Carolina Gardens at West Columbia

Caring85175050

Mother was in Agape Senior Assisted Living. Over the course of 4 or 5 months, I became aware of internal problems that I've experienced, including that the CNAs do not have the capacity needed for senior people. My mother was so badly drugged on Haldol and other blacklisted FDA drugs used because they're trying to control her agitation rather than address the fact that she'd been living in her home independently for her whole life. As we go through this process of being in an assisted living center and being treated like a second rate citizen, I've talked to the ladies and the staff that are in there, and I get all the excuses on the front end. I went in at one o'clock in the morning because my mother was laying in her feces. The CNAs were on their cell phones and didn't want to come in and address somebody that can't walk. She's a heavier lady so it takes a couple of them to do it. She started with the rehab, which was great, but the surrounding care was terrible and it still is. She's been there a total of 4 months. The cleanliness is fine. The staff is paid minimum wage. I think they're overworked. There should be no more than 7 patients to a CNA, and there are probably 15 plus or more, and so they can't get to all of them. They can't care for them, and then the ones that do, they're not gifted with compassion. It's just a job. There's nobody schooling them on what it takes to interact with a human being. There are all activities, and they have people who come in, and that's all wonderful. There's really nobody who's facilitating and encouraging or leading those events. It's just a place where you go if you want to go or don't go.

Caring81427350

Agape Senior was good, but my aunt was resigned to the fact that she was not coming back home, and within a month's time, she was on a decline. It was clean, and there were activities. There were snacks. Each staff is assigned to so many patients, and they were very attentive to them. Some could move around, walk, and watch TV, or they could play games. When I came one day, there was a chaplain and someone was singing hymns. In fact, I participated with them, and that was nice. The hymns that they would have, many of the residents would remember as a child or as an adult. They try to sing with them. There was one lady, she was a patient there, but she played beautifully by ear.

jeg779

The staff was friendly and patient. The amenities where less than expected, but sufficed to keep her busy. She was pleased with the idea of remaining independent while having the security of someone being close if needed. She has made a many of friends there and she is truly happy. I am grateful for the staff and the residents. I believe she is in love with her physical therapist!

ProudDaughter

Both of my parents lived in Agape Senior Assisted Living for several months before their deaths 2 years ago. Since we (their children) didn't live in SC, one of us came every 2-3 weeks, sleeing on the couch in our parents' apartment. Residents who needed no assistance were satisfied, but those who needed care or help (besides the usual housekeeping and meal reminders) were not often given the assistance and care they needed. While the facility appears clean and attractive, some maintenance in their apartment was never done despite repeated requests. Most caregivers did their jobs, a few showed real caring and compassion, but there simply were not enough of them to truely give the care needed. On weekends especially, most of the time, no caregiver could be found in the residential wings at mealimes, afternoons, or evenings. They were assigned in the dining hall or on their own meal breaks. Our family was and is very unhappy with Agape Senior for the lack of care my parents received.

firefly1

The layout of this assisted living facility was beautiful. The staff took excellent care of my grandmother while she was there and did their best to look after the needs of the residents. My grandmother was a resident there for about 2 years. During this time, she was able to meet many new friends. The facilities were clean and well kept. The only complaint I ever heard her make was that the food was not particularly good, but my grandmother was an amazing cook with very high standards. Their individual apartments were very nice. Her living quarters were rather spacious, with plenty of room for much of her furniture. My grandmother often complimented the staff. Trips off the campus were organized for residents who needed to run errands. They also had a more intensive care facility for residents who were injured or who required more supervision. My experience with this facility was less positive, but most of this had to do with my grandmother's progressing illness than the care she received.

Sam Evans

I visited this facility with my Mother's church to sing Christmas Carols and have a little Christmas party a few weeks before Christmas.We brought quite a lot of cookies and soft drinks, which were cumbersome. The staff was very helpful, showing us where to park and the easiest way to get things into the social hall. I recognized a few people that I knew which was a nice surprise. But what impressed me the most was that all the residents seemed happy, were clean and well dressed and really seemed to get involved. It really made me feel good to be there.When I was in nursing school I worked as a nursing assistant in several homes for the elderly. There always seemed to be a pervasive odor of urine. This place smelled clean. Not perfumed. Just clean.I know of one man who moved in there after his wife died. His children lived out of state and my Mother was the local contact for him. He had Alzheimer's, but she took him to Church and out for lunch regularly. When he died The facility allowed his kids to stay in his room a night or two while they disposed of his possessions. That was a kindness not often seen