Aegis Gardens Fremont

It's not clear when you talk to the management of Aegis that there's a $10,000 move-in fee while other assisted living facilities are much less. There's also a fee of $1,000 for each pet, so we paid $12,000 before we even entered the facility. The majority of the employees care. The negative statements I would have to be about the dining room and the wellness center. They have happy hour every Friday afternoon where they have entertainment, but I do not have time to participate. My wife has participated in the exercise classes and several craft activities. They have a lot of activities for the residents.

My mother will be moving into Aegis of Fremont tomorrow. It is excellent. The apartment is clean, and everything is tailored around a person that may need a wheelchair or a walker. It has handicap rails in the shower, hand rails everywhere, a mini fridge, a microwave and a small sink. It has new carpeting, fresh paint, and a bright and sunny window overlooking a garden or a courtyard. The staff is excellent. We actually had lunch there yesterday, and I observed how they treat other residents, which is just wonderful. It is like being in your own home but having some really good caregivers available to take care of everything. The food is delicious. The dining area is beautiful, clean, and warm and fits about 130 people. They have fireplaces, beautiful furniture, and lovely artwork. Yesterday, they had bingo and crafts. They have movies at night and happy hours on Fridays. They have music played by a harpist, a band or a violinist and have a big grand piano. Every Friday night, they have some kind of entertainment, so it is very lovely. I think there is a fireplace in almost every large community rooms, which is beautiful. Every day is filled with activities. Yesterday, they had a transportation bus take them to the mall or out for lunch. It looks wonderful for every type of person.

Aegis of Fremont is an assisted living facility, but they have a section specifically for dementia and Alzheimer’s where my Dad is. We put him there for $200 a day because we did not have much choice at that time. The facility looks fabulous outside, but inside the dementia unit, we are very dissatisfied. They don’t seem to have the personal care that somebody with dementia needs. Some of the staff seem to be very caring. Last Friday, I went to visit Dad and his room was a mess with his items mixed up with his roommate’s items. They have one TV in the dining area that is the only TV for the residents; that’s all Dad does the whole day. I don’t think they go out of their way to help the dementia patients participate in any of the activities nor give them enough activities to do. The food is mediocre. They use the dining area as their common TV area. My dad lost 10 pounds in the first two months there. My rating is based on the dementia and Alzheimer area. I would suggest that they be more respectful for the people who need their assistance. They need to be more watchful of the dementia patients’ belongings because my dad’s wallet went missing twice. The second time, only the driver’s license was found; all of the money and everything else were never found. When I went there Friday, I found dad sleeping on his bed without the bed sheet, mattress pad, blanket or pillow case that I provided. He was sleeping there with just a blanket over everything. I was disgusted. That is why I am taking him out and moving him into a new community tomorrow.

My parents were at Aegis of Fremont for five years. Aegis was extremely great. The staff fell in love with my parents, and I am positive they got more far more care because they were so popular. My dad was very close to my mother there; so it was very easy for her to see him. The staff would walk him up to her room. They also knew of their eating preferences. My parents were spoiled rotten there. The food, in general, I would rate as a three. Activities were very good, though. My mom is an avid bingo queen. They had plenty of happy-hours where lots of music were brought in. Every Friday there were some kind of social event, and they would always bring memory-care people to experience the same thing with the rest of the unit. My mom’s room was smaller, but very nice.