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/