If I could give a negative star I would - My family entrusted Regency Park Memory Care with the care of our 93-year-old grandmother after several years of caring for her at home while she battled dementia. This was one of the hardest decisions our family has ever had to make, and my mom and uncle relied heavily on the promises made by the facility and recommendations from Vitas Healthcare that she would receive compassionate, professional, 24-hour care.
Prior to entering Regency Park, my grandmother had dementia but was still physically active. She could walk, talk, recognize family, and interact with us daily. After a fall and increasing aggression related to her condition, my mother and uncle realized they needed additional professional support due to their own age and the overwhelming responsibility of caregiving.
When they toured Regency Park, they were reassured repeatedly that she would be monitored around the clock and properly cared for. We were encouraged not to visit for the first couple of weeks so she could “adjust” to her new environment. This was incredibly difficult for our family, but we trusted the staff and their guidance.
When my aunt and uncle were finally allowed to visit, what they witnessed was horrifying. The memory care unit smelled strongly of urine, and the floors were sticky and filthy. When they entered my grandmother’s room, they found her drastically thinner, confused, and unable to recognize them. She was dressed in clothing that did not belong to her, including men’s clothing, while her own clothes had been left soaked in urine inside a bag. The smell was so overwhelming the clothing had to be thrown away.
The director, Abby Pinion, apologized and explained she had recently taken over after the previous administrator was fired. However, apologies did not change the condition our grandmother was found in. Our family immediately began making arrangements to move her to another facility, but we were informed she could not simply be removed without another placement already secured.
Before my uncle could complete those arrangements, he received a call from Regency Park stating our grandmother was unresponsive and being transported to the hospital by ambulance. At the hospital, doctors informed us her blood sugar was over 800 and she was in a diabetic coma. We were also told she was severely dehydrated, had developed fungal infections in her vaginal and anal areas, and had no stomach contents, indicating she had not been properly nourished or cared for.
The hospital staff made it very clear that these conditions were consistent with severe neglect.
When my mom and uncle returned to Regency Park to inform them that our grandmother would never return(no matter what stipulations were listed), the director refused to come out and speak with them personally.
I am sharing this experience because no family should have to witness a loved one deteriorate this way under the care of a facility that promises compassion and supervision. Families place enormous trust in memory care facilities, especially when they can no longer physically manage care on their own. We feel that trust was completely broken.
I strongly urge anyone considering placing a loved one in this facility to thoroughly investigate the conditions and quality of care being provided, especially in the memory care unit. No patient deserves to suffer this way, particularly those who may not be able to speak for themselves.