Newport Beach Memory Care

L

My dad is moving into Newport Beach Memory Care. I liked it because it was small and quiet. He's not one for bustling activities and piano playing and all that. The others were really loud and playing cards, trying to get them -- and that's good for some people, but for him, we wanted some place quiet. I also like the fact that the rooms surround the activity area and the dining area. It doesn't have long hallways. The dining area is more like a restaurant. They don't go through a line or anything. They get served at a table. The food smelled really good. It's new, clean, very nice, but it's on the expensive side. The rooms were nice, clean, the walls weren't scuffed. The double rooms share a bathroom. The single rooms have their own bathroom. The showers are down the hall in another area.

Tom

Newport Beach Memory Care has no long hallways or corridors. Everything opens up to the activity area, living rooms, to the dining room; it's all one big open area. So when you step out of your room, you see everybody. There are no long hallways to go find people, which I think is viable for people with dementia and Alzheimer's. They're lonely, they want company, and to be shut away is a shame and harmful; so I think that's the greatest attribute of this place. I found all the staff members caring and wonderful; they almost act like daughters and sons to these people and that's unbelievably nice. The meals I've seen are interesting but tasty; they're not bland. The residents there aren't looking for tremendous and amazing food, but you don't want to give them just bland stuff because they don't know any better. That was good, and they have a nice kitchen staff. The administration staff is helpful and friendly in making appointments to go see my cousin nowadays. Before the pandemic, I could just go there and be able to go in and see my cousin and take him out twice a week with no problem. He's had problems with medication, and they've done a wonderful job of working with the doctors and pharmacy to try and adjust and see what they can do to help. They've done a wonderful job of helping him be more comfortable and safe. They've done turkey dinners for Thanksgiving and Christmas, the food is tasty and healthy-looking; not fried food. It looks like they've given time and cares to give them substantial meals. I like the layout, and it's newer, it was only built around 2014 or so. It's $5500 plus $350 for the incontinence program, and $30 for cable in his room which he doesn't watch anyway. It's almost $6,000 a month but after seeing other facilities, I can say that it's worth every dime. He had a shared room, but if you're in a room by yourself it's around $7500. I have seen other places in Orange County where it's comparable.

Provider Response

Robin

Newport beach is a very nice facility. Coming from a visitor like me, they were very accommodating, and they were very helpful. My friend and I went on to tour the place and we had a lot of questions about activities, about holidays, about social events, laundry, and adjacent costs, like what's the realistic cost of being there, and they answered everything and they were extremely helpful. Plus, we found out that they have respite care, so if I need to go on a trip or a business trip, I could go there and my husband could get good care while I'm gone on the business trip. Even if it's not permanent, you can stay there for a price, whatever it is. Basically, that's a really good option because he might sort of progress and I may have to leave him in the care of someone and they sound very confident and good. I got the impression that the facility was airy and clean, and the staff seemed nice. The lady who gave the tour, Alice, was very articulate and helpful. I did get the impression from looking there that they moved the residents so we could have a tour so there was no danger of COVID or a disruption of activities. We did see a couple of the residents here and there and it seemed to me that they definitely looked like they were down the road further than my husband is, at least physically, but I would definitely highly consider this place if and when the time comes, because I liked it and we are definitely very interested, but it might be a while. I was very happy to find such a high-quality place so near my home. It gives me a lot of peace of mind knowing it's there and one other positive thing is, they keep a couple of beds free for emergencies. Meaning if my husband had to be placed right away, the likelihood is he could be, because you don't have to wait nine months to get on a waiting list to get in that place. Apparently they have assistance setup so they have a couple of rooms or beds, so that somebody who needs immediate placement can find it. That's a very comforting thought, because based on what I've seen, it looks like a good place for my husband. I wasn't able to see the activities, but they have a whole list of it from 9:00 to 4:30 in the afternoon. I wasn't able to see any of that because of the COVID, but I was pleased that they have all of these activities because I don't want him looking bored or unhappy, so that made me feel a little comforted for the future. If I would be interested in placing my husband, I would go back over there and check out the food. If there is a possibility of checking the quality of the food, I want to do that before I place him, but right now, that isn't an option. Alice was very articulate, caring and helpful, very responsive to all the questions that I had. She was good. The place is homey, it was welcoming, it's not overly fancy and it's not institutional. It looks like a place that my husband, given his background, would probably be comfortable in. It's comfortable but not overdone. That's my impression.

Provider Response

Lisa Groves

Newport Beach Memory Care is the best around. The staff is AMAZING, CARING, COMPASSIONATE, KNOWLEDGEABLE and PATIENT! I wouldn't put my mom any where else! Very clean too!

Bill

Newport Beach Memory Care is very new. It opened up in the last six months, but that had nothing to do with us putting our mom there. The facility is incredibly clean, and they are very responsive. The number of caregivers to the patients is very high, like a 2:1 ratio, so I knew she would be getting a lot of care, which was our biggest concern. There are some group activities, but my mom unfortunately is unable to do that because of her advanced condition with her Alzheimer's. From what I've seen, they take care of their patients quite well. The activities I've seen are walks, lots of memory games, different music activities, and reading newspapers to them. They have more one-on-one involvement than any other place that we've seen and where she had been before. The facility is incredible. It's half the cost of where she was before.

A Reviewer

Our experience with Newport Beach Memory Care has been good so far. My husband is eating so I think the food is fine. They will be having a Thanksgiving luncheon on the 19th. All of the staff-members that I met so far are good. The place is clean, and they have one area where they have their activities and their lunch.