AVALON MEMORY CARE CEDAR PARK

At first we blamed delusions. On days he wouldn’t wake up, or his speech was unusually slurred, we blamed the dementia. But the family began to notice more: his clothes were filthy, his hearing aids were never charged. Injuries were “falls”. His toenails were so neglected that we feared he could lose at least one toe. We moved him. The first week, he continually asked new caregivers, “Are you going to hurt me? Hit me? Pinch me? Push me?” Today, tho the dementia continues to steal his mind, he smiles. He’s relaxed. He’s so much better! BEWARE of Avalon!

Our dad lived at Avalon for five horrible months. During that time, his dementia seemed to be progressing so rapidly. In the first three months, he went from walking independently, talking, laughing, and engaging, to falling often, becoming wheelchair bound, and barely communicating. We realized his dementia couldn’t possibly be progressing that quickly – something else had to be going on. We put him on the waiting list at a different place. The day we moved him, he was nearly catatonic – he required assistance from two people to stand up, he couldn’t talk, and he was completely unresponsive. The first 48 hours at his new place, they watched him go through withdrawal. From what? Something off the books, because his prescribed medications were tracked by hospice. Within two days away from Avalon, he was walking, talking, and engaging again. Two days. This is a short summary of a volume of documentation we have from his months there. DO NOT entrust this place with your loved one.

Since Cecilia Garza, who goes by Cece, became the new director, the change at this memory care facility has been remarkable. She has truly turned the place around — from hiring a new cook to addressing staffing issues and holding people accountable. The facility and individual rooms are now consistently clean, the food is warm and good, and there is a noticeable sense of care and liveliness throughout the building. Most importantly, the residents are well cared for, and you can feel the difference in the atmosphere. I’m incredibly grateful for the improvements and the leadership Cece has brought.