Meridian in Punta Gorda

Cheryl

My parents are residents of Meridian in Punta Gorda. The community has continued to grow since they have been there. The management and the staff are fantastic. They've brought on new people as the community grows and have been able to fill out and make a great schedule of activities every day. It has been well made. We've been very pleased. Their apartment is spacious. It is nice. They can see the water from their room, which is a big bonus. It is nice that they have nice views from several sides of the building. They have a studio and a one-bedroom with a door between them, so they have what's basically a two-bedroom unit. There are five of those in the community, and it's wonderful for a couple because it gives them extra space and a little TV room. When I go down to visit them, I'm able to stay in the other bedroom, and I've spent weeks there already. Their food is restaurant quality. The Meridian is almost 50% men, and they laugh and say it's because the food is so good. There are a lot of activities, too. There is a group that walks in the morning. There is some kind of game scheduled, whether it's Scrabble, bingo, or a card game. There are movies there two or three times a week. Some groups go to church. There are tons of different things. They also do excursions. They have been to a couple of different marina restaurants that are 10 or 15 miles away. They have done museum-type tours. There is always something happening. They have a good activity director who comes around and gets everybody excited about the activities each day. It is just really nicely done. I live in Virginia, and my parents are in Florida, and their staff is top-notch. I feel comfortable knowing that my mom and dad are there even though I can't be there all the time. They know everybody by name. They come up, talk to them, and check on them. I had my mom and dad up in Tampa for a doctor's appointment one evening, and we were late getting back. The Meridian's front desk called just to check on them because it was later than they would normally get back and make sure everything was okay. They're wonderful. My mom has started cancer treatment, and one of the caregivers from a different floor came to her the other day and said, 'I know you started your cancer treatment, and I'm sure you're tired. Give me your laundry, and I'll just do your laundry for you, and that way you don't have to deal with it.' So they care for them like family would. The value for money is great. The level of care that they're honestly getting is amazing. When we first sat and looked at the cost, we figured they would eat out a couple of nights a week and have money going for snacks or stuff to have in their room if they didn't like whatever was on the menu or something. We found that they don't eat out because there are so many choices, and the food is so good that there is no reason for them to go and spend money eating somewhere else unless they're meeting friends or something.