Dear Sam,
My husband Dave and I want to thank you for the incredible home you have created at Senior Sanctuary of Anthem where my Mom is a very happy resident. When we needed to make a very quick decision on where to place Mom when Dad had a sudden fall which was ultimately fatal, you and your staff made yourselves available very quickly to show us two properties to choose from. Both would have been more than adequate, but Mom chose based on her particular preferences. You had the room ready in two days, decorated with her in mind: a beautiful color on the walls, artwork reflecting Mom’s love of flowers, and especially pansies, fresh new bedding, a brand new recliner suited to her size, and even a personalized welcome sign on her bedroom door. That attention to detail and concern for her emotional needs has continued to be a hallmark of her experience at Senior Sanctuary. From the very first day that Mom moved in, she has been treated with the utmost respect, dignity, kindness and frankly, genuine love. We are amazed at how easy the transition has been for her and we thank God because that was not what we anticipated. Your team has encouraged her to be up and dressed in the morning, share meals with the other residents, participate in the activities and enjoy all the people, both the residents and the staff. Before coming to Senior Sanctuary, Mom, who suffers from dementia, was not inclined to socialize, eat healthfully, take her medication on a timely basis or use proper hygiene. Now because of the great care she is receiving at Senior Sanctuary of Anthem, Mom is healthier and more peaceful than she has been in years. The Senior Sanctuary staff is also kind to Mom’s family members. We are always welcomed by friendly faces, updated with details about anything new related to Mom’s health or behavior and invited to participate in whatever is going on while we are there. We are so pleased to see the variety of fun activities and special celebrations that take place frequently such as birthdays, a festive Cinco de Mayo lunch and a recent luau complete with leis and inflatable palm trees! Mom had such a good time…and then you kindly sent photos so we could see for ourselves the joy on her face!
Your house manager Carlos has been a most appreciated extra benefit. He keeps track of Mom’s medications, communicates with us when she is getting low on something and keeps meticulous records, which helps us in our communications with her myriad doctors. His compassion for Mom was demonstrated one day when I was taking her out for lunch and he noticed that she had a spot on her blouse from breakfast. He literally ran to her closet to pull out a different, clean top that matched her pants and shoes so that she wouldn’t leave the house looking less than her best. To me that spoke volumes about his concern for her well-being and happiness.
We are also grateful for your relationship with Jana Hower, the nurse practitioner who visits the house on a regular basis to check in on each resident and monitor their overall health. Jana has been a valuable resource every month, but especially when Mom recently had a heart-related incident. Jana immediately ordered the appropriate tests and called me to fill me in on all the details. It was such a comfort to know that a professional was looking out for Mom and that the caregivers were all there to comfort Mom in her distress when we couldn’t be there.
We have heard many stories of unhappy housing and care situations for seniors and we feel so incredibly blessed that our Mom’s life at Senior Sanctuary of Anthem has been 100% different than those. We honestly can’t think of any negatives or complaints. When we ask Mom how she likes living there, she literally says she loves it and refers to it as her home. That is the greatest gift you could ever give us! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Laurie and Dave Lane