Atria

A lot of activities. Wow what a difference, they have a movie theatre and tons to do. This was more independent than what we needed but they had, more programs compared to where she was before.

Very, very good, clean, and friendly. We had to call a couple of times to get things settled but when something was addressed they straightened it out immediately. Location was a big factor when choosing. But I can't think of any thing they could do to improve.

I chose Atria for my 92 year old father after thoroughly reviewing four other assisted living facilities including Sunrise in Westfield, Sunrise in Mountainside, Brandywine in Watchung, and Winchester Gardens. All five seem to be nice facilities. I chose Atria because it edged out the others in cleanliness (including smell) and maintenance of the facility. It was significantly better than the others in terms of my perception of "engagement" of the staff. Everyone seemed to be very active. There always seems to be something happening and the environment seems to be very social. Atria has very large "public" rooms where lots elders can get together and watch television, play cards, play bingo, or be entertained by providers. All of these facilities are significantly more expensive than what my father is accustomed to paying in another state. For New Jersey, however, it is comparable to the other four.

First of all, the building, resident rooms and apartments, dining room, and other resident service rooms are all very nice. When touring resident facilities in the area for my father, I toured the memory care unit at Atria (Pathways) with the thought that one day my father may need it. It was bright and roomy, with a secure outside area for the residents. My impression of it was very positive. Right now my father has no need for special assisted living services even though his memory is declining. The staff, from resident care aides to administrative, is very friendly and many have been employed there since it opened 13 years ago. They seem eager to provide personal, attentive service. My father says "they have thought of everything." He has lived there now for a week. He especially enjoys the "Happy Hour" that is held every day. (Beer, wine, or soft drinks and snack).

My sister was here for a year and a half and she'll be moving back soon. She liked the activities here much better. It's a large building and basically it has better activities for my sister. Atria has made some improvements too. It used to only have two meals a day and now it has three. It's going to have Mass once a week where before they had to go out on the bus to go to Mass.

For this specific stage in my life , The Atria offers the ameneties I want and need, safety and fun activites. Overall the people are friendly with the exception of a few crazies. The activities dept and a couple of people from the waitstaff are really wonderful. I know that any time I see one of the ladies from the Activities dept that they would always put a smile on my face and make me laugh. I love Beading time and all the mind boosters that keep our minds sharp!

My Mom moved there a year and a half ago for the assisted living option. This experience was okay until her dementia went to the next level. Fortunately, at the same time this was happening the management changed and she offered a better solution for my Mom in the Memory Care unit. The aides are great and are always there for her. Her apartment is always clean and she can always find someone to sit with so she is never alone.

Gorgeous but way too pricey st about $7500 a month.

I moved here two years ago and i am confidant thast I made the right choice for this phase of my life. I visited several other facilities before visiting here. This was my last stop. I was so impressed by the warm and friendly staff that greeted me when I walked through the front door. That hasn't changed. Every deparment is stafffed with people that you know genulnely care about the residents. I love my apartment and it is large enough that I was able to bring many of my beloved possesions. The people living here are so nice and friendly. I have made many good frienfs here. The activities are numerous and fun. You are free to do as little or as much as you want to do. I hope to live here for several more years!!

I really like the way it was set up and how the person asked for our needs and tried to figure out how my husband would fit in there and that kind of thing. It was very nice but it was also expensive and it was further away.

They were friendly, it just seemed a little more convalescent. Very nice people, though. They would have been more affordable, but we were looking for a little higher end for our parents. I probably would have gone with this one as my second choice.

They have outings on Sundays. It would be so nice if the driver would talk and say what they are passing or where they are going. I would actually be happy to volunteer with them after Thanksgiving! Very happy there. In the dining room there is very nice romantic lighting, but half the people are blind. They can hardly read the menus. Someone who is 50 has no problems but the 80 year olds are squinting. Quality of the food: sometimes good but sometimes disappointing. They advertise a world renowned chef. I called the chef out to ask him for his recipe, and he said that they got it from Cisco frozen foods. Friend is in La Nina dining in the back. Maybe the front dining room is better. The layout is wonderful. There is a lot good there. Overall we are very happy with Atria.

My aunt was there. She had a studio and it was much more money than where she is now. We liked Atria Larson. She had skilled nursing care when she was at Atria. The doctor that became her primary physician was the house physician for Atria and that worked out well. While she was at Atria the skilled nursing care was a big plus. She had a bad heart and very weak lungs and they gave her very good nursing care there and she improved but her resources were dwindling at Atria. Her studio was just too small and cluttered and it was getting on her nerves. She felt very pent up.

I liked that. I really didn't take that close a look at it. I just walked through and stuff. When I did, I didn't know what kind of condition my mother was going to be in. I didn't think that the people there were active enough. Let's say they were way too passive, the occupants. I hate to put my mother in a place where it's just a bunch of people in sitting around in wheelchairs with oxygen. The facility was nice and the accommodations were nice but I just thought my mom would be in better shape than she was.

I'm not as hands on as my husband is but their food is not good and there have been some other issues. I guess it's hard to keep staff and they change chefs. The food was good when she started but the portions are too small, she's a 100 pound lady so she doesn't eat a lot but what they serve is not enough. The selections are not reflective of what the menu says they're going to have, they don't have what they say they're going to. My mother in law is really not happy with the food, especially for the amount she is paying every month. We had talked to them when the original chef was fired because they brought her a piece of chicken that had foil underneath the skin. I just left a message for the person in charge and she acknowledged it to my husband. We wanted her to be closer to us but she chose Atria I think because the people seemed younger and they were moving around more, she also liked the homey feeling and thought it was a place she could feel comfortable in.

Overall, I liked this facility and believed my mother would receive good care. The negatives were difficulty in parking for visitors and lack of on-site church services.

generally pleased- no complaints thus far

I thought it would have been a good hoice. It wasn't as convinient as Haddam, you had to get on 95 to get there and I could avoid getting on the 95. The facility was nice, but it couldn't really compare. It looked like the activities that they offered were pretty nice, I think they offered a good level of cultural activities, things that are a little more upscale than bingo. I think they brought in some entertainment that would have been appealing to my sister. She had lived in the New York City area and would go to the opera so those are the things she misses.

The charge depends on the level of care. Independent is one rate and then depending on how much assistance you need it goes up from there. My mom has the lowest level of assistance right now. Overall, I would have to say that I'm satisfied. Because she's at the lowest level of care I'm still arranging for medical appointments. They would take her, that's not an issue, but i's probably best for me to be there anyway because my mom doesn't' have good recollection of what the doctors say. She participates in some of the activities but not all of them. They have walks to the Dana Point Harbor a couple times a week and they have outings to Trader Joe's or shopping or just a driving tour to beaches. She'll occasionally go on those. She hasn't gone to the movies and they had tickets to the symphony but she didn't feel like going to that either.

I liked the facility. I think they do a good job in trying to get my mom involved in stuff. Everyone has their particular issues with caring for a loved one. My mom had some real bad health issues earlier in the year so she's been having a hard time. In the beginning of the year she was pretty independent but now she really requires a fair amount of care but I think they do a great job of watching her and making sure she comes out and participates in some of the activities which is something that I emphasized as important to me. She says the food is fine. For me, the portions are a little bit small but being a middle aged man, I guess my appetite is bigger than the residents'. It in a nice area out in the suburbs with a nice tree line.