Assisted Living Communities
An Assisted Living Community (ALC) bridges the gap for seniors who need assistance with daily activities a nursing home might offer but wish to live independently so long as they are capable of doing so. Residents in an ALC are unable to live completely by themselves but do not require constant supervision. An ALC offers its residents assistance with eating bathing dressing laundry housekeeping and keeping track of medications. They often have centers for medical services but typically do not offer the extensive medical services provided by a nursing home. An ALC is not a substitute for a nursing home but rather is a stepping stone between complete independence and services provided by a nursing home.
Often an ALC will create an individualized service plan for seniors upon admission detailing personal services that will be provided to the resident. This plan is periodically reviewed and updated to provide the appropriate care to each resident. Housing in an ALC may be studios or one-bedroom apartments with small kitchen facilities. Typically ALC housing units have group dining facilities and common areas where residents gather to enjoy social and recreational activities.
An ALC may be licensed as a “Type A” or “Type B” facility says Martinez. “A facility with a Type A licensing means that the residents are mentally and physically able to vacate the building without assistance within 15 minutes” says Martinez. “A Type B certification means that residents require assistance to vacate the building within 15 minutes. Our facility is licensed for Type B as we are also certified to care for residents with Alzheimer’s Disease.”
“Your first impression of an Assisted Living Community is the most important” says Martinez. “What do you see when you get out of the car? How do they take care of the lawn? What is your first impression of the staff? Are the residents properly dressed? How’s the lighting inside the buildings? What activities are available? Are staff members all in the same uniform? Scrubs are not appropriate for an Assisted Living Community but name tags are important.”
“I’m not bragging about our own facility” says Martinez of her own community Parmer Woods Retirement & Assisted Living “but people comment all the time about that first impression when they walk into my building go on the tour and acknowledge that they like what they see.”
Nursing Care Facilities
A Nursing Care Facility (NCF) is a state licensed private-care facility that provides 24-hour skilled hospital care for residents who do not require hospitalization but cannot be cared for at home. Also called Long Term Care Facilities the majority of nursing homes are staffed by caring trained persons who provide an excellent level of service for their residents.
It pays to shop around when selecting an NCF. Seniors should consult with a trusted doctor or health care practitioner for recommendations of nearby facilities. Plan on visiting at least four or five area facilities and make an appointment with the administrator or director of nursing. Check to make sure that information provided is consistent with information gathered during the facility tour. Discrepancies between provided information and your own observations indicate possible problems later on. A nursing care facility should have clean floors and smell clean. Facilities with dirty floors and a sour smell do not put a high priority on cleanliness and should not be considered.
Ask to see the compliance survey report prepared by the State of Texas on the considered facility. The report will list deficiencies found in resident care during routine inspections and the facility’s effort to correct the problem. Under Texas law nursing homes must make this and other survey compliance reports available upon request as well as provide an accessible and well-lit place for review.
Another option available is to call the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) at 800-458-9858. While state law prohibits agency employees from recommending one facility over another they can answer the following recommended questions about any such facility:
• Have there been any proposed license terminations in the past two years?
• How many complaints have been filed in the past year?
• How many complaints in the past year have been found to be valid?
• How many deficiencies have been cited in the past two years?
• How many “quality of care” violations have been cited in the past two years?
• When did DADS last visit the facility and what was the purpose of the visit?
• Has the owner of this facility had other facilities recommended for license termination?
The answers to these questions combined with observations and impressions made during facility tours and staff interviews will ease the task of selecting the right nursing care facility.
Retirement & Assisted Living Communities
Arden Courts of Richardson
410 Buckingham Road Richardson Texas 75081 972-235-1200 www.hcr-manorcare.com
Ashwood Assisted Living
5701 Glenview Drive North Richland Hills Texas 76180 817-804-3100 www.ashwoodassistedliving.com
Atria Carrollton
1825 Arbor Creek Drive Carrollton Texas 57010 972-505-3751 www.atriaseniorliving.com
Avalon Alzheimer’s Care Homes – Corporate (several locations in DFW area)
1625 N. Stemmons Frwy Dallas Texas 75207 214-752-7050 800-696-6536 www.avalon-care.com
Bethesda Gardens Assisted Living
1103 W. Arkansas Lane Arlington Texas 76013 817-861-4644 www.bethesdaseniorliving.com
Bethesda Gardens Assisted Living
5417 Altamesa Boulevard Fort Worth Texas 76123 817-292-8886 www.bethesdaseniorliving.com
The Bristol at Buckingham
535 Buckingham Road Richardson TX 75081 877-845-6564 214-647-2654 www.bristolatbuckingham.com
Broadway Plaza at Pecan Park
915 N. Fielder Road Arlington Texas 76012 682-990-3400 www.brookdaleliving.com
Cambridge Court Assisted Living and Memory Care
711 Matador Lane Mesquite TX 75149 972-285-9800 www.cambridgecourtalf.com
Castle Rock Assisted Living
5519 S. Collins Street Arlington Texas 76018 817-557-2221 www.castlerocktx.com
C. C. Young Retirement Community
4847 W. Lawther Drive #100 Dallas TX 75214 214-827-8080 www.ccyoung.org
Chambrel at Club Hill
1245 Colonel Drive Garland TX 75043 972-278-8500 www.chambrelatclubhill.com
Christian Care Centers
900 Wiggins Parkway Mesquite Texas 75150 972-698-2600 www.christiancarecenters.org
Colonial Lodge Retirement and Assisted Living
202 Fm-2578 Terrell Texas 75160 972-563-1043 www.coloniallodgeassistedliving.com
Corinthians Retirement Community
3500 Old Denton Road Carrollton Texas 75007 972-395-0363 www.corinthiansret.com
Elmcroft of Arlington
4101 W. Arkansas Lane Arlington Texas 76016 817-469-7671 www.elmcroft.com
Elmcroft of Irving
2425 Texas Drive Irving TX 75062 972-659-6800 www.elmcroft.com
Hearthstone at Vista Ridge
400 Highland Drive Lewisville Texas 75067 972-315-1532 www.elmcroft.com
Lewisville Estates
800 College Parkway Lewisville Texas 75077 972-919-0265 www.lewisvilleseniorliving.com
The Lodge on Preston Ridge
5850 Ohio Drive Frisco Texas 75035 972-668-4100 www.thelodgeonprestonridge.com
Meadowstone Place
10410 Stone Canyon Rd. Dallas Texas 75230 214-972-471-9050 www.spectrumprop.com
Mayberry Gardens
3272 N. Garland Avenue Garland Texas 75040 972-675-3603 www.mayberrygardens.com
Horizon Bay Grand Prairie
355 W. Westchester Pkwy. Grand Prairie TX 75052 866-815-0956 www.brookdaleliving.com
Montclair Estates
801 La Prada Drive Garland TX 75043 972-686-5633 www.montclairseniorliving.com
Monticello West Retirement Center
5114 McKinney Ave. Dallas TX 75205 214-528-0660 www.monticellowest.com
The Plaza at Edgemere
8502 Edgemere Road Dallas Texas 75225 214-615-7045 www.edgemeredallas.com
Presbyterian Village North
8600 Skyline Drive Dallas Texas 75243 214-355-9001 www.presbyterianvillagenorth.org
Parsons House Preston Hollow
4205 West Northwest Hwy Dallas TX 75220 214-357-7900 www.parsonshouseprestonhollow.com
Summerville at Lakeland Hills
3305 Dilido Road Dallas TX 75228 214-321-7300 www.emeritus.com
Vickery Towers
5619 Belmont Ave. Dallas TX 75206 214-452-2359 www.emeritus.com
Walnut Place
5515 Glen Lakes Drive Dallas Texas 75231 214-361-8923 877-572-1863 www.walnutplacedallas.com
The Waterford at Plano
3401 Premier Drive Plano TX 75023 972-423-7400 www.capitalsenior.com/thewaterfordatplano/
The Wellington at Arapaho
600 W. Arapaho Road Richardson Texas 75080 469-330-2800 www.capitalsenior.com/thewellingtonatarapaho/
