★★★★★
It is wonderfully reassuring to know that my mother lives in a safe, supportive and respectful community, especially because I live in another country. She moved in while she was still working and MGP gave her the secure base of a lovely apartment in a warm and inclusive community, while she was travelling and active in other ways. And now that she is not working, she can enjoy the rich variety of resources and facilities at MGP, supported by a staff who are invariably helpful, attentive and respectful. The activities are excellent (yoga today was great) and there is lots of variety. I would highly recommend this as a vibrant, comfortable and welcoming community, with a flexible and appropriate amount of support for independent retirement living.
★★★★★
I just want to say my dad moved into Montgomery Place about a year ago, and WOW WOW WOW. I'm not being paid to write this. I don't work there. I am telling you the 100% truth: it's one of the best places I've ever been as a human being on this planet. It's a life-affirming place. A place filled with actual good feeling, even joy, and I've spent time with my parents in places that were horrible—just terrible places (eg, The Claire is good and solid but a little bland and corporate; MP feels much more intellectual and family-like; other nursing home places I've been to feel like you are just hoping that something doesn't go wrong...they are like accidents waiting to happen...I won't name names... ). MP is the absolute opposite of that. I have no idea how someone could rate this place less than 5 stars. From the CEO to the person working on the second floor cleaning out trash cans, every single person has been pretty much great. I can name names: Leatrice, Sonia, Patricia, Steve, Amadi, Mark, Jennifer, Jonathan, Paulette...this list could go on and on...We're talking hundreds of interactions with lots of people. I know this sounds too good to be true (if I read it, I'd think that), but in my experience and my dad's—we're talking dozens of people all up and down the MP line—office staff, waiters in the dining room, nurses, front desk, security, the drivers—the people are always reliable, kind, have a good sense of humor, seem to like their work, and do a great job. You are treated like family—and I swear to you: the food is actually good, sometimes really good, and on its worst nights it's like eating at an Applebees. I defy someone to prove me wrong on that. Like, this is the place you dreamed and hoped would exist for your parents. It does. It's here. No lie. I'm sure there's someone incompetent here, but I have not run into them in all these months. If you have parents and you love them, get them into this place and neither of you will ever regret it. I have said to myself the money we spent on MP is the best money I have ever spent. AN AMAZING PLACE!
★★★★★
If you just want to stay with the retirement community at your own apartment, it may be a right place for you. This is a nice neighborhood and you can enjoy the facilities in this place.
The worse part is staying at the skilled nursing floor/ section. It is always short staffed. My dear friend stays there for two years and I went there 3-4 days a week. I know the CNAs and nurses well, and also see the changes in these two years. There is no way to have 2 CNAs work on the whole floor. No matter how you push them or how hard they try, there is no way to perform a good quality of care.
My friend is a 100 year old woman who has mobility issue and twist her back muscle lately. She is not feeling well so I see her everyday for the last few days. I am on top of her situation. I tried to find help to get her back to bed and position her properly before she went to sleep. The CNA said she is working on something else and will get another staff to help because it takes two persons to pull the draw sheet up on the bed.
I waited for at least half an hour. The male nurse Tony came in the room and said my friend is so independent and is able to do it. She is in pain. I tried to explained her situation and he never listened and insisted she should do it herself. I took a picture of my friend position and how she struggled. He kept arguing with me. At the end nurse Tony got the CNA to do this simple job. I just feel it is not fair for my friend paying $13,000+ a month for not getting this little favor.
If I am not HydeParker and a family of University of Chicago, I will not help my friend to settle in this place at the beginning.
A senior home is not only required knowledgeable health care personnel or management, it also needs someone work with compassion. Amen.
The reason to edit my review is that after expressing my concerns to Mark, I have trust that he listens and understands.