The Bridge at Alamosa

Cathy

The Bridge at Alamosa was a beautiful place. It's probably the nicest building in the whole town. It's relatively new, has a swimming pool and a jacuzzi, and 2 different dining rooms that people can go to. It's set in the valley but surrounded by mountains. It has a beautiful library and I toured their assisted living. I met with the director and most directors are going to be pretty pleasant people. They want you to come live there. I had been there once before and she had materials available for me. I called at the last minute and said, "Can I please come get these materials?" I've already toured the facilities so I didn't need to do the tour again and she was very accommodating in terms of a last-minute request for materials.

Sally Miller

The Bridge has been the very best case scenario for my Mom's transition of six years between her home in Waverly and her Heavenly home. I am so grateful to Carol and the staff there...each and every one was a joy and a blessing and became family to us. Living here in Colorado Springs, it gave me such peace of mind to know how much they cared about her and for her...sometimes it was above and beyond the call of duty. Every time I visited I found everyone attentive and helpful whether it was the office staff, the cleaning staff, the cooks, the aides, the nurses or the maintenance people. She never really had any complaints about the staff or the food. She loved the bus rides out into the community, playing Bingo and the special events. We all consider it an excellent place. It's the gem of the San Luis Valley for Senior care.

oforoskar

If you live in the San Luis Valley you may view this facility as a blessing because there is no other facility within a hundred miles (in Colorado, anyway) that can compare with regard to comfort and cleanliness. The fact that there is no competition, however, is probably what accounts for the real shortcomings of this place. So think carefully if this is the best place for you, or for a family member. It is certainly the most expensive facility in the area—but its prices compare favorably with similar facilities in metropolitan areas (which Alamosa is most definitely not). The core expense is high, and the various add-ons, which are not always professionally administered, are also high. My mother lives here. I have two beefs, one small and particular, one large and general. The small one first. The diet is inexcusably substandard. The amount of sugar and highly processed foods that are shoveled down the throats of seniors here is appalling. The place must buy Cool Whip by the ton, judging by the number of revolting desserts it appears in. No one, and certainly not elderly people, should consume the amount of sugar and processed fats and carbs that are dished out in this place. You only have to observe the obesity of the people who cook and serve to see that there is a problem. My larger complaint is about overall management. In less than two years I have seen phenomenal staff turnover. Many excellent people have left, many less competent have stayed. It is so important for seniors to have some continuity in their care and they don’t get it here, because the place is a revolving door for staff. I expect that the owners (who must surely make a vulgar profit from the place) pay very little for the hands-on care jobs, since these are usually done by young women who don’t stick around long. Alamosa is a poor town to begin with, and it has an inferior labor force. Anyone with anything on the ball will get out of Dodge. This leaves only the dregs to pick the sorts of jobs that are available here. If the Bridge wanted to be a first-rate facility (and it could be one), it needs to invest in its own people: train them better, pay them better, and give them a reason to take pride in their jobs and keep working there.

ShawnM

My Grandmother has been living here for 3 years, The staff is quite friendly and accommodating. The Director is a really nice lady and has spent countless hours with me and my grandmother trying her best to make things easy for us. The Director and other management all have spent a lot of time address my grandmothers concerns and helping us in many ways that I would have never expected. The food is ok better then all hospital food I ever tried and some days better then others. I usually visit 3-4 times per week and on off hours not the usual family visiting time and staff is just as nice and always going from room to room checking on residents and responding to call for assistance calls from the residents who wear pendant buttons on their neck or pull the call for help chains in their rooms(which my grandmother does a lot). They arrange doctor appointments and take my grandmother when I cant make it during the day. Definitely better then any nursing home scenario and seems to be the nicest place in the San Luis Valley by far. They also have nice trips once a week and everything in the building is very new and modern. Carol who runs it is Awesome , I would say she spent probably 100 plus hours meeting with me in person or on the phone helping with my Grandmothers needs.

123you&me

I had a family member who was a resident. It is definitely NOT what it is touted to be, & I only rate it "1" since that is the lowest rating possible. Rent is very high, then they nickel & dime you to death, stop providing services that are listed as being included in the outrageously high rent & start charging for them, etc...be prepared to pay way more than you are told you will pay. Services they claim to provide are simply not provided, 'activities' that are listed are very often not available & are just on paper for 'looks'. The food at Sunday Brunch (when family members are most apt to be present) is generally very good...but is NOTHING like what residents are fed the other 20 meals of the week. Portion sizes are too small & food quality is horrible. The staff (housekeeping, food services, etc) are all great people, but management is absolutely the pits & ONLY concerned with how much $$ they are making (definitely at the expense of residents). Residents are basically out & out bullied & intimidated by management, & are terrified to speak up about anything at all...because the threat of 'the next step is a nursing home' is always held over their heads. They claim to give residents a chance to have input & speak up at "town hall meetings", but that is a joke & just another form of intimidation. Has the potential to be a great place, but as long as current management is in place it never will be...& the fact that the director is also part owner tells you things will never change. She also strives to get residents who have no family members living in the immediate vicinity, since that means nobody will be checking on the resident or on what is going on at the facility on a frequent basis. That speaks volumes...

PoopyDoo

My friend has lived at the Bridge at Alamosa for a few years. When she moved in, it was really up-scale in all areas including meals. Now, the meals are not nearly as nice, and quantitites served often leave her hungry. She is not assertive (as most of the residents are not) and is quite shy, so she never asks for more, nor complains. Most of the residents do not complain because the care-givers are the only ones to hear a complaint and although the actual care-givers are FANTASTIC they are stretched much too thin. The Administrators seem to only care about the "bottom line" ($) rather than providing actual CARE. For the amount the residents pay, they should be getting more. Men are at a particular disadvantage for something to do.