Five Star Senior Living

Somerford House community is a little more on the expensive side. We are a little disappointed in the care service at the moment, since we aren't able to go into the facility and see him to make sure he is getting care for. Before COVID the food looked adequate, he has yet to complain. The rooms are adequate in size as well.

I wouldn't recommend it. Just for the care of my loved one got there. The food and care wasn't good. A lot of issues with communication between staff, director and the family. They would set up a schedule and they wouldn't stick to it. I was very disappointed. Also the staff wasn't very attentive or empathized with the residents there. It was really, really hard because the staff didn't had a very thick accent and it was hard for the family and residents to understand them, especially with the residents with Dementia because they didn't understand what they were saying all the time.

First off let me say I actually do like the Gardens; the COVID has not helped. My mom has dementia and has been staying on the ALF side. At the end of April she had a stroke, she returned but to the SNF side for some rehab. She wants to go back to the ALF side; she keeps trying to 'escape' because she wants her ALF room back. Every time I talk to someone (when I can get them to return my call haha) tells me something different. There is NO communication with the family. I finally find out at the end of her 100% covered SNF days that I could have refused and had her back on the ALF already. My mom can walk by herself, feed herself, dress herself, bathe herself; her dementia memory has always been there and I will admit has exacerbated, but it would not be as bad if she were not on the skilled nursing side as she is bored and COVID isolating her family has not helped the situation! She wants her room and her recliner. [name removed] is wonderful and about the one that has communicated with me almost immediately. The social worker has tried. The rest of the management I am not impressed with, I will admit I did not need them before so I was not aware. I am just frustrated that when I need to speak with someone I have to ask I cannot reach them in a timely manner and when I do all the necessary information I need is not relayed to me.

We have been touring communities in the Wilmington area for our Mom. This community is very nice, get appeal when walking up to the main entrance, the elderly have porches on the first floor. (Loved it). Friendly front desk person and a great room just off the main lobby. The elderly had an entertainer preforming and they were enjoying it. Only a couple of down falls for this community, the front hallways to get to the assisted living or any main common areas (like dinning room, the front lobby great room, activities room) are long and dark (need to invest in better lighting). The carpets are dated and very dark, which doesn't help with the lighting of the hallways. The independent living very beautiful, but they need to make improve the assisted living to the standards of the independent living. The assisted living looks like a step-sister and has not had any attention to it. Apartments in the assisted living looked more like a converted nursing home room. Nothing worth mentioning. Prices were a little high, for not a great assisted living. Not a place for Mom.

Basically beautiful facility. Lots of activities. The sales staff were focused on making that sale and meeting financial occupancy goals. My mom arranged the move alone and upon signing the paperwork, I found the apartment to be a horrible fit for my mothers needs. No one was around to show me the apartment until the paperwork was signed and they received a check. The administrative staff lacks the ownership of resolving major concerns and a lot of times they're not even there. My mother moved in.. paid a large fee to have the apartment ready and one month later.. its still not resolved. My mother moved in to a broken ac they brought up a portable until it was fixed. Currently the glass top stove remains shattered and not safe to use. Shower head leaks the bathroom is next to her bed. Her pictures have not been hung. There's a huge lip between the tile and flooring that causes my mom who utilizes a walker to trip. The moving company that was strongly recommended by [name removed] was horrible unprofessional rude and just plain bullies. They set up her apartment "thd standard" way and Tefused to move her items how she wanted them. That company is Estate home services [name removed] and [name removed]. Her dresser was turned sideways everything fell out and the draws wouldn't open. When calling them they were defensive and rude and took 3 weeks to fix. Currently made a corporate complaint and met with The director [name removed]. Doesnt make logical sense to sell an apartment that is the farthest away from everything to an elderly women that has agility and stamina disabilities that uses a Walker. Safe happy convenient living is not the goal. Selling apartments and meeting occupancy is the main goal . The social aspect is great. The staff is friendly. Multiple calls to administration after a month of patience and being ignored. Today after this review the stove and shower were fixed. Sooo beware be diligent. Lots of smiles and promises. But you need an advocate or your stuck

This was nice, but I did not get a cozy vibe.

The memory care unit looks and feels like a nursing home, which I don't feel would be a helpful atmosphere. The cottages are nice.

I’m adding to a previous review. I forgot to mention that the activities are basically the same week after week. There is little to help keep seniors mentally stimulated. There is little to help with any manual manipulation activities. There are however plenty of ice cream socials. If you are looking for an assisted living community that doesn’t allow its residents to become bored, again look elsewhere!!

My mother has lived here for 18 months. Over the past 6 to 8 months things have changed dramatically. Staff is constantly changing and consistency of care is questionable. Management tries but is unable to follow through with what is promised. If we were looking again for assisted living for our mother we would definitely look elsewhere.

Although called a 5 Star Community, this facility is average. The biggest complaint we have is the food service. It is poor. The food is overcooked and frequently they are out of things on the menu. For the price the residents pay, the food should be at least as good as the local K&W. It's not even close. Residents have voiced concerns through the proper channels for at least 4 years and there is no improvement. Maintenance is subpar. Stairwells aren't swept, carpets aren't vacuumed adequately, bathroom floors are rarely mopped. The activities director is wonderful and many of the caregivers are compassionate. However, turnover is frequent and new staff have little training. With improved food service and maintenance this facility could be a wonderful asset to the city.

The place is clean and staff is friendly and seem to do what they can when they can. Staff-to-resident ratio meets state requirements - as long as they all show up for work. When one is out, it creates a real issue for the residents (and staff). Everything gets delayed when not properly staffed. Residents press their button OFTEN to get a staff member and can be left there for up to four hours before someone comes. Unacceptable. What if it were a life-threatening emergency? A stroke or heart attack? Some residents are forgotten for baths or morning/evening assistance. The issues typically happen when staff don't come in - which seems to be a weekly occurrence - enough that a "Plan B" should be put in place for when this occurs. Food is usually cold and not very good. Often the menu lists an item that is switched but residents are not informed. Residents make their decision whether or not to go to the dining hall based on the menu and its not right to change it without notice. It happens a lot. For some residents, it is a real challenge to get there, so it would be nice if they could order what they told was on the menu. I think the staff tries hard, they just need more help and consistent help. Management should develop a Plan B to find qualified staff members that can fill in for a day. Lots of businesses do it - why can't they?

Most like a nursing home of any place I have seen.

Only had Assisted Living and Memory Care - no Independent Living.

Feature wise, it seemed to have the essentials. However, it felt more like nursing care than assisted living. The inside reminded me of a hospital rather than an apartment building. They do accommodate pets however, do not have washer/dryers in the rooms. They did offer the possibility of a three month trial stay for my mother to see if she liked it. Logistics might be difficult but, it was a novel idea.

I was not bowled over. It's a nice place, good facilities, what seem to be good and comprehensive services like housekeeping and laundry, but some of the add-on services like "level 3: service is an extra $750 per month, over the $8000 *expensive) for the memory care studio. The say they use a Montessori=based system, and I don't know what that means or implies. We would also be responsible for buying all the supplies, pads, diapers, etc that Linda would need *(I thought the facility provided these, but apparently not.)

way too large ....Mom would get lost in the many halls and sky bridges, let alone get far with her walker

This facility is ideal for healthy seniors . They get good reviews for the social environment . But for my parent who's health and abilities declined rapidly I would not recommend it for anyone in their mid eighties and older especially with any type of condition mental or physical . They have good salespeople but have misrepresented their facility . Its a large facility so conducive to a person slipping through the cracks . The section on the main floor for the more disabled is best for older people if you do need to place someone at this facility .

Overall, I feel that Morningstar leaves something to be desired. My room is nice, and they do keep it quite clean, the food is excellent, and the staff are very nice and helpful. However, there aren't enough staff members. I regularly have to lay in my bed and wait for over an hour for someone to help me up in the morning. I like the staff, and I think they do the best they can with what they have, but they are in sore need of more people.

Sycamore Manor looked like a nice enough community, and I liked it when I toured there. However, it seemed to be that the community was short staffed, and I was not confident that my loved one would not be able to get the attention she needed there.

When we toured this community for my mom it was nice and clean. The person doing the tour was helpful and answered all my questions. It was just really to far away from me. So we chose something closer.