Clearwater at North Tustin

G-Dub

The facility is somewhat new and they still seem to be figuring things out. Our experience at the memory portion of Clearwater (called Clearbrook) was a crazy roller coaster ride (e.g., health, security and hygiene challenges) with so many things that probably could have been avoided or managed. Over our 6 or so months there, we were repeatedly told things should improve when various management position were filled. Like other residents and their families, we moved our loved one out. Based on our experience, we had significant concerns about their resources (not enough employees, turnover, training, level of outside agency temps, etc), lack of confidence in the management team and their accountability.

Provider Response

RosF

Clearbrook, Memory Care Building Behind Clearwater at North Tustin, BEWARE DO YOUR HOMEWORK FIRST. My mother was a resident at Clearbrook, in the memory care building for 4 months (May – Aug 2022). It was NOT a good experience. I knew after 1 month, it was the wrong place and I regret not moving out sooner. The monthly fee is $9K a month for a single room – at that price, this place was a huge disappointment. There are many families I know personally that feel the same way but are too scared to write a review. Unfortunately, I was not unable to get the $6K placement fee back. Just because you pay a lot of money, it does not mean you will get good care but because this was such a bad experience, I feel compelled to warn other families. PROS: Nice grounds, activities and the use of Clearwater assisted living’s restaurant and church. CONS: Low number of staff to resident ratio, lack of protocols, processes & documentation, Safety complaints, lack of transparency about the services their staff can do. WARNING: Do your homework before considering this facility so you understand the staff limitations and their staff-to-resident ratio. This facility is a “social” model, NOT a “medical” model. If you don’t understand the difference, you need to learn. Their caregivers cannot perform many tasks that memory care residents need and they will tell you, “we don’t do that we are NOT a medical facility" - so therefore it will fall onto the family to take care of. LOW NUMBER OF STAFF: With 24 residents at the time my mother was living there, during the day they had only 2 caregivers, 1 med-tech. There is no way 2 staff can get 24 memory care residents dressed, shower if needed, and ready in the morning for breakfast and care for them properly. I begged the Director to hire more people but she refused. The management’s excuse was “staffing shortage” but when you are paying $9K a month, they need to staff accordingly. POOR DOCUMENTATION/COMMUNICATION - My mom went the first month without having a shower and the management did NOT inform me. This is a hygiene issue. I was asking weekly for my mother’s showering schedule, and it was never made clear. I emailed and called the Director to get an answer but no answer was given. I noticed my mom was starting to smell and her skin was flaky so I asked the med-techs, “When was the last time my mother got a shower?”. They informed me that my mother had been “refusing” to be showered and never had a shower in the 1 month she was in their care. I was never informed of her “refusing” services. Refusing services? This is a memory care facility, not a spa!! It was a painful experience and when I tell people this story, I start to cry. This was example is only one of the many disappointments over the 4 months. CANNOT SUPPORT HIGHER LEVEL OF 1:1 CARE – My mother fell and broke her shoulder, and they are not equipped to handle 1:1 care. I had to hire my caregivers on top of paying $9K per month for the facility. When I asked them to help me find a private caregiver, the Director told me they could not. I had to find care with an outside agency. They market as if they can help manage memory care patients at all levels of care, but they can’t. Before you consider this facility or any other, get educated and ask questions about what can you do if my loved one gets sick or need more care? Remember, this is a social facility so it is very limited. NOTE THE INCIDENTS OF ESCAPES BY RESIDENTS REPORTED: Be sure to check their safety record California Department of Social Services – Community Care Licensing Facility https://www.ccld.dss.ca.gov/carefacilitysearch/FacDetail/306006040