The Samarkand

Pros

• The family appreciated the initial support and communication regarding moving both parents into assisted living for three years.
• It was clear that the independent living community provided a welcoming environment, as evidenced by the interactions with staff before the recent challenges.
• Despite the current situation, they are grateful for the time spent in independent living, recognizing it as a step towards finding suitable care.
• Their experience highlights the importance of thorough communication and understanding of services offered in senior living communities.
• They have learned valuable lessons about advocating for loved ones in healthcare settings, which can benefit others in similar situations.

Cons

• Sanmarkand misled residents about their eligibility for assisted living and memory care services, despite promises of lifetime care for all levels.
• The facility's refusal to accommodate insulin-dependent residents raises concerns about the integrity of their medicine management claims.
• Residents were given false assurances for years regarding the availability of assisted living options, leading to significant confusion and disappointment.
• Skilled nursing care at Sanmarkand has been described as inadequate, with residents left unattended for long periods.
• The high cost of skilled nursing services at Sanmarkand does not align with the quality of care provided, prompting dissatisfaction among families.

Review

Concerns Raised About Sanmarkand's Assisted Living and Memory Care Services

The transition to independent living can often be a challenging yet hopeful step for many families, especially when it involves the well-being of aging parents. However, the experience shared by one family regarding Sanmarkand's facilities raises significant concerns about the integrity of their services and contracts. The family entered into an agreement with Sanmarkand with the understanding that their parents would receive comprehensive care for all levels of service—independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing—after making a substantial "buy-in" payment. Such promises undoubtedly provide peace of mind to families seeking long-term stability for their loved ones.

Issues arose when the family’s father, who is insulin-dependent, required assistance in areas where he was assured he could receive it. Despite his condition being disclosed at the time of signing the contract, Sanmarkand has now claimed that he does not qualify for assisted living or memory care due to his need for insulin management. This contradiction is alarming; the facility's website and contractual agreements mention providing "medicine management," leading this family—and potentially others—to believe that such needs would be adequately met within their system.

Even more perplexing is the family's history of communication with Sanmarkand over the past three years. The sales team frequently reached out to discuss transitions into assisted living for both parents without ever raising concerns about the father's diabetes or his suitability for these programs. This raises serious questions about how many other residents might be facing similar situations where they were misled or given false assurances about their eligibility due to medical conditions like insulin dependence.

Beyond issues related specifically to diabetes management, there are deeper concerns regarding the quality of care provided by Sanmarkand in its skilled nursing facility. The family reports troubling experiences with their mother during her time in skilled nursing at Sanmarkand. They describe a disheartening environment where residents were left unattended in wheelchairs for extended periods and struggled to get help when needed—often waiting half an hour or more just to use the restroom. Such negligence not only highlights systemic problems within the facility but also prompts serious ethical questions surrounding patient care standards.

Moreover, considering that this skilled nursing option cost significantly more than an alternative place they eventually found—which reportedly offered better support—it underlines how critical it is for families to scrutinize both costs and quality of care when choosing facilities for their loved ones. This family's negative experiences call attention to potential financial exploitation within senior care industries where higher prices do not necessarily guarantee superior service.

As this situation unfolds, thoughts of pursuing legal action against Sanmarkand loom in this family's mind as they grapple with feelings of betrayal over what was promised versus what has been delivered. Their collective experience paints a troubling picture not just confined to one disgruntled family but possibly representing broader issues faced by residents across similar facilities that prioritize salesmanship over genuine caregiving practices. In light of these developments, it becomes imperative that prospective residents—and indeed regulatory bodies—investigate these claims thoroughly while ensuring accountability within eldercare communities like Sanmarkand moving forward.

Physicians

• Advanced Surgical Associates (0.2 miles)
• Jackson Medical Group (0.2 miles)
• Cancer Center Of Santa Barbara (0.2 miles)
• Charles J. Curatalo (0.2 miles)
• Susanne Ramos, MD (0.3 miles)
• Donald E Lindblad, MD (0.3 miles)
• Jeffrey L. Kupperman, MD (0.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Cottage Children's Hospital (0.3 miles)
• Rehabilitation Institute At Santa Barbara (0.4 miles)
• Cottage Health System (0.4 miles)
• Summit Surgery Center (0.4 miles)
• Dr Tavinder Dhillon DMD (1.5 miles)
• Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services (1.5 miles)
• Emcare Of California (1.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Sansum Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Federal Drug Co. (0.8 miles)
• The Medicine Shoppe (0.9 miles)
• Longs Drugs (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Le Cafe Stella (0.7 miles)
• Harry's Plaza Cafe (0.8 miles)
• Spudnuts & Bagels (1 miles)
• Denny's (1 miles)
• Super Cucas Meat Mar (1.1 miles)
• Lure Fish House (1.2 miles)
• The Good Lion (1.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Old Mission (1 miles)
• Santa Barbara Mission Church (1 miles)
• Hope Community Church (1.8 miles)

Parks

• Mission Historical Park & Rose Gardens (1 miles)
• Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens (1.3 miles)
• Alameda Park (1.3 miles)
• Kid's World (1.4 miles)
• Arroyo Burro Beach (2 miles)

Theaters

• Arlington Theatre Ticket Agency (1.3 miles)

Cafes

• Cajé Coffee - Arlington St (1.4 miles)
• Savoy Cafe & Deli (1.5 miles)
• Dune Coffee Roasters - State Street (1.6 miles)
• Handlebar Coffee Roasters (1.8 miles)