Sunrise Assisted Living of Wilmington

When mom moved in three years ago everything was great. She met friends, and even created new fun activities such as Show and Tell, and a poetry club for residents. However when mom's health started to decline (she had Parkinson's) everything changed. I would arrive unannounced to find her sitting in the dark with her call button missing often. Things got really bad about a year ago when some leadership changes at the Wilmington site occurred. No communication, and it was hard to find anyone to speak with during visits. Mom passed away Aug 2 while I was on vacation and no one from Sunrise reached out to me, or my sister to express their condolences, or to help us understand next steps. This survey (over a month later) is the first communication I have received. I wish I could give a better rating but for a private pay facility the care and communication was greatly lacking.

I wanted to rate it at least four stars, but unfortunately, I can't. I find myself agreeing with some of the other reviews. I'm considering moving my family out. We had high hopes for Sunrise after visiting several facilities that didn’t meet our expectations, and we chose Sunrise because of the friendliness of the community coordinators and some of the caregivers. Initially, communication was excellent with the previous coordinator, and all of my family's needs were met. However, things took a turn for the worse a few months ago. Whenever I showed up unannounced, the situation was chaotic. My loved one's bathroom was in a terrible state, and I could often smell urine before entering the room, the dirty clothes basket is always full and no one seems to care anymore or have any answers. There were frequently no staff available to answer my questions. When I asked to speak with someone, I was told that Michelle was on leave and I would have to speak to the “Big Boss Upstairs” quote on quote. Two weeks ago, I learned that Michelle, would not be returning, which was a major disappointment as I had hoped for improvements upon her return. Since then, some caregivers and nurses have been able to answer a few of my questions, but there’s always an attitude, which leads me to my current decision.

My mother spent the last 9 1/2 months of her life in Sunrise and the facilities and staff surpassed all of our expectations. The staff and management always went above and beyond to provide exceptional care and make my mother's life as happy and comfortable as possible. Mom told me her caregivers were her friends, not just employees, and in her last days when hospice was caring for her, staff members came in regularly to check on her not because they had to but because they truly cared about her. My brother and I are so thankful we moved Mom to Sunrise when she could no longer live on her own.

Sunrise is a decent place for your loved one, but I recently learned that Michelle, who ran the memory care unit, will not be returning. I had hoped for her comeback, as her absence has noticeably impacted the atmosphere. Her joyful spirit truly lit up the room, and things just haven't felt the same with the current staff member in her role. Unfortunately, their demeanor is not as welcoming. It's a loss for Sunrise, as Michelle was a remarkable young lady. She’s gonna be missed. Not sure how it will be now in the memory care unit, I will definitely be keeping check on my love one to make sure his care doesn’t decline.

My beloved Aunt is a resident and the I am extremely satisfied. We visit frequently, often unannounced, and are blown away by the level of care, as well as the consistent positive energy and love provided by Michelle and the Reminiscence team. They have become members of our extended family. Best decision we made was choosing Sunrise of Wilmington.