Songbird Care Home

Pros

• The owner of Songbird Care Home is very knowledgeable and experienced in senior care.
• The staff at Songbird are kind, helpful, and show genuine interest in caring for the seniors.
• The facility is kept clean and well-maintained.
• Caregivers are friendly, willing, and competent in their roles.
• Families find peace of mind knowing their loved ones are safe and well-cared for at Songbird.
• Communication with staff is generally positive, as everyone is willing to listen and help with resident needs.
• Songbird presents a good experience overall for families and residents alike.

Cons

• The constant turnover of caregivers made it difficult for the reviewer to communicate with a specific person responsible for their mother's care.
• There was a feeling of uncertainty regarding whether messages about the mother's care were effectively communicated to all caregivers.
• The experience was complicated by the challenges posed by the mother's wandering tendencies, which required relocating her to a different facility.
• The emotional stress of not being able to see the mother in person for an extended period due to COVID-19 restrictions was disheartening.

Review

In early 2020, the author placed their mother in the highly recommended Songbird Care Home located in the Toro Park area, just prior to California's Covid-19 shutdown. The timing was ironic; as the pandemic escalated, care homes were placed on quarantine lists, and family visits became virtually impossible. It wasn’t until Mother’s Day that the author could see their mother again—a surreal experience characterized by masks, face shields, and a jarring ten-foot distance between them. This challenging situation underscored one of the most significant advantages of choosing Songbird: the peace of mind knowing that their mother was safe and being cared for by dedicated staff during such unprecedented times.

As months progressed, it became clear that the author’s mother's mental health was declining due to dementia. Her tendency to wander created challenges for both her and the staff at Songbird. Fortunately, the management team at Songbird demonstrated exceptional understanding and support throughout this difficult transition. They provided opportunities for relocating her to another facility within their group—Carmelo in Monterey—where a more secure environment awaited her along with additional staff members specifically trained to manage residents with wandering tendencies. In hindsight, had it not been for her dementia-induced wandering behavior, Songbird would have remained an ideal fit due to its proximity to home and its overall quality of care.

The ownership at Songbird has garnered praise for its knowledgeable approach to senior care. The owner possesses a deep understanding of elderly needs shaped by years of experience in this field. This expertise translates into a well-run facility where staff are not only adequately trained but also genuinely interested in providing compassionate care for each resident. Their prioritization of hygiene is evident; families can rest assured knowing that cleanliness is upheld within the home—a critical factor during a global pandemic when health safeguards took precedence over all else.

Feedback from family members reveals a generally positive experience with caregivers who appear friendly, competent, and willing to assist wherever possible. However, managing communication emerged as one of the most significant challenges faced by loved ones trying to stay connected with caregivers responsible for specific tasks like bathing or morning routines. With numerous caregivers rotating through various shifts at all hours, it has become increasingly difficult to establish direct lines of communication with singular caregivers assigned specific duties.

Despite this challenge being common across many facilities rather than unique to Songbird, family members expressed a desire for improved systems enabling easy communication regarding particular care aspects—especially important when concerns arise or special requests need discussion. While every caregiver remains open-minded and attentive during interactions with families and residents alike, effective message delivery across such a multitude becomes complicated amidst hectic routines.

Ultimately, having experienced both commendable assistance from skilled personnel and challenges related to communication dynamics within such caregiving environments highlights both sides of residential elderly care facilities like Songbird Care Home. Although relocation may have been necessary given their mother's condition evolution over time—leading them towards Carmelo—the author still holds strong recommendations for Songbird based on positive personal experiences rooted deeply within their hearts as they reflect upon this chapter of life filled with learning curves surrounding aging loved ones needing specialized attention amid unforeseen circumstances such as those presented by COVID-19.

This part of Salinas, California offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing to seniors looking for a convenient and comfortable living environment. Within close proximity, residents can find numerous dining options such as Subway, Jack In The Box, and In-N-Out Burger, as well as pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens. There are also several parks nearby including the fully inclusive Tatum's Garden Playground for recreational activities. For medical needs, there are several physician offices and hospitals in the area like Salinas Family Practice and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System. Additionally, transportation options like Amtrak provide easy access for getting around town. Overall, this part of Salinas provides a mix of conveniences and services that cater to the needs of seniors seeking a vibrant community to call home.

Restaurants

• Subway (0.3 miles)
• Jack In The Box (0.5 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (1.1 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (1.3 miles)
• IHOP (1.4 miles)
• Wendy's (1.4 miles)
• Black Bear Diner Salinas (1.5 miles)

Parks

• Tatum's Garden Fully Inclusive Accessible Playground (0.3 miles)
• El Dorado Park (1.1 miles)
• Manzanita County Park (7.6 miles)
• Fremont Peak State Park (9.1 miles)
• Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (10.9 miles)
• Fort Ord Dunes State Park (12.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Care Pharmacies (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Safeway Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Souza, Bob Alisal Drug Store (1.5 miles)
• AllCare Pharmacy (1.6 miles)

Physicians

• Salinas Family Practice (0.6 miles)
• Internal Medicine (0.6 miles)
• Oppenheim Peter MD (0.7 miles)
• Laurel Internal Medicine (0.8 miles)
• Rolando Cabrera Md A M (1.4 miles)
• Pinnacle Urgent Care (1.6 miles)
• Dr. Grace Daijo Optometry, Provider of Eyexam of CA (1.7 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (1.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.7 miles)
• Starbucks (6.8 miles)
• Starbucks (8.7 miles)
• Starbucks (9.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (12.1 miles)
• Starbucks (12.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Evergreen At Salinas (2.3 miles)
• Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System (2.4 miles)
• Salinas Surgery Center (2.7 miles)
• Dr Mary Garren, MD (12.3 miles)

Theaters

• Century Marina And Xd (9.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church of the Good Shepherd (11.5 miles)
• Old Mission San Juan Bautista (12 miles)