Vallejo Hills Retirement Community | Happy Living by COGIR

Decent food, and comfortable place to live!

My old friend, Ward was on chemotherapy; he'd been having problems with daily tasks, shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc.. He lived lone, 130 miles away, and as time went on, I grew more apprehensive about his ability to care for himself. He was in a rural area, about 1 1/2 hrs from Modesto, and quite a distance from even a general store. I finally sent him boxes of food from Amazon and Costco, and contacted him daily. Finally, with his doctor's help, he contacted an agency and caregivers came in daily. He asked me to check out condos or small apartments in this area, which would be a bit less expensive than Contra Costa county, where he used to live. I suggested an assisted-living facility, and checked out a few in this (Vallejo) area. This seemed the nicest; it's a woodland setting, and there are interesting activities for residents. I attended a few, and felt this would be perfect fit for his needs and personality. The logistics were complicated. Jim Tubridy at Brookdale Hills suggested that Ward could come from Modesto by Amtrak. Then he could tour this facility (and another one) and stay overnight. That solved THAT problem! Jim also arranged for his tickets on Amtrak, and a ride afterward from Amtrak to his home by Lyft! I picked Ward up at the Amtrak station in Martinez, and took him to Brookdale where he had dinner and stayed in guest quarters. I drove him to another facility the next day, then on to Amtrak. He arrived back home by Lyft.Everyone was so helpful, even though at that point it wasn't certain that this would be the place he would choose.He's been in Brookdale Hills about 2 weeks, and I've visited several times. They do a 5-point check on residents in the assisted living quarters, (making sure that he is o.k. 5 times a day) and supervise his medications. He even got his legs rubbed down one morning (he has neuropathies.) The food is great, (I've eaten there twice.) The best part of this place are the people. They know each person by name, and are very involved with them. Without Jim Tubridy's help, I don't know how we would have managed!There is also an independent-living building. I've been at this Brookdale often enough, and it's a great alternative to in-home care. I am 79. This is a place I would choose for myself. Betty Chypre