3 Memory Care Communities in Kansas City, Missouri

Debra

My mother will be moving into Primrose Retirement Community of Kansas City. It was a very good tour. She's moving into independent living. It had a theater and a pub. She also found out that she has two friends that are living up there right now and we just really liked it. She will have a big room for a dining room, a living room, bedroom, kitchen, and the bathroom. It's very roomy. They had an exercise room and a beauty shop. The staff was very nice and very easy to work with.

Sean

Garden Village was very good, it was almost within budget, but not quite, but the only thing about it was my mother didn't want a studio, she wanted a one- or a two-bedroom. They did not have that available, but as far as the property is concerned, it was pleasant. The staff was caring, I didn't have any issues with anybody, they were extremely helpful as they could be, very forthright, they didn't sugarcoat anything, or hide anything, they told it like it really is. They showed me an area where the people kind of gather, and they have activities and things of that matter, they had that available. I saw sitting areas outside for those that desired to get a little fresh air, you were not confined, and if you wanted a meal, they had that available too. Everything seemed to be well-kept.

AG

My mother was at Brookdale Wornall Place. She started in independent and was moved to assisted. That's pretty much where my frustration as next of kin began. She moved from assisted living at another facility, and my mom took a not next of kin person because she wanted out of the other place so badly. They accepted her into independent living with support, which on her file it was clear she belonged in assisted living. It's a struggle because I'm getting calls for falls and things like that which if you're an independent, you don't do. She is still her own medical decision maker, but still had they looked at her file, there's my signature and not the friend she took with her that day. I'm surprised I didn't get a call or anything when everything else has my name on it. She moved in and only a few months later, she got seriously sick like close to death and was admitted to the hospital. They said she needed to be out in 10 days and I went off. I'm like she never belonged in independent and why are you saying she has to leave instead of offering to move her to your assisted because they had assisted living, too. All I'm told is, "We legally have the right to do it." I'm like, "You know what you're doing is shady whether it's legal or not." The fact that you keep repeatedly saying "we're within our legal right," that means you consulted a lawyer. You can't put someone out when they're in the hospital fighting for their life. I will support a move to assisted living because that is where she belonged all along, but you're not just gonna kick her out because she got sick once. I wanted to move her then because I just felt if you're the type of place that will do that, she didn't belong there to begin with. It's a pretty nice facility. They moved her to assisted, but jacked up her rent so much it was no longer affordable, so then she had to move. She thought the food was okay, she thought the activities were okay, and she made really great friends. There's a lot of turnovers, so she would get attached to a CNA or certain caregivers, but they were never there long.

T.H.

We toured Senior Star at Villa Ventura. The staff was very friendly, it seemed to be clean, I don't recall anything odd, and I think everything was fine. We had a meal there, and it was fine. I met a few of the residents, several of the staff members introduced themselves and welcomed us for our visit.

B.W.

I'm happy with the Gardens at Barry Road. The staff was fine, I like them, they seemed to be doing their job. My friend has a deluxe studio, which means it has more room than the bedroom, but they had a variety of rooms, and actual apartments. I know they do things like bingo, karaoke, and they go to Target, Walmart, Dollar store, and they have puzzles, and just a lot of things for the elderly to do. They have a beauty salon, too.