Cogir Senior Living

The Director is really good and you can tell knows each and every one of the tenants that lives there. Cogir was me and my sisters 2nd choice but my dad made a friend on his first visit and decided to go here. There is a strong sense of community here and everyone raves about food including my dad. The 1bdrm is very large, we did not look at a studio as one was not available at the time my dad moved in. Since he has been there tho the communication isn't great and the move in is not streamlined.

Welcoming atmosphere and I think most staff cares. Food isn't bad, Mom seems to like it. Facility seems ok. However, we felt like our transition into the facility was strange and distant once they got our check. I swear it went from warm and friendly to barely looking at me once I handed the guy the check, his attitude when I said "Ok, thanks for your help" was to turn his back and basically say yeah, yeah, while looking at the check and going to his desk. Didn't even acknowledge or thank me as a normal business courtesy. After that transaction, there was not much orientation as to how things work there. Were told the wrong time for lunch the first day and Mom was confused and sad since she didn't get to meet the "new friends" they told us many times they had invited to welcome her. Initially they said she'd be Level 1 care, then after they met her they said Level 2, even though we told them extensively of her needs, so it felt like bait and switch. More details later, but she ended up in the ER a few days before moving out and their response was, well, she fell while we weren't looking, so that's a change in condition so soon she'll be level 3. Many (8?) boxes of her personal tissues were removed the first week or two, and some of her food. We still don't know where it went. After we complained, things stayed in her room. We were given the hard sell to sign up with a certain doctor because "it's so streamlined with him" Same with a CVS pharmacy service, Omnicare. Now we are having trouble with both services. For example: • They told us Omnicare charged a "small delivery fee" but once we got the bill it was 5x more expensive than going to a pharmacy. • We told the doctor NOT to give her antipsychotics because they are not to be used on patients with Lewy Body Dementia, which we suspected she has. My sister told him directly we wanted to wait to hear what her neurologist said at an upcoming appointment before adding any medication. The doctor ordered it anyway and Mom had severe side effects that made her unsafe: couldn't feed herself, leaned all the way over to the left when sitting, couldn't walk by herself, couldn't toilet by herself, drooled and was totally out of it. Staff seemed unaware of the side effects since they weren't checking on her regularly due to understaffing. I'll forward you the email I sent insisting they take her off this medication. The facility Cogir and the doctor each blamed the other party. I think the doctor only ended up seeing her in person once or twice, he mostly sent his assistants in his place. The head nurse told us they wanted to schedule a family meeting with admin staff to assess the transition, usually 2-3 weeks after resident arrives. She was really insistent about the meeting, and we agreed. My sister and I showed up on a Sunday (March 17) for the meeting, but nobody else did. Got an email a couple days later from one staff member that she was sorry, she took the day off and forgot to tell us. Nobody else acknowledged the no-show. Another Sunday I went to visit and there was dried feces on the bathroom floor. About a palm-sized amount. When my husband told the front desk on his way out, they said there was no housekeeping on weekends. (He didn't know it was feces until later, so wasn't pushy about it at the time. I was being discreet when he was in the room and Mom was in earshot.) I gave Mom a pedicure that day, and on my way out an hour or so later, I asked again for housekeeping and the lady said again there are no janitors on weekends, but maybe she could ask someone upstairs to do it? She seemed unconcerned and almost annoyed by my request. When I stood there and didn't leave she sighed and YELLED upstairs through the atrium "can someone go clean 211?" We planned to move Mom at the end of [date removed], and on [date removed] she was getting ready to move on [date removed]. She fell down the stairs at the facility unwitnessed so they took her to Marin General (I think that's the name) and just...dropped her off. Nobody waited with her until we could get there. They called me and I went straight over. She ended up being ok after a ton of tests, but I was at my limit. I talked to the social worker about my fears of bringing her back to Cogir since she fell there, but that it was recently familiar and might be better than taking her to my house. The SW said, "honestly all these memory care places are like this...understaffed and careless. It's better for your mom to be in her familiar bed after such a hard day. Odds are good until you can move her on Saturday." So I took mom back to Cogir late that night, and two caregivers (very nice, but we had never seen them before) met us at the door and we got Mom settled in bed. Nobody seemed to know that Mom had been to the hospital and that she'd be coming back at midnight. No further communication to us about the incident, just that she fell 4 steps coming downstairs.

Most staff were friendly. Not many comments on activities. Food was mediocre. The apartment they were in wasn't great. It felt institutional. The staff were constantly taking vitals, which felt like a box-checking exercise. Getting actual assistance was more challenging - lots of bureaucratic hoops.

My mother lives at Beverly Lake. The transition into a memory care facility was difficult as you are allowing others to care for your loved one’s. This is done in different ways than you would do or are used to, which is very difficult to accept. Our first year (2023) at Beverly was very challenging due to lack of leadership and staffing /resource challenges. We discussed removing mom from the facility. However, this last year, 2024, Beverly hired a new Executive Director and we saw many changes including staff, process and accountability of the team members, that had a positive impact. As a result of these improvements we made the decision to leave mom at Beverly. Today, the Terrace at Beverly Lake is a place where my mom is given the care she needs and activities to keep her engaged and active.

My experience is for short term respite care. I believe as a retirement home it would be far better. Not sure about assisted as that is what this was to be...but assistance requested was minimal and I'm unhappy with that. For a short term assisted stay i don't feel they did the follow up I requested. I requested they escorts him to 2 meals a day or he forgets to go eat. He lost 5 pounds while there. I will not be using them again.

Solista had a turnover in management while my dad was there. Dad spent most of his time in his room, not showing interest in activities or meals. His blood sugar was very high and that led him to falling and going to the hospital,

The consistency of caregiving is really a challenge. And it’s difficult to get a hold of the caregiving staff managers. Also, the food really needs to be upgraded. It’s a shame because it’s such a gorgeous place and location.

They were very slow on following up with original promises before admission. Two months later her blinds were finally repaired and her cable tv hooked up and her flower box installed. Also mix ups with billing several times. Over charging. Her room wasn't repainted as promised either. Just some spotty touch ups that were obvious. Porches were finally cleaned of dirt and cobwebs after several requests by all three daughters. I like the facility and I think the staff is trying and kind but they need more maintenance employees. Mom for the most part doesn't enjoy the food. Nice facility and good activities. I did not appreciate the unethical and persistent Physical Therapist. She demanded I give mom permission to start PT as her POA and that I had to sign documents or she couldn't have it! That's not legal as long as she can speak for herself and it's a dr ordered therapy anyway. Not impressed! Mom is making friends there and attending church and activities and that is really good for a natural introvert. I think she feels safe there however I don't know if anyone checks to see the house doors are locked at night.

The memory care staff is excellent. Activities, yes they do have them. Memory care has good food and dining in the the memory care room. They did raise the rent in Sept. After they said it would be a while until they would raise it - I was not very happy about that.

The building was too big and the hallways too confusing for my mom. She would get lost often. Her room was too far away from the dining room and the activities so she stayed in her room too much. There weren't enough eye balls on her - she would go all day sometimes without seeing anyone. The staff was nice but they seemed stretched too thin and couldn't provide the care and attention I hoped for.

Lots of employee change over and corporate takeover caused some lack of communication and less than best experience. That location could work for someone who prefers being a part of a smaller community.

Food is not good. Service is very slow, portions are extremely small , choices are minimal and quality is very average. We take meals from home at least 2 times weekly.

People are nice. Staff are friendly. Food is great. Not enough activities. You are truly left on your own as this is Independent Living. No one checks on you so my dad spends a lot of time in his room alone. He has some friends that he goes on walks with, but nothing meaningful.

The staff changed more than I wish. My husband needed more care so it was always hard getting two who could help clean him up or shower. I am guessing they don't pay staff what they are worth! The food was pretty good most of the time. They have a new chef now . They needed more help a lot of the time. David couldn't really participate in activities. It was expensive and his care went up$[removed] a month and his care was not better than before. All in all I am glad he was only there 5 months. We loved several of the workers and formed somewhat of a bond. I am sure others will have a different evaluation but our experience was ok but not always really good.

We were originally shown the least expensive unit, which we decided was too small. We upgraded to the next level which was at least $[removed] more expensive because we were told it included food and housekeeping. Found out later that food wasn't included. After move in we were told that housekeeping wasn't included either. My dad has a beautiful apartment as it was recently completely remodeled, and he CAN cook for himself. We were just disappointed in conflicting and non-transparent information.

The care staff overall was good and caring. The leadership was good at selling to get you in but feel short once Mom was there awhile. The cost is outrageous and seems to fund corporate vs the local car givers. Just my impression. At the end of the day. It was a good fit for my mom for her end of life experience

The apartment and food were great, rate a 5! What staff that was there was good, but way understaffed. Quite a risk for the residents that required that level of care. One of my brothers meds was out of stock for over a week before they realized it. Could have been dangerous. UNDERSTAFFED for sure.

It is a wonderful, lovely place with wonderful, caring staff. Plenty of activities. All inclusive which is great. My one issue is that the food isn't completely what it should be. Just mostly too much ultra processed food but we're working on it! It is less expensive than some other all-inclusive places and they are able to provide more assistance and care than some similar places.

Staff and facilities are wonderful. Meals are served slow, cold, and they run out of food. Transportation to Dr appointments has been a great disappointment. Shuttle is a very bumpy ride which has caused back issues to increase and left constant back pain.

Management has been chaotic since we've been here. It makes us feel insecure. Rent has been raised but amenities have fallen off. The food is good and housekeeping is good.