness.
Jan 7th, 2022