Meramec Bluffs

ReviewerRD#21821x

I visited Meramec Bluffs. They don't let you look at anything else but the independent living because of COVID. The apartments were nice and decent. If you want to change anything, you can change it; it's nice that you can pick out what you want. The staff was very helpful, they answered our questions, and for the most part, there was good communication. Meramec Bluffs is next to a river, and there are lots of trees, so it's a very nice location. They have a swimming pool, a barbershop, a little marketplace where you can buy food, and a little clinic that, if you don't want to go to the doctor, you can get your primary care there. I think they have physical therapy, an exercise room, and a room where they do a lot of different activities.

ReviewerAS012021A

Meramec Bluffs doesn't provide activities right now because of the virus. Right now there's mostly just playing cards. The food is not real good, just medium, and the staff is OK. Prior to this they had games, bowling, and stuff like that. I would suggest for them to have different food.

chrisBb

Rehab/covid isolation unit: A total of 14 Assisted living residents and staff tested positive for covid in one week. Residents moved to Isolated to covid care unit. Once there: no lunch or insulin given on first day, some medications were not given for 3 days as staff claiming they didn’t have the meds or didn’t know about the meds, however assisted Living stated Care unit had the meds and knew the instructions. Leg wound wraps were not changed for first 48+ hours in the care unit, they were scheduled to be cleaned and wrapped twice daily, some days it happened, some days it didn’t. Nurse lied on several occasions telling me it was done, when it wasn’t. Requested bed rails took a week to install, Staff lied and said they were installed and they weren’t. No daily updates until I called to complain, I received one call after that then nothing for 3 more days. Residents O2 dipped to 78 and was put on oxygen, I never received a call to inform me. Patient was in such Pain and poor condition she couldn’t answer her phone, or even talk to communicate the problem Correctly to staff. Staff told me this didn’t happen as they check on patients several times an hour. Patient Was only showered twice in 25 days, staff said they showered her twice a week. Left in bed for 2 hours after buzzing the call light For assistance to restroom, left in the bathroom numerous times for 30+ minutes, staff not wearing PPE or had it off, Staff coming in The residents room complaining they were the only ones on shift, Management only comes in to cover up the issues. You never get a straight answer it’s always “we will check into it” and no follow up. Management refuses to give me call light times, I have even gone to corporate who is now ignoring my calls. Received all medical records from MB only to find they lied about medications, wound care, And marked them all as being given,etc. Have spoken to several others who used MB rehab for hip replacement surgery rehab, 2 of them checked themselves out of the facility within 3 days claiming they too were left with no help or assistance after ringing the call light. Meramec rehab, was once a wonderful facility, now it is just careless neglect and coverup.

Provider Response

Thomas

My wife was at Meramec Bluffs in the all rehab first, and in the beginning it was hectic, then it eased off a little bit. My wife didn't like it, and her room was tight since it was rehab. There were lots of activities so it was hard to rest. Later on her room was nicer when they moved her to long-term care, but she didn't like being in long-term care.

daughterA

The physical therapy here is the only positive part of having a loved one at this place. The nursing staff is not good. There were only a few staff members that even cared about doing a good job. I witnessed a staff member telling my parents roommate “why do you have to keep going to the bathroom so much, I don’t have time for this”. There were at least 3 medication errors that I caught durning my parents stay. The care level is just not good stay away.

Ray

We were very impressed with Meramec Bluffs. They were very good, but they've got an 18-month waiting period and we are on a waiting list. We looked at the little bungalow, not the apartments. The staff was very good. They had several amenities, more than what we would probably use. We liked the facility real well.

Xtramom

My Dad needed an IV antibiotic and wound care. I drove him there arriving at 4 p.m. I live out of town but was at the facility almost all day on Tuesday and left Wednesday at noon. When I left I felt very uninformed as to whom I speak to about Dad's treatment etc. I did talk to the receptionist and received the name of the social worker and received a phone call on Thursday. Once I had contact with her everything smoothed out. I was impressed - Dad had a single room - nicely furnished. The staff was always busy and there were a few things I wasn't thrilled about but all in all if he had to go back to rehab I think he would choose Meramec Bluffs. He had plenty of food and has a good appetite so he was content. The kitchen staff knew him by name after the first day - I'm impressed. The chapel is beautiful. He was thankful that he could attend a church service on Sunday morning. I don't think that is where he would consider living full time - too far away from family and friends - but it's nice to know that Meramec Bluffs is there if he nees it.

shercon4

Father was in rehab there. Very poor contact with family members. He was in there for 2 weeks with no one talking to us about how he was doing. Fell 4 times while there. Took at least 20 minutes or sometimes never for them to come after pushing nurse button. Finally had a meeting that we asked for and they told us he needed to go to skilled nursing and gave us one week. No help finding a place for him to go and my 85 year old mother had to end up taking him back home. VERY few friendly nurses. I would NOT recommend anyone to go here. Yes the place was nice to look at, but that was where is stopped. Care was not good.

Provider Response

Kylemom

REACH Rehab facility, looks and shows great, clean. But the care stops there, the staff not friendly or helpful. When my 94 year old grandmother pushed her help button it would take 30 plus minutes to get someone to respond, finally would take her to bathroom where they would leave her there for periods of time before coming back. Left there at 3am, she had to make her way back to bed herself. When medicine was being dispensed, nurse could not say what it was, she would have to check her records, asked her to do that, she was offended and did not return with any answers. Asked for print out of what she was receiving daily for meds, was not provided one till 3rd request, and then it only showed what medicines she could be taking, several listed 'as needed." Does that mean she took it today or not? Family never got to speak to actual dr even after requests were made. Requests also made to have nurse practitioner go through her records with us at final discharge consult, she did not show for meeting, or at final day of discharge. PT and OT personnel were very good, nice, helpful and friendly.

Ann677167

We had been to Meramec Bluffs. Besides that, we have friends that live there. We were on a waiting list with them for 5 years. It’s not the best location, but it was the first place we really became interested in because the Lutheran Senior Services in our area has the finest reputation as far as skilled care, so that really jumps it up to another notch. They’re ranked nationally in the top 10 for skilled care. It’s a large community. Their independent living community is enormous. They provide a lot of amenities -- i.e., a lot more indepth transportation, banks, beauty salons, and community grocery store. It just goes on and on; that’s why we were interested in it. All of their entire community is altogether. You can access each area of their community -- like going to the skilled care from the assisted living, you can walk inside to do that, and that has been a plus. The accommodations are very nice. They have also some villas that run around outside the big buildings. But the issue is, we’re in St. Louis, and in the winter, you don’t want to walk across from your villa to the main building to have your meal.

Daughter413810

Everybody at Meramec Bluffs was very friendly and seemed nice, but they did seem understaffed. My dad was an extreme fall risk, and they couldn’t adequately address that, so he continued to have falls. Other than that, the therapy and food was OK for a regular diet, without a whole lot of special considerations.

DebbieSCZPU

My mom stayed at the Lutheran Senior Services (Meramec Bluffs) REACH program, and then she came home with us. It is a rehab and short-stay for disability and a very nice place to stay. They give you occupational and physical therapy. There are courtyards and a veranda, a computer room, two separate TV rooms, and a dining room. They can serve you in your room or you can eat in the dining room. There is a chapel that services all religions and tons of activities for assisted living as well as retirement people and independent living. The food is fine. If there is something that you don’t want that they’re fixing that day, you can have a second menu that comes from the retirement center, and you can order from that. They give you plenty, and my mom couldn’t eat it all. My mom was there for rehab, but they were caring for her wound because she had a wound VAC. The nurses were fantastic. They were a little short-staffed, but they were having a job fair.

Michelle121301650

My parents have been at Meramec Bluffs for about a year and four months now. I think it is good. However, my dad is not very happy with them keep raising the cost. Also he said they haven’t made a whole lot of friends there. I don’t think it is the right place for my mom because it is independent living and she has Alzheimer’s. I think she is in the wrong spot because everybody is really with it, and my mom is not. The staff is very nice. The apartment is very spacious and nice. It has two bedrooms and a little study area.

Caring daughter116586150

Meramec looked very large and spacious, and the staff seemed very caring and interested. It didn’t feel like it was the right place at that time. The rooms were small. The memory care was clean but needed updating.

mamaducky

My father-in-law stayed here for two years in both the assisted living and skilled nursing wings of the facility, and we couldn't have been more impressed or pleased with Meramec Bluffs. The buildings looked almost like a resort hotel as you walked in, and the front desk was very secure and always staffed with friendly and helpful employees. The common areas were meticulously clean, and there was no unpleasant odor that is unfortunately so common with senior care centers. My father-in-law loved the food there, and the serving staff did a wonderful job of taking care of his rather unusual requests -- for example, his food needed to be very, VERY hot! Dad passed away at the Bluffs after a long illness at the beginning of 2013, and we were overwhelmed with the kindness and compassion with which we were treated by the staff -- all of whom clearly genuinely loved and missed him. I recommend this facility to anyone who is looking for a place where a loved one can be treated with kindness, care and respect!

KL1

We are currently living in Meramec Buff, and we moved in three months ago. We like it here because the people are very nice and friendly. There are 519 residents and 300 staff. The staff are excellent and wonderful. They are very caring. The rooms are excellent. They are very nice, and they are very comfortable. The sanitation is wonderful. We have excellent meals every day, and we have happy hour at 4 o'clock. We have swimming pool and an exercise room. I am undergoing speech and physical therapy right now. Overall, I think this facility is wonderful, and we love it here.

Bettye Jay

Many of my friends from my church have moved to Meramec Bluffs. All are happy with it. It's a multi-levels care facility so if you need more help you don't have to leave the premises. It is well staffed and very clean. Food is excellent. I plan to make arragements for myself within a year. I also understand they can help with the trauma of moving out of your residence and see that the experience is not as cumbersome as it could be.

Bluffy_K42

Meramec Bluffs was less posh than the other place that I visited. They had more independent residents who had their own organization and I think they could join as long as they were able. The rooms were very nice with a bedroom and another small secondary room. It was complete with a refrigerator, microwave and sink. It seemed adequate enough.

PC

There independent living, hospice and home care gave caring and professional care to my Mother during her last months of life.