REVIEWS

We moved my mom into the memory care unit at Palo Alto Commons last July. She had Alzheimers for several years and was at home with in home care since 2016. She needed more stimulation and a social setting but also needed supervision and verbal cuing for some activities. After personally touring over a dozen facilities in the Bay Area, I thoughtthat Palo Alto Commons was the best of the lot. The buildings are always clean and smell fresh. Some of the other facilities I saw were pretty bad. They either had an odor, were visibly dirty or the residents looked unkept. Palo Alto Commons was just a better all around environment. Mom seemed happy and content and was actively engaged up until the week she passed. I’m grateful to Palo Alto Commons for the level of care they gave my mom and for their compassion in dealing with me. It’s never an easy choice to place a loved one someplace, but it helps to know that they will receive the best care, most attention and stay as active as possible for as long as possible. I’m glad we chose Palo Alto Commons for my mom, and if another family member needs care, myself included, we will be back.

My Mom lived at the Palo Alto Commons for more than 6 years until she passed away after her 91st birthday. Even though there has been staff turnover (mainly retirements), the staff is still very loving and supportive. It’s great that the staff always addressed my Mom by name and many of them knew me as well. They have a wide range of activities for residents of different abilities, ranging from Spanish classes, 1:1 fitness coaching (which I highly recommend), outings to plays, picnics, and restaurants, to sit-and-be-fit classes, a library, and lots of classic movies. They made sure my Mom had compatible and interesting table mates for her meals. Unlike corporate assisted living places, they are still family owned and it shows. I’m grateful for the care of the staff while my Mom lived there.

Over the dozen years that my mother spent at Palo Alto Commons, I came to realize how lucky we were to have my mother living there. Executive Director Sue Jordan has created a culture of kindness among staff, and they are cheerful and able to bring a smile to residents’ faces. They always called my mother by name, and frequently told her she looked beautiful. This delighted her! The day-to-day activities kept her in a social atmosphere, not isolated in her room. She enjoyed the movies, exercise activities, group singing, live music, special barbeques, art contests, and reading the paper outside the dining room. PAC has created a homelike environment with Fluffy, the cute little care dog. Activities are only as much fun as the staff who leads them. This is where Palo Alto Commons excels. It hires people with enthusiasm, often a sense of humor and a caring attitude. Palo Alto Commons doesn’t just take care of the resident; It welcomes your family, too. Liz Griffin

My uncle was at the PA Commons for four months before he passed. The compassionate care of the staff and administration was exceptional. My uncle was unsteady on his feet at times and fell several times. If he would have been at home with home health care it would have meant a trip to the hospital but since they had nurses on site they we’re able to evaluate him on site with no unnecessary trips to the hospital. The Commons also worked very well with the residents and family to accommodate the residents needs and provide wonderful feedback. Thank you for a job well done!