Talamore Senior Living

If your loved one needs a high level of care I would not recommend it, but if you need a lower level of care and want a clean newer place it's wonderful. It is too big and they do not have enough staff to cover all the needs. There are a number of absolutely wonderful staff members, but they typically leave after a short period of time to go work somewhere that pays more and has better management.

Haven't seen care available. Several side options do not make up for a seemingly premade entre. If you do not eat by 5:15 ish the entre is out & you get sandwiches. Uncertain on this, my "parents" have only partaken in 1 cocktail hour thus far. Neither are crafters. Their schedules with Drs & Home Health have been controlling if their time. They thought some care assistance was provided by Talamore. Doesn't seem to be the case. There were repeated issues with maintenance prior to actually moving in. Communication seems to be an issue or "in-charge" rely too much on housekeeping & maintenance to resolve concerns. They still have not gotten their thermostat regulated. It's 77 or warmer all the time so the patio door is cracked open. I'm listed on the files there but had to ask how I was to gain entrance after 4pm. My key fob was never given to me. I had been in & out of that bldg 2-3 times per week for 5 weeks before this was resolved. Sales apparently do not follow up.

With the quality of care - Disappointed that mom went into hospital shortly after moving into Talamore. Medical staff at UW hospital found her to be dehydrated. Another trip to hospital resulted from Talamore staff giving her two (one because deemed mom didn't take properly) nitroglycerine tablets. Med staff at UW hospital deemed that may have done more harm than good. She hasn't taken a nitro in over a decade and we have since removed that med from her list with concurrence and advice from UW health. Hind sight (20-20), I would place a high value on a place that staffed a RN (on-site) 24-7, which Talamore does not. Positive side: I feel certain overnight staff (aids) have done an exceptional job easing mom's anxiety and fears the first few nights. Disappointed that no value placed on keeping HFCS out of residents' diet. Example: pop is the default beverage for residents at lunch and dinner (my mom gets MILK, at our request and many reminders). Another example: syrup used for pancakes and waffles has HFCS as key ingredient. Also disappointed that Soup of the Day is not a planned soup made with fresh ingredients, which can then be known ahead of time so I know if my mom will eat it- but is instead a make something with leftovers from previous day- so soup for that day is not known until morning of that day. (When I select meals for my mom, I select a week's worth of meals on Sunday for next Mon-Sat.) Even if I select meals one day at a time, I have to turn in selections by 6:00 pm the night before, so I don't select soup because I have no idea what it will be. Disappointing because my mom would eat a good basic soup, besides the fact that it would further aid in hydration. Finally, it's a bummer that they don't give memory care residents a knife to cut their food. They get a fork and spoon, and are expected to eat a big piece of meat with those utensils. My mom knows how to use a knife and is no danger...so don't understand this. I don't believe it's a state requirement? Great director and Assistant Director of activities! Love it that assistant activities director also is staffed every other Sunday! He does a great job of rounding up residents for "moving and grooving, coming around to their rooms to cheerfully invite them out! [name removed] is amazing! [name removed] also great, and love that she brings her dog, [name removed], to work sometimes! The ratio of 9:1 residents, is tight, considering all they are tasked with, and that the secured MC area includes a number of enhanced care residents requiring two-person assists. Final comment: Overall, Talamore is meeting, but not exceeding, my expectations. I would not move her because the location is the best for all of us in the family that visit her. Wish dining were better and wish there were RN/oversight provided 24-7. I have given the above feedback also to Talamore and the local management appear to respond where they can. Some of the dining issues are also out of their control because of the third party they use, Unidine, which limits what they can order (e.g. maple syrup choices).

There was definitely some miscommunication between the hospice company and the facility. The facility wasn't as responsive to my sister as they should have been. It's a beautiful new facility which is great for assisted living, but I wouldn't recommend their enhanced care to others. I wish we would have taken my sister to an actual hospice facility instead.

Like so many other places right now, they are dealing with staffing shortages and that is affecting the quality of care that my loved one is receiving.

There are only 20 residents at this time. It is new and beautiful. The apartment is very nice for our loved one. If all amenities were available it might be better. Things are starting to slowly open up here.

1st. Management needs to be improved upon. In decisions and difference of procedures between the various management personnel are troublesome and indecisive to the residence. 2nd. The meal plan has changed three times in the just 12 months that my loved one has been a resident of the Talamore. 3rd. Housekeeping is not set up in structured. They don't seem to know whose signed up, what they signed up for, and the frequency, and that's without commenting on the quality of housekeeping that is provided. It seems staff is constantly changing. 4th. The kitchen does not seem to actually have a chef. More of a kitchen manager, to a meal program that is contracted out. Weight staff is constantly changing, doesn't seem to be trained, and therefore the quality of service the knowledge of what is going on is confusing to the staff and the residence. Food quality is substandard for this type of facility. The menu options and meal design doesn't seem to be consistent. What they say is the meal evening meal for a day when you actually order is different. And staff can't answer any questions or provide any substitution yet the kitchen has substituted for what's on the menu. 5th. Policies change, example: 4th floor was designated as Independent however that changes. I suspect this is just an example depending on what management needs are to increase income. 6th. Most changes are unannounced to residents. Conversationally with other residents, commenting at meetings or "complaining" has no impact. Suggestions by residents for additional supplies are ignored. 7th. When I attempted to inquire about the details of Assisted Living: pricing, benefits, criteria for level identification etc, I was told they could not share that information with me. These are just overall representations of the areas of concern / disappointments. I could not, in good conscience, recommend Talamore.

There was a lot of staff turnover during our time here. There was a major lack of patient visits and over site. The management seemed to be overwhelmed. Based off our experience, I would NOT recommend Talamore St. Cloud to others.

Talamore Senior Living was not the experience we were hoping for, they were not able to meet the expectations we had. The facility is absolutely beautiful and there is good potential there but they fell short. If your loved one needs very minimal assistance this would be the place for them, but anything more then minimal the care lacks.