El Rio

Secret Shopper California

For the last five years, I have been working with clients from far away and near places. I have seen near 100 Independent living, assisted living, and memory care facilities. I write this with knowledge of the health care industry and as a Director of a company that provides senior services in Asia. I am an American El Rio is the very best physically designed facility that I have seen in the USA. It has a modest but beautiful and welcoming entrance with a lovely conference room for families. And, is a lockdown facility but does not feel like this when you enter the residency. There are safety guards in place that notify electronically when a resident needs helps, falls down, has wandered. This panel is visible at the nurses desk near the resident entrance. What makes this facility wonderful is that the hallways are wide and feeling is open. The dining areas are clean and fresh smelling as is the living areas. The rooms modest, comfortable and safe. What was great to see was that families were gathering with residents in private rooms, public areas, eating areas. Activities were going on. People were walking and talking and not all hiding in bedrooms. The staff was interacting. And, the patio areas open and a place where residents can enjoy fresh air without being gated in like a prison. Many facilities are confined and gated and not inviting. This facility inviting. Although EL RIO is not a place like Dementiavillage in the Netherlands( a collection of apartments and buildings comprising a “self-contained” world of restaurants, cafes, a supermarket, gardens, a pedestrian boulevard, and other features, all surrounded by security fences and gates) .... I judge El Rio to be the best America has to offer. Our USA model has yet to imitate the Dutch ( sadly) ... Maybe one day we will try this model and it will become a choice for Americans but for now El Rio is one of the best models available. Although I was looking to help a client in the area, I feel I must write this review to help others think through what they want for themselves and their family. Note: The Director is professional as are her junior staff. Note: The pricing is at the highest point for the Central Valley but considerably less than what people will pay in the Bay Area or Los Angeles area. Many people from outside of Modesto, Ca are moving their family members to El Rio because it is near half the price of city locations. I only wish one day I can live in this facility if dementia hits me personally. I believe I would be given great care and treated with respect .

Patty

My husband is in El Rio, but they decided that he was getting too aggressive, and he needed to be in a small community, a 6-person maximum home. Everything was supposed to be fine, but he ended up getting a back sore, and they didn’t change him. In January, they stopped giving one of his medicines, and they cancelled it on their own. His own doctor went to China and retired last December, so no way that he could cancel it. The regular doctor wrote to him, got it started back up on February 7th, and told them not to stop the medicine again. He’s been there for 6 months. It’s a nice facility, and the food is good, but they’re expensive.

William

I placed my wife at El Rio Memory Care, and so far, she seems to like it. It’s very clean, and they keep it up very nice. It’s a brand-new facility, the staff seemed to be very polite, they wanted to help, and they have all nice people there. The food could improve, it’s good, but not wow, or anything. They have an outdoor sitting area, and they have several different living spaces.