Esther & Jacques Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living

I visited this facility

The staff and facilities were superb. The entire was well kept and the people there were very welcoming. When we visited, there was a pianist performing. The food there was healthy, but very good enough to eat that I wouldn't complain. The artwork in the building itself are quite beautiful. The staff was very kind to the residents and very kind to their visitors. They seemed quite organized and thoughtful in every way possible. The facility was very easy to find, but very small on the outside. Inside is a different story, it seems a lot larger. This, of course, resulted in my getting very lost seeing as I underestimated the building. It was very difficult for me to find my way around. But the staff were very courteous in helping me find my way. Every employee was very respectful to the Jewish history and also respectful to the tenants. I enjoyed my visit there a lot.

I am a friend or relative of a resident

Reutlinger Community for Jewish Living has four levels of care: Skilled Nursing, Memory Care, Enhanced Assisted Living and Assisted Living (as needed). Both of my parents are living there now, each in different program. There is a shul (synagogue) within the facility and a Rabbi who is employed there. Reutlinger's marketing includes taking you on a tour and providing you with lunch. It has taken repeated advocacy from my mother, sister and myself to get my Dad's program, for his Alzheimer's disease, closer to what we see he needs. This is ongoing. My mother's experience is that there aren't enough caregivers to cover all the residents' needs and that money is spent on decorating when it could be better spent directly on people. I observe that the caregivers are always working hard and employees often play different roles to meet the institution's needs. I think that their rates are high and they are going up this July. Food intended to be hot often arrives to the table lukewarm then is microwaved when asked to be reheated. The menu reads well yet both my parents find that many savory dishes include sugar, making them unappetizing for them. They have a wonderful salad bar available on non-meat weekdays at lunch. Reutlinger keeps kosher. There are many activities provided throughout the week with many fewer on the weekends, partly due to Saturday being the Jewish Sabbath. It is my feeling that not enough is done to get the residents in Memory Care out of their unit for fresh air or shuttle rides to get them out of the building. That would require more caregivers. I have experienced a few instances over this time where the hardworking activity director could not attend to residents' simultaneous needs and safety was precarious. An unfortunate ongoing experience we have had is laundry not coming back to my parents and clothing belonging to others being delivered to them. From talking with other adult children of residents, this is not an isolated occurrence. We have had to go down to the laundry facility and look for their clothing a few times. I have created relationships with other residents and have heard a myriad of complaints directly from them. I have mixed feelings about Reutlinger from visiting my parents there on a regular basis since November 2011. I would love employees of all facilities of this sort to be trained in truly listening to residents and be required to read Kitchen Table Wisdom, Stories That Heal, by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D. I would actually rate Reutlinger at 3 and a half stars but that option isn't available in your rating system.

I am a friend or relative of a resident

This is a to notch living facility with assisted living and an alzhimers unit. My Grandmother lived her for about about 5 years and was very well taken care of. They have many activities for both mental and physical well being. The people who work here are very caring and enjoy their jobs.

I visited this facility

Reutlinger has independent living, assisted living, a standalone dementia unit with 12 residents, and skilled nursing. I've always said that if I ever have to be in skilled nursing, I want to live there. It's just very upbeat--even in skilled nursing and in the dementia unit. There are no dreary, dark areas. It's a lovely area and facility. I've had clients in both independent living and assisted living, and I totally like it.

Among the pluses: - It's filled with beautiful artwork, much of it by the residents. - They have excellent meals, both kosher and non-kosher. And there's coffee and snacks available through the day. - Although it's a Jewish community, it's open to non-Jewish residents. - They have a wonderful rabbi--a lovely lady. - The care staff is excellent, and they have RNs in skilled nursing. - The facility is pretty and spacious--not crowded. - They have good activities for each level of care. There's always a hustle bustle of activity even in skilled nursing. I was there early one morning, and the place was filled with music. Everyone was dancing--either in their wheelchairs or up dancing with the staff. - The residents are a very, very engaged group. This is not your bingo and puzzle crowd.

They offer independent living and assisted living, dementia care, and skilled nursing here—though the skilled nursing area is quite small. The clients in independent living and assisted living tend to be high functioning intellectuals of Jewish heritage. They have a Rabbi and Jewish services. I've had several clients here, and they're well cared for.

It is located in a countrified area near residences, about 15 minutes from the freeway. It's a large facility, 2 stories, that looks like a small, sprawling motel. But it's beautifully designed. The rooms are simple but nice.

The staff is very good—professional and attentive. And they have a social worker on staff, which is good.

Food is good, kosher, and the dining room is lovely. The activities are also good—both in the dementia unit and across the board.