Continuing Care Retirement Communities Communities in Ames, IA

"We're happy with Mom's placement at Ramsey Village. I had very specific criteria I was looking for, and they had those. The staff is excellent, and I can tell they're well-trained in their areas. Mom is in a memory care unit right now and requires a lot of physical help, but the staff works well with the people. I've visited on numerous occasions, and I've never seen anything that's a concern to me. They are fulfilling what we needed for her. They offer several levels of care too, so if she progresses from one into the other, they can accommodate that, so that's another big plus for them. "

"When my parents moved from an apartment at NC I came to understand that the name Northcrest Community was an apt name, as I felt the care and support of true community during that transition. The care my parents received was exceptional and the staff is very loving, kind, patient. They take time to pop into the resident's rooms to visit with the resident in addition to typical care. Rooms were spacious and pleasant. As a couple, my parents had two rooms each across the hall from each other. One of the rooms they used as a bed room and the other a sitting room, so that it felt more like an apartment."

"My mother-in-law moved to Northridge Village. The food is very good and they have a wide variety. It was well-prepared and very tasty. The building I think is seven years old. It's very clean, very well-maintained, and has big windows in the apartments, and nice big open hallways. There's a lot of activities to do. They have a concierge which is very helpful, a big dining room for independent living, and a separate one for assisted living and skilled nursing. There's something offered almost every day except Sundays, but they have people come in to do music. They have a full-time activity person who just arranges all kinds of things, whether it's adult coloring or games, puzzles, or outings, and people coming in to do travelogs. They've always got something going on, like parties and exercise classes. I'm very impressed with the staff. I think it's a good value, especially for the people who can participate in a lot of the activities."

"The staff who gave us the tour of Green Hills Health Care Center was very friendly and helpful. Their rooms were fine, it's more expensive than what we could spend. The place itself is very nice and large, they can accommodate if my mom needs more medical assistance or memory care. They have different levels of care so she can progress if that's necessary. The community is in a very good location and they have a lot of amenities like a pool, somebody comes in from the bank once a week, there's more than 1 dining area. It's a little more luxurious than the other places."

"Eastern Star has a nursing home, independent living, an Alzheimer’s unit, and all within one facility so they would never have to move. You can have two bedroom and one bedroom, and the nursing home just had one big room with a nice bathroom on the side. A few people don’t have their own bathroom. You can bring your own dresser and TV, and they have a twin size bed. They have Bingo, cards, singing, they celebrate birthdays, and kids from school comes and do performances. I have eaten there a couple of times. The food is very good, and you have 3 or 4 choices in each category. I know some residents and they like it there. "

"My Mom, Brother and I went to tour KennyBrook Assisted Living for my Mom and were very happy with what we saw. The staff were very kind, open, and upbeat. The available unit has a cute kitchenette, a decent size living room, a large bedroom with walk-in closet, and a nice bathroom with walk-in shower. They have a dining room serving 3 meals a day with several choices each meal. Several areas for residents to gather and play cards, work puzzles, read, or just talk. A chapel that also poses as a movie theater room once a week for movie nights, a community room for exercising crafts, and games, a private dining area you can reserve for a family party, fitness room, on-site beauty salon and a coffee shop with cookies! There is also a physical therapy room if needed or prescribed by a doctor that insurance covers. They also do off-site activities (that day they went to Fareway and had a Rootbeer Float Social,) and have free transportation within a 15 mile radius, which is awesome for doctor appointments. Their staff is trained on medicine management and their director is also a nurse. They have a doctor visit on site once a week, as well. My mom was very hesitant when we went, not knowing if a retirement community was truly for her, but before we left, she was all ready to sign the papers!! I think it will be a wonderful place for her to spend her remaining years. I am rating the staff and facilities top stars. I am not yet putting a rating for the food, as we have not experienced it yet, however, the menu looked delicious!!!"