Bickford of Oswego

We were at Bickford of Oswego yesterday, and I thought that the rooms were very small for the price. I didn't like that they had dorm-sized refrigerators. These are elderly people and for them to stoop down and look into a refrigerator that's sitting on the floor is not good. I don't think that's in their best interest, so I was not impressed with that. The staff that we talked to were all very nice. Tanya took us around and introduced us to everybody. I just don't know that it's necessary when someone's just coming in to look, get pricing information, and tour the home itself. I don't think it was necessary to meet the kitchen staff, the cook, the housekeeping people, and all of that. It took us a long time; we were there for 2 hours. So many things were an additional charge to what your base rate was. The base rate would be $170 a day, plus $60 a day for a care level 2. I think that when you get to be a senior and you're looking for these types of facilities, it needs to be cost-effective for the residents. When you have to pay an additional $75 a month for a phone or a DirectTV for $45 a month, that is a lot of money on top of what they're paying for their basic rate. That's a lot of money for them to come up with. I was not impressed that the room sizes were small compared to other places that we've looked at. The prices were higher, too. Everything was separate, and everything had an added cost, even the laundry was an additional cost. If someone would need to come in and remind my mom to take her medication, that's an additional cost too. In a lot of other places (and we've looked at many of them), those services are all included. In this place, even if my mom would be paying $60 a day for level 2 care, she would still have to go on to the pharmacy or whatever they call it and get her medicine. It's not going to be someone bringing it to her room and saying, "Here's your morning medications or your evening medications." A lot of these people are using walkers and wheelchairs. They're not making it convenient for the residents, as far as I'm concerned. Before we even got in the car after the tour, we were all saying we can take this place off the list. The girl that took us around was very nice, but she appeared to be a salesman. She was a marketing director or whatever the title was; that's how she came across to me. Her thing was "This is family-owned" I thought "Well, if you want us to feel like family, then there should be some consideration for all these additional fees as well." I don't think it was family. Maybe family-owned means it's probably been around for whatever years, but I did not get that impression by touring it. I don't think it was as clean as some of the other facilities that we've looked at. It probably needed some freshening up, as far as paint and stuff like that goes.

Bickford of Oswego was very nice. You could tell that it was an older building, but the staff was very friendly. After I went to look at the place I took my brother to look and then my folks, and every time the staff members remembered my name. I like them because they're like a family, but they only had one-bedroom apartments. It was close to golf courses, they had exercising, craft rooms, and they do sing-alongs. Because this community is a lot smaller than other places they can get people involved. Instead of people being off to the side just watching, they can actually bring people in to sing and so on. The only reason I won't give them the highest score is because it's an old building.

I stayed at the Bickford of Oswego for respite care. I was not impressed with the place because they used room heating and air conditioning units, and I couldn’t stand the noise. I had a terrible stay there. It was small. The dining room was fairly pleasant. The activities room was almost nil. The printer they had for the residents did not have any ink. Neither did the activities’ computer have any ink. The people seemed fairly happy. There were one or two people in the activity room doing something. I used to go to the activity room, but there was very rarely anyone there including the activities director. The food, I think, was OK.

My mother has been a resident here for a few years. She came for respite care after a surgery and decided to stay. She loves it and has flourished here. She is now in her late 80s and I don't believe she would be in such good shape if she had remained at her home. The staff has become her family and they treat her, and all of the other residents, with TLC. The staff have become our friends and we trust them completely. There are many activities including daily morning exercises (most are done sitting down), games with prizes, movie nights, weekly shopping trips to Walmart, Walgreens, etc., outings in the Bickford bus to see Christmas lights, or to the local zoo, or local restaurants for lunch, and have even been in local parades. Mom especially loves when the kids from the middle school next door walk over and interact with the residents. They ask questions, practice reading, or play games with them. There are many local groups that come in and entertain the residents. When she is sick, the nurses call us and tell us everything that is going on. They assist her when she needs it, but respect her privacy. We feel very comfortable knowing that Mom is in a safe, clean, warm environmental.

I am very pleased with the care that my wife has received at the Bickford in Oswego. She is much more relaxed, alert, and content than she was before I took her there. In the numerous times I have been there to visit my wife, all of the staff members have been pleasant, willing to answer questions, and eager to accommodate my concerns or requests. Those who work at the Bickford know my wife very well. They have even created a "secretary work station" for my wife so she is able to spend time doing the "work" that she believes needs to get done.

Anyone who is entering into this unexpected, not anticipated, "wish it could be different" stage of caring for a loved one I want you to give Bickford a chance to show you how much they truly care, I toured Bickford of Oswego and was greeted with warmth and compassion. I can honestly say that after a year and a half that the feeling is the same. My mom entered Bickford in the assisted living module and was moved, with my consent and agreement, to the memory care unit after six months. I have visited my mom at all hours of the day and night and have never heard a cross word spoken to even the most challenging of residents. The level of care is wonderful.