Powell Valley Assisted Living and Memory Care Community

This is a very good assisted living facility. In particular, the staff has proven to be both competent and caring. The rooms are clean and well-maintained. The facility provides daily activities for the people staying there, including exercise classes, musical entertainment, oral reading and "field trips" to local attractions and restaurants. The food is nutritious and varied. The grounds are clean and nicely landscaped. Someone is available to relatives via phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When I needed answers to my questions or needed to deal with an issue raised by my Alzheimer's afflicted mother, someone on the staff was always willing and able to deal with it. I was particularly pleased with their ability to deal successfully with the levels of my mother's medication - not an easy task (as I found from having Mom in 2 other facilities prior to taking her to Powell Valley). Several of the staff members were obviously quite distraught when Mom died a few months ago and the help they offered me at this difficult time was much appreciated.

As my grandmother began to suffer from the late stages of Alzheimer's disease, my mother and I wanted to find the best place for her. We did a lot of research and after numerous visits and internet research settled on Powell Valley Assisted Living. They are well known for their Alzheimer's amenities. In fact, according to my research, they have some of the best memory care in the country. This includes outings, group activities, a library and a spacious common room. Even the walls are fashioned in interesting patterns to help with pattern recognition. It is very well thought out.The people who work at Powell Valley were always extremely kind and respectful to my grandmother. On a particularly rough day, they were able to help my grandmother regain a degree of calm and lucidity. They have a good mix of male and female staff, all of whom seem interested in the long term care of their residents.All in all, I couldn't rate Powell Valley any higher.

This is a very secure facility, offering assisted living and memory care: all visitors who enter are tracked and monitored, which can be very reassuring, especially for residents with memory issues. It's right next to another facility"”and this one is more beautiful. There's always a gardener outside, manicuring the lawn and garden. The rooms are well-kept and residents are free to personalize them as they want. There is a common living area that is clean and well appointed, but there is very little staff supervision there, which may be a bit of concern with some residents who have behavioral issues. Activities focus on music therapy; some residents are encouraged to participate in plays. The food is good, featuring seasonal foods and salads. And there is a beautician on staff who is very in tune with residents who need memory care or who have behavioral issues. The nursing communication is clear, but the staff seem less welcoming to outsiders and less attentive than they might be to residents; some of them also seem to be a bit bitter, perhaps because the facility seems understaffed.

When you come in the door, the facility is presentable"”but not amazing. They do keep up the place and make it a good environment. In fact, this is a very peaceful place, both for the caregivers and the residents. It is very clean, and the rooms area good size. It is also refreshing that the administration here does not tolerate politics among staff members. In fact, the staff is respectful and kind and very attentive, but leave people their own privacy. They bring the best in residents, trying to keep them as independent as possible. For example, they allow people to use their walkers on their own, rather than hurrying them or pushing them about in wheelchairs. In some places, the residents enter walking and within three months are in wheelchairs. Each resident has a private room; there are around 100 of them. The caregiving staff is well organized and professional. If any issue arises, it is addressed immediately. The staff members, who are helpful and polite, seem to know the residents and interact very well with them. Most have good rapport and bond well, and there is not much turnover. The medication management is also very good. Powell Valley is also strict about requiring the staff to wear uniforms to help identify them. That feature helps with security"”and everyone also has a name tag and badge for identification. The food is not remarkable; it seems much like most assisted living places. There are many choices, but it is not generally very appetizing. There are a number of planned activities offered, such as inviting people in to lead discussions and do musical performances. Residents are also encouraged on outings in the community"”grocery shopping, walks in the park, siteseeing trips. Dependable van transportation is available for residents who need help getting to medical appointments and other places. The cost is much the same as other places in the area"”very fair for the housing and care that is offered there.