HomeLife in the Gardens

The last facility that I looked at was HomeLife in the Gardens. I didn't like the facility set-up. Although there were only 15 or 16 in it, it was very institutional like. It had steel doors and long corridors, which were very dark, and it wasn't cheery at all. The person that took us around the tour was helpful and willing to show me around. They had some rooms that were going to be updated, but I was not impressed with the facility at all, and I was not impressed with the memory care area of that place.

They were eating when I was there, and I could see that they had an open dining area for the assisted living people and some of the memory care people if they wanted to come downstairs. It just wasn't what I wanted. It was too dark, not updated with stained carpets, and they had just one person handling 16 apartments. It's fine if a woman would come in when they needed to bathe, but I don't know if my mom would be comfortable with a man taking her to the restroom.

I recently toured this facility. Looking at the outside, you would never expect what your going to walk into. The staff is so warm and caring. The residents seem so happy, and many stated they loved it. I also ran into a family member who has her 99 year old mother there, who said this is the best place she has ever been. She said the Executive Director is one of the most caring person she ever met, and how her staff is reflects this. I do have to say not only that, but the deal breaker was there new generator which they will have air conditioner and use of elevator. My mother was at a place with no generator. Just knowing they will not have to evacuate is wonderful. I strongly recommend visiting this community. It is that warm NOLA feeling.

I love this community. Just moved my loved one there. This is a hard transition for all parties. The staf ff is extremely professional and some even have there loved ones there who say they love it. I live down the street and pop in at different hours and its always the same. A must see place. Great management!!

My mom is 98 years old, confined to a wheelchair and has been at Homelife for about a year. Before coming here she had been in two independent living and two skilled nursing facilities. This is by far the best place she has been. The staff is wonderful. They function as a team. The facility gives mom the privacy of her own room and furniture. She has family pictures on the wall. Her care has been excellent and personal. She recently had radiation therapy. Homelife provided transportation for the dozens of doctors appointments and waited with their van cheerfully and tenderly until she was ready to return. This is but one example of the many kindnesses we have been graced with by these wonderful people.

My mother is moving into HomeLife in the Gardens. We toured this community Prior to her decision to move And we had a wonderful visit! The staff was friendly, caring and very interactive with the residents. Everyone, both residents and staff said hello and had a smile for us. My mother was concerned with the quality of meals so we stayed for lunch. I am certainly glad we did because it put my mother at ease, everything was delicious. The historic New Orleans building was beautiful and she is greatly looking forward to her move. Thanks HomeLife.

I visited Homelife in the Gardens and it was probably the worst experience that I had. When I arrived at my appointed time, the person who was to meet me, was at lunch. It was very inappropriate and unprofessional of her. I waited by myself at the lobby, they did offer me to the opportunity to eat lunch, but I didn't take them up on it. Finally, another woman showed up and said that she would show me around. The common areas looked okay, but I saw a lot of people that didn't seem to be attended to, they were mostly eating, sitting by themselves or tables of two. I didn't see very much staff interaction. So that was a little off-putting, but the worst thing was that they took me up on this old rickety elevator to the floor where they had their memory unit and it was just horrible. It was all like cinder black walls and concrete floor to me. It wasn't quite that bad, but that's what it felt like. They opened one room that was occupied and apparently the lady had to bring her own stuff. There just wasn't any furniture in the hallway, there wasn't any staff, and it didn't look like there was any activity. It was really grim-looking, uninviting, and unappealing. I got an answer that I wasn't happy about for almost every question that I asked.