Nicest Assisted Living/Memory care in the DC metro area?

[Anonymous]

For memory care I’d highly recommend Waltonwood in Ashburn. Very low staff turnover and they’ve been incredible with my mom who has been there for almost two years and is in her last stages of decline. I still visit twice a week but she’s not really there now, so I normally end up spending most of my time engaging with the staff. I really can’t say enough good things. It’s not cheap though ($10k-$15k a month depending on needs).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a relative who works in these kind of facilities. They are all the same. They all use the same staff (literally--the pay is low so the women work at 2 or more facilities or work in a facility and then also do home care). The staff are from poor countries overseas (mostly Haiti and African countries) and do no share American values on work ethic, cleanliness, politeness, and they do not enjoy interaction with other staff who are not of their ethnic group (my relative, who is African-American, feels ostracized). The facilities try to feed the residents as cheaply as possible.

I agree with the sentiment about cheap food. Both Brightview and Sunrise have the cheap knock off soda they give residents vs. Coke or Pepsi products.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not saying these places don’t deserve it, but I didn’t know these places cost this much. What can I get for 5k a month (looking for assisted living)?

Nothing. Seriously

We paid more than that for independent level at Brightview which provided some meals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not saying these places don’t deserve it, but I didn’t know these places cost this much. What can I get for 5k a month (looking for assisted living)?[/quote

A small group home. Call A Place for Mom for options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Mather in Tysons is supposed to be good.

Is it open? It’s 55 and up and not sure if it’s assisted living and or memory care. They have places up to $2m plus I’m sure many thousands a month in fees.

The Mather is open. But there are not many units still available, I don't think.

It is a CCRC, so it will eventually have assisted living and memory care. But not yet.

My parents are there. Very, very expensive, but also extremely high-end and well-educated residents. My family is so happy we found that place.

The Mather is for-profit. No way, no how. Looks like a fairly new investment group behind it. Residents rights were very minimal when I read details pre opening. Be careful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - any suggestions for good non-profits that are nice with well educated residents?

Ingleside is nonprofit (which doesn't mean inexpensive) and the Rock Creek campus is where all of Cleveland Park retires in old age. Very, very educated population. World Bank, lawyers, academics, the usual upper NW population. When I visited a friend there, the only thing I didn't like was that there's no walkable campus. Those who have good mobility can walk out into the surrounding neighborhood, but the campus itself, while nestled among trees, is very hilly and doesn't even have great sidewalks to walk in and out of the complex.

That said, if you want educated, upscale, nonprofit, and close-in, I assume this should be on your list.

I'm so glad you mentioned this! We almost did it for father but for a retirement community nestled in rock creek park it's accessibility is trash. Absolute garbage. Unless you are driving or being driven in and out it is the least pedestrian and wheelchair friendly place I've been.

Agree. I drove in to check it out and was put off by the location.

Plus it is a CRC and we wanted to pay month to month. Why would I give some random company $500,000-$1 million to move in?!

Because that $500K is the price to pay so that when you need skilled nursing care/dementia care/assisted living for 1-5+ years, you still pay the same "monthly rent" that you paid when living in Independent living. And one spouse can stay in independent and other move to "higher level care" and you don't pay anymore (except for the extra meals for the higher level care---3 meals per day). So now you have 2 apartments/rooms for same price. And for most, if you "run out of money" you don't pay anything. My parents live in a nice place where there are currently 4 residents (all women) in their late 90s/100s who have technically run out of money, they pay nothing monthly. BTW, SS cannot be touched, so it's just your savings that matters.
Also you don't pay $extra $6-8K/month for memory care.
Plus the perks are both your parents are at the same facility---they can visit daily, the healthy one can take the other to the apartment for part of the day (if it's still medically feasible).

Heard of too many people whose parents are split and it's a drive so they see each other only 1x/week or less. In that case the parents deteriorate quickly.

I think the “never run out of money” only applies to non-profit CCRCs.

[Anonymous]

And check the CARFE survey ratings. Make sure wherever you go is CARFE accredited.

[Anonymous]

The Kensington in Falls Church

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - any suggestions for good non-profits that are nice with well educated residents?

Ingleside is nonprofit (which doesn't mean inexpensive) and the Rock Creek campus is where all of Cleveland Park retires in old age. Very, very educated population. World Bank, lawyers, academics, the usual upper NW population. When I visited a friend there, the only thing I didn't like was that there's no walkable campus. Those who have good mobility can walk out into the surrounding neighborhood, but the campus itself, while nestled among trees, is very hilly and doesn't even have great sidewalks to walk in and out of the complex.

That said, if you want educated, upscale, nonprofit, and close-in, I assume this should be on your list.

I'm so glad you mentioned this! We almost did it for father but for a retirement community nestled in rock creek park it's accessibility is trash. Absolute garbage. Unless you are driving or being driven in and out it is the least pedestrian and wheelchair friendly place I've been.

Agree. I drove in to check it out and was put off by the location.

Plus it is a CRC and we wanted to pay month to month. Why would I give some random company $500,000-$1 million to move in?!

Because that $500K is the price to pay so that when you need skilled nursing care/dementia care/assisted living for 1-5+ years, you still pay the same "monthly rent" that you paid when living in Independent living. And one spouse can stay in independent and other move to "higher level care" and you don't pay anymore (except for the extra meals for the higher level care---3 meals per day). So now you have 2 apartments/rooms for same price. And for most, if you "run out of money" you don't pay anything. My parents live in a nice place where there are currently 4 residents (all women) in their late 90s/100s who have technically run out of money, they pay nothing monthly. BTW, SS cannot be touched, so it's just your savings that matters.
Also you don't pay $extra $6-8K/month for memory care.
Plus the perks are both your parents are at the same facility---they can visit daily, the healthy one can take the other to the apartment for part of the day (if it's still medically feasible).

Heard of too many people whose parents are split and it's a drive so they see each other only 1x/week or less. In that case the parents deteriorate quickly.

I think the “never run out of money” only applies to non-profit CCRCs.

The above PP may be mistaken. In our CCRC, the move in fee does not cover two rooms/ apartments when one spouse needs more care. In addition to the move in, the couple pays a monthly amount for their shared apt. When one moved to AL, two monthly amounts were paid and AL was a lot more.When the AL one eventually moved to the highest level of care, the associated monthly amount was even more, around triple the other spouses apt. They are paying four times more per month than what they started at. Essentially all savings are depleted before the buy in portion (a percent) is then utilized. Once all that is spent, they are supposed to still be permitted to stay. So once more care is needed, the money burn is significant. There is definitely not 2 rooms for the price of 1 there. Every asset they have beyond the move in is on the line for care needs before they would live “for free”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And check the CARFE survey ratings. Make sure wherever you go is CARFE accredited.

I've looked around online and haven't been able to locate this website to check ratings. Can some kindly assist me, please? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Kensington Parkwood in Kensington, MD is supposedly excellent. Never had a loved one there but I'm a realtor and have heard many good things about it. I've also toured it for my own parents. It is privately owned. Memory Care has its own building, as does Assisted Living and Independent Living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kensington Parkwood in Kensington, MD is supposedly excellent. Never had a loved one there but I'm a realtor and have heard many good things about it. I've also toured it for my own parents. It is privately owned. Memory Care has its own building, as does Assisted Living and Independent Living.

Oops, I mean it's called Kensington Park Senior Living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kensington Parkwood in Kensington, MD is supposedly excellent. Never had a loved one there but I'm a realtor and have heard many good things about it. I've also toured it for my own parents. It is privately owned. Memory Care has its own building, as does Assisted Living and Independent Living.

Oops, I mean it's called Kensington Park Senior Living.

Not the fanciest but probably one of the best (and super expensive!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And check the CARFE survey ratings. Make sure wherever you go is CARFE accredited.

I've looked around online and haven't been able to locate this website to check ratings. Can some kindly assist me, please? Thank you.

It's CARF.

And I personally wouldn't use the lack of this accreditation as a dealbreaker. It's a money grab for the most part and doesn't speak to the core quality of interpersonal care of an aging care organization.

[Anonymous]

But to answer your question, here you go:

https://carf.org/find-provider/