Atria Briarcliff Manor

Just a few words to comment on the wonderful supervision that my mother, Lillian, has had over the past sixteen months at Atria Briarcliff Manor ,Memory Care.The entire staff is always professional and courteous. Desiree Pacheco is a tremendous asset to Atria. I have never encountered a more caring and dedicated individual. Her passion as Life Guidance Director is unparalleled. I researched and visited many other Memory Care facilities and Atria along with Desiree and her staff are shining stars in a field that is difficult at best. On unannounced visits, it's comforting to see Mom and the other residents engaged in activities that are both mentally and physically stimulating. Kudos to Memory Care and the entire staff at Atria Briarcliff Manor.

My father has been with Atria for over 4 years. I do not live in New York but when I visit, my father is always engaged with other residents or with activities. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. The building is clean and inviting. I do have family who are local and I frequently receive photos of my father at planned events and out on location. My father is in memory care. It was hard to see him move there from assisted living as he was always so independent. But I feel good knowing the quality of care and secure environment that Atria provides for him is what he needs right now.

Atria of Briarcliff Manor has been a lifesaver for me and my family. As my father became more difficult to care for, we decided to try Atria for a week, and it was a success. The staff was very kind from Barbara at the front desk to Joellen and the Director at that time Keisha. They asked many questions about my dad's care in assisted living and together we learned he needed more assistance than I initially thought. So much better as my dad was trying not to be a burden to me and was not asking for the help he needed together, we were able to meet his needs and independence. After a year and a half Dad was losing his memory more and more, so we moved him to Life guidance with Director, Desiree Pacheco. A smaller area safer and allowed him to get up in the night and walk without fear of falling or anxiety as Francia or Elizabeth was there to speak to him and allow him to get comfortable again and eventually return to bed. Desiree took special care to make sure he adjusted and was able to enjoy activities. I am happy that she has had more activities downstairs as the residents in Memory care really like to be there so activities in their area is so important. He has been in LG for over 2 years and as my dad turns 94 this coming year, I know he is well cared for and content. The staff in LG always lets me know what is needed what he said during the night if he was engaged during the day. Digna, Olga, Maria, Lourdes, Viviana all know my dad and ask questions about his life so they can interact with him better. Desiree encourages staff to be proactive and to allow them to discuss all issues they see. It feels like a team, and I feel supported and my dad's smile and laugh make me happy that he is engaged and happy. Desiree has also been so helpful letting me know from her experience what I can expect and what to watch for and this has been invaluable.

This past summer, our family made the difficult decision that we could no longer provide the level of support and care at home that our father needed as his dementia advanced. The daily responsibilities of caregiving had begun to rest primarily on my mother, and while we had explored a number of assisted living communities with varying levels of service, we didn’t fully realize just how much care my father required—perhaps, in part, because we weren’t yet ready to acknowledge it. It was extremely difficult for us to come to the decision to make a move. After careful research and visits to several communities, Atria at Briarcliff Manor has proven to be an enormous gift to our entire family. Our mother now lives in an apartment in the Engaged Living community (Assisted Living), while our father resides in a Memory Care studio (I think it’s officially called Life Guidance). They are able to see each other for meals or visits, and this arrangement has provided both stability and comfort during a challenging time. The deliberate, individualized care they each receive has been transformative—not just for them, but for all of us. The Director of Memory Care is beyond exceptional: she knows each resident personally—their preferences, quirks, and daily rhythms—and she takes time to build genuine relationships with families as well. She frequently texts me updates and photos, and has guided me toward being the best possible daughter to my Dad during this stage of his life. She has become an invaluable lifeline to our family and does her work with love, care, professionalism, and integrity. Desiree, I can’t adequately express how deeply I appreciate your unwavering commitment to your residents — to our parents. Thank you for all that you do. The team supporting my Mom in assisted living is equally caring and attentive. They know what she enjoys and what she doesn’t, they coordinate her doctors’ appointments and prescriptions, and they proactively check in to ensure she feels supported and engaged. She has made friends and settled into a new routine (not an easy task for an 86 year old!). This wouldn’t be remotely possible if not for the Atria Briarcliff Team. From the front desk, to the drivers, the nursing staff, the physical therapy staff, the facilities team, the dining room staff, all of the support staff (who know each resident by name - and their breakfast, lunch, and dinner preferences!!) - to a person, this place is really a godsend. Having both of our parents in the same building but in two different areas based on their unique needs has been far smoother than we ever anticipated. Initially, we assumed they would live together, but as my father’s medical condition progressed, it became clear that they each needed different kinds of care. Atria at Briarcliff Manor has made this possible in a way that feels natural, compassionate, and deeply respectful. Our family feels grateful. Both of our parents are known, cared for, and meaningfully engaged. We receive regular communication and updates, calls, texts, and the frequency and variety of weekly activities keeps them connected and active. The staff have become an extension of our family, and we could not be more thankful for the peace of mind and quality of life Atria has provided to our parents—and to us.

My mom Nancy, moved into the assisted living part of The Atria during covid. The staff and the transition couldn’t have been better. She lived happily for 4 years enjoying all social activities and events. Housekeeping and maintenance took care of her lovely apt beautifully. She was happy and so was I. As my mom’s dementia progressed, I made the decision to move her to memory care/ life guidance. I thought I was making the right decision at the time. While the memory care is in the basement of the same building and is a very small confined ,restricted space I thought I could be ok with it. I thought there would be lots of activities for my mom like she had experienced upstairs in assisted living. I was wrong. There was a lovely program specialist there when my mom moved in who was so attentive to the residents needs and kept them busy. She was terminated after my mom was there for 6 weeks without explanation. It took months to find a replacement. All during this time for the privilege of paying over $12,000 a month, my mom and others watched America’s Got Talent and Stupid Pet Tricks most of the day. I constantly gave Desiree the LG director, film suggestions, asked that they be brought outside on the lovely patio for meals and walks to no avail. It was very frustrating for me. But what’s more frustrating is for the residents. People with dementia need exercise, movement and stimulation. None of this was happening to the degree I was promised and paying for. My mom became more restless and agitated living in a small, restrictive space with nothing to do. She would constantly complain about it and became very unhappy. The aides while kind and caring, I do not believe have training in any de-escalation strategies. I think that’s a reflection of the director of LG. I found the environment Desiree has created to be toxic, controlling and lacking in empathy and compassion. Her strategy it seems to me, is if your loved one acts out because of this environment she calls 911 and sends them to the ER at Phelps Hospital instead of trying to calm them using other methods. This is where a nice walk would have been helpful. I did everything to keep the peace downstairs for my mom’s sake including medication and a trip to a psychiatrist. None of this seemed to satisfy Desiree as it appeared to me she was already focused at getting my mother removed from Life Guidance. Desiree I have learned through experience, likes her residents to be easy, quiet and docile. I suspect she would’ve preferred me to be that way as well. My mother lived at the Atria ( assisted living) for 4 years pretty happily. The last 6 months not so much. This experience was extremely traumatizing for my mom and myself. She has since moved to a lovely, warm and far less restrictive residence with lots of space. She is thriving.