Edgewood Vista - Sioux Falls

I can't say enough good things about Edgewood. 10 years ago my great-uncle was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. He willingly move into an assisted living home, knowing what his home life could become(his mother and father, and my maternal great-grandparents, both had Alzheimer's). The facility he moved into was ok, but it wasn't equipped to deal with him as his memory continued to falter and deteriorate. About 5 years ago we (he and I) looked into moving him closer to me, and into a program or facility that was better equipped to focus on memory. We visited two Edgewood Vista's: one in Minnesota(he's from northern Wisconsin and I'm from Southwestern Iowa, so it was a little closer) and Sioux Falls, SD. We loved both facilities. While I can't the amenities are spectacular, they are good and the facilities are clean and friendly.
What makes Edgewood(at least the one in Sioux Falls) so great is the staff. They know what they are getting into and you can tell as hard as the work is they are good at it and treat the residents like people. The nurses talk to the residents about their past and don't mind the constant repeating. Many of them seem to really love their jobs and the care they are giving. Since he has been there his memory loss has continued, but it is at a much slower rate than when he entered. I visit a couple of times per year and bring my two boys, he still knows both them and me, something I wouldn't have thought possible 7 years ago. While I can't say the facility will "wow" you, I can say that the staff and the program have worked amazingly for my great-uncle.

The staff we spoke with and the lady who gave us the tour were very nice and friendly. They seemed to really care about my grandma's needs and what she would expect from an assisted living facility. This facility is a attractive from a physical standpoint and is kept up well and clean. The residents we came in contact with seemed mostly happy and comfortable. The location is also good. It is in a safe neighborhood, off of Louise Avenue, south of I-229. They pretty much had everything on location that a resident would need and want, they wouldn't have to go elsewhere to get the things they need on an every day basis. Another thing we liked was how spacious the rooms were and the layout of the living areas were ideal for what my grandma was looking for. Plenty of sun gets into this facility so it seems a great deal more bright and cheery than other facilities we visited.