Highgate at Billings

My spouse Phyllis has resided in the Memory Care Cottage since Feb. 2018. I cannot say enough good about the Care Partners--they treat their jobs as "callings," not just jobs. As a frequent visitor, I see supervisory and support staff backing up Care Partners without hesitation, pitching in at every opportunity, on weekends and during evenings in addition to during regular work hours. Numerous activities, entertainment, van trips, etc., keep residents engaged. As residents with dementia decline, I observe Care Partners regularly and skillfully making adjustments, dealing with increasing resident needs with kindness and caring. I look forward to concluding interactions with senior management at the home office. Two proposals, made then followed up with the home office, have been waiting for a response for several months: 1. Improve efficiency by adopting tablets such as i Pads for record keeping. Care Partners, many of whom are experienced at typing / electronic record keeping, would welcome the opportunity to spend more time with residents and less time hand writing reports and notes, move beyond "19th century" record keeping. 2. Install a button operated electric door opener on one of the doors leading to a small enclosed Cottage courtyard. I often observe residents with limited mobility on foot and in wheel chairs struggle with the door when assistance, sometimes me, is not available. Ding marks on one door illustrate the problem. Lack of a door opener like those installed on Manor doors, is both an inconvenience and a safety issue.

I don't feel John is getting the care. They don't see to it that his CPAP Machine is cared for, they won't check to see if the soclean machine has turned on if not turn it on.Why do they take a shirt out of the closet to change him, then leave it on a chair, leave and don't return to finish what they were doing, is there not enough help or what. Why should it take 2 hours to get a lemonade or drink. His eyes are so mattered up and no one gives him a wash cloth to clean them out. I don't like that they took a part out of the CPAP machine because they thought you don't need it, it has a purpose or it wouldn't be there. I was also told that John would get a room when he first come in, I was told he was in the respite care room, well that wasn't honored.

Our Mom has just started her journey with a memory care facility. The staff is making this transition for all of us so much easier for us because of their thoughtfulness and understanding.

Our Mom went into Highgate with moderate Alzheimer's in November 2015. There was a lot of turmoil from family members that were trying to interfere in the process of the doctor's diagnosis. Highgate was well aware of the problems and communicated with us on a regular basis when her care was being interfered with. They kept her safe and secure and helped us take a huge load off our minds until our guardianship hearing was scheduled and decisions made in support of our petition. They are very professional, but also treat the residents like very well known acquaintances, knowing their likes and dislikes. We also like that the cottage section is so nicely decorated and the residents there seem happy as well, as eventually our mother will need to be moved at some time. Being assured that they are watching that she doesn't take off out the door, re-direct the things that she seems to obsess on and taking that care on for us makes all the difference.