Belmont Village Albany

I toured at least six Assisted Living/Memory Care communities in the East and North Bay after my father died and I needed to find an appropriate residence for my mom, who initially had mild cognitive impairment and now has advanced dementia from Parkinson’s. Belmont Village stood out for their attention to resident engagement, in the form of engaging daily activities (beyond the typical arts, crafts and movies that other communities offer), interesting outings, their unique Circle of Friends program that focuses on helping residents retain cognitive function as long as possible, and their Memory Care team, a tight-knit group who manage the challenging needs of residents with dementia. My mom lived in Assisted Living for a year and a half, and then moved to Memory Care, where she has lived for the past two years. The staff at Belmont helped manage her transition with the utmost care and respect, even arranging to have all her belongings moved while I took her out for lunch. All the activity leaders and PALs (the employees who handle each resident’s ADLs) know each Memory Care resident intimately. I visit my mom about three times a week and I see how much the staff enjoy interacting with each resident. They celebrate moments of joy and manage outbursts and difficult moments with diplomacy. They know each resident’s likes and dislikes, and they accommodate them with affection. They give me verbal updates and offer suggestions. I have learned so much from the Memory Care team and I know my mom has benefited from the high level of care they offer. I was at Belmont one morning when a Memory Care resident had just passed away, and the staff were clearly devastated by the loss. It made a deep impression on me that they cared so much about the residents. Earlier this year, my mom had multiple falls that brought her to the ER. I asked the nurse at Alta Bates if she should be moved to a skilled nursing facility after leaving the hospital. The nurse looked at her paperwork and said to me, “There is no better place for your mom to be than Belmont Village.” That vote of confidence gave me such peace of mind. The nurses and med techs at Belmont also deserve high praise. Especially in Memory Care, they deal with very complex cases but they are always patient, caring and gentle. They are also helpful in dealing with doctors and pharmacies. Memory care is not for the faint of heart. As one ER doctor told me, “Old people fall. That’s what they do.” Undoubtedly there will be issues that arise, especially when prescriptions change–it is important to keep an eye on meds and dosages, and to ask questions if something doesn’t seem right. It is so hard to watch the physical and cognitive decline of someone you love. I am grateful to the staff of Belmont Village for their capacity to support my mom in the different stages she has experienced, and for helping me understand and accept the transition as well. The staff at Belmont have enabled me to be my mom’s daughter and to focus on spending quality time with her.

Our parents spent their last years at Belmont Villages Albany - 2 for our mother and 6 for our father - through the pandemic and beyond. We chose Belmont primarily for the residents who tend to be a lively and engaged group, and for the facilities which are bright and inviting. Our parents were also very particular about food and Belmont’s is good. We were pleased that the staff was also warm, caring and supportive. We were happy with the directorship under Jesus Gonzales Camarillo, who is quietly and patiently supportive and helpful in navigating the ups and downs of senior living. Our only complaint and warning is that it is a for-profit organization. For example, “Headquarters” instituted some “rules” and pricing around medical management that felt like extortion. Fortunately, we were able to find a compromise with Jesus’ help. However, it was a reminder that the bottom line is their profit.

My 95-yr-old mother has been in Belmont Village Albany's independent living apt for the past six and a half years. She is vision and hearing-impaired, but Belmont is a safe and familiar environment where she has been able to move about on her own. Overall, she has been happy with staff. They know her by name and make sure she and her sister have a chance to sit together for dinner, as requested. Belmont's Bistro and tables along the main floor hallway have been a good place for her and myself to gather for a game of cards, Checkers, or Rummikub each week. She participates in the Strength and Conditioning and Tai Chi classes from time to time and uses the gym regularly--both on her own, and together with a physical therapist.

My husband and I knew that at some point soon he would require memory care in a facility. The questions became where and when. The where was easy, choosing Belmont Village Albany (BVA) after favorable recommendations from trusted sources plus a tour of the facility with our family. The when was not as easy. But that changed abruptly when his condition cratered, seemingly overnight, from doing okay at home to becoming bedridden with no will to live. Our lives felt completely out of control. The staff at BVA was a tremendous help to transition him in record time from being on the waiting list to residing in their memory care program. Surprisingly, within a month or so under the caregiving team’s efforts, his mobility and mood noticeably improved. He started to eat again and, with the aid of a wheelchair, joined in activities with other residents. I believe a large part of this improvement can be attributed to the dignity and kindness he received. One example of that kindness happened during one of my visits with him at BVA. A member of his caregiving team had found us in one of the large gathering rooms and walked over, saying to him “Oh, there you are. I brought you some ice cream,” knowing how much he loves it. The joyful smile on his face was palpable, he took the dish of ice cream and dug in. Essentially, equivalent everyday kindnesses shown to my hobbyist-woodworker-husband have done a lot to smooth Alzheimer’s hard edges. Who would have believed that a mound of sawdust could bring us such relief?

Belmont village has an amazing staff full of caring, friendly knowledgeable folks who make my loved one feel safe and cared for. Our family loves visiting her at Belmont where the environment is calm, and warm. The facility is updated, and clean. As far as handling the admin side of affairs the manager responds to all of my questions and is willing to work with our changing needs. I appreciate them.