The Horizon Club

I'm writing to thank the Leadership Team and workers at the Horizon Club during this Pandemic. I appreciate the open line of communication with an email every Friday updating us on the week. All workers have recently been tested and all were negative. They have been understanding with the residents and doing everything possible to keep them healthy and most important - HAPPY!! I'm glad my Aunt Grace chose this Assistant Living!!

My Mom lived for about seven years at Horizon Club, and died there a year ago today at 95. There are definitely good and bad points to the place, but if you are reading this you probably just want to know if you should put your loved one there or someplace else, and I think that you would make a pretty good decision if you did, and you could definitely do a lot worse. When she finally decided that she had to move into a facility, we visited a number of places, and I preferred the Forum, which was perhaps a little more expensive, but my Mom said that knew people at Horizon Club, that all those places were the same, and so she moved there. The first two or three years were pretty good for her, even though she was losing her sight, and she had several boyfriends. Somehow she had always convinced the staff that all she needed was independent living, and she got a pretty good deal in a small room overlooking the waterway for a yearly rate of only about $20K. Compared to something similar in New York, where I live, this would be nothing less than somewhere between one-third to one-fifth of what we could have found that is comparable here. Deerfield Beach is a little run down, but is a decent town, and close to some nicer places including Boca Raton.Old people like to complain. My Mom was not a happy camper her last three years as her health deteriorated with numerous problems that I wont get into. Some people on the staff are quite good and caring, some are new and dont know whats going on. Some of the residents yell at the staff. The aides are mostly from the islands, some are not easy to understand when they speak, and they probably dont make a lot of money, but thats just the way the employment market is for that. My Moms biggest complaint was that they didnt bring her what she asked from the waiters at dinner, and then, later, when she was confined to her room after she was unable to go down to the dining room, that they didnt bring the right food up to her room that she had ordered from the menu. I have to admit that I was not the primary contact person, and that my sister lived in Florida. But when I went there, it was as nice as you could expect. The food was plentiful and pretty good, a little bland for my taste, but thats likely due to dieticians for the elderly. Some of the residents smiled at me when I walked down the hall, happy to see a younger people in a place filled with the old. Some residents had more significant problems. My sister liked to complain about the costs. The grounds are really quite nice. There are two courtyards with a koi pond in one. If you can get a room overlooking the waterway, there are beautiful birds back there. Theres a pool, where my Mom liked to be on her better days with her gentleman friends, and various games like shuffleboard. Unfortunately, not many people are able to take advantage of the outdoors, but there are various groups that the ladies go to, and an entertainment schedule for the auditorium, a shuttle schedule to shopping. Yes, its all a little sad, people get old, but what can you do. That's just our health care system.When her heath worsened, Horizon Club insisted on moving my Mom to assisted living in the Atrium, which is similar to a hospital ward. Its nice there, too, with a skylight and an open area in the middle of the ward. My Mom didnt last long after that, maybe about five months. There was constant coming and going of aides caring for her. I had more interactions during that time with Garrett and Mary Beth. One thing that did surprise me was how lean the staff is run. Mary Beth is the director of Horizon Club, and I guess you could say that her main man is Garrett, but it was not as if these people sat around in their offices all day. Mary Beth was at a station in the Atrium, and Garrett always was around doing something or filling in for somebody. Im sure its not an easy job for them.

Most reviews of assisted living facilities seem to be negative. I guesss people only take the time to comment when they are unhappy. This is wrong as well as very misleading. This is a real review by the child of a resident in the The Horizon Club Assisted Living Facility. The club has been a blessing. My mother (now 99) ran out of all her monies and had to go on medicaid about a year ago. I saw a bunch of small 6-8 bed assisted living facilities and a few larger ones but nothing my mother would have been happy with. (She is aware and alert and pretty much knows what is goin on). She was incredibly lucky that there was a room available at the club the day I visited. The medical care she is receiving is excellent. Every little issue is attended to right away before it becomes a big issue. I visit whenever I can and have seen that the facility is bright, spacious, clean, and the residents are engaged throughout the day. It is well kept and esthetically attractive inside and out. The outside entertainment (several times a week) is quite good and much better than I would have expected. The food seems very good and healthy and there are always quite a few options. Because I have visited quite a few times, I have observed the staff in action when emergencies or incidents arise and they are always calm and know exactly what they are doing. They are all very friendly and helpful to the residents as well as competent.Communication between myself and the club is excellent too. The nursing supervisor: Mrs. Davis, the Admissions Director; Mrs. McDermott, and the billing department always get back to me when I have questions and they always address what it is that I specifically ask about. The residents are taken out to lunch once a month and I think are taken out locally on occasion just for a change of scenery and to get out of the club for a few hours. The bottom line is that this is a very well run facility. The medical treatment and day to day needs are addressed promptly and correctly. The support staff; billing and admissions is excellent. I really don't think my mother would be around today if she were in another facility. She knows her circumstances and is very happy there and I have peace of mind.

Things for changed Paying more getting less.Transportation has changed not a good support for that. Meals have been cut back. Just not good when you raise our fees Nd the cut back with everything taking advantage of the seniors.