Dolly's Manor Retirement Home

Pros

• He was moved to a much better facility.
• The move placed him in a facility with better care and safety.
• The family secured a higher-quality living arrangement for him.
• The new facility provided him with a better standard of care.

Cons

• The main caregiver was mean to him and ignored him.
• The caregiver should have been better trained to handle dementia patients.
• There was no emergency plan for him in case of a fire emergency.
• The caretaker was on the phone with friends/family or watching TV instead of supervising him.
• The staff refused to allow him a short walk when asked.
• Medication mailed to the residence was lost more than once.
• He was lonely and not a priority to the people working there.

Review

The experience described centers on a family caring for a father with dementia who lived in a setting managed by a caregiver and an owner. According to the family member recounting it, the main caregiver told her that the father was "mean" to her, and, in response, she chose to ignore him. This claim of mistreatment was paired with a belief that the caregiver should have received better training for handling patients with dementia. The underlying thread is a sense that the staff did not feel equipped to respond with patience and appropriate care, and that the family's loved one suffered as a result of this lack of preparedness.

A troubling episode involved an emergency situation when a fire broke out in the area. The owner reportedly insisted that the family pick up the father and take responsibility for him during the crisis, and there was no emergency plan in place for his care. The absence of a clear, proactive plan for such emergencies placed both the resident and others at risk and underscored a serious lapse in preparedness and accountability.

When the family visited, the caretaker's behavior reportedly suggested a broader pattern of neglect. Instead of engaging with the resident, the caretaker was often on the phone with friends or family or simply watching television. On occasions when the family asked for even a brief outdoor excursion - just a short walk to provide some fresh air and a change of scenery - the request was denied. This mix of distraction and inaction during visits painted a picture of a care environment where the resident's needs could be sidelined in favor of personal activities or conveniences of the staff.

Another concerning issue involved the handling of medications. Medications that were mailed to the residence were lost more than once, a problem that not only disrupted the resident's treatment but also introduced potential safety risks. The repeated loss of prescribed medications suggested gaps in processes around medication receipt, storage, and administration, raising questions about the reliability of the facility's pharmacological management.

As a result of these dynamics, the father was largely confined to the home unless the family was present to supervise or advocate on his behalf. The impression given is that loneliness and isolation were common, and that care and attention to his emotional and social needs were not a priority for the staff. The emotional toll of living under such conditions contributed to a sense of neglect, even when the family was trying to advocate for better support and engagement.

Ultimately, the family found and moved the father to a much better facility. The move represents a departure from a care environment that seemed overwhelmed by insufficient training, inconsistent emergency planning, and limited staff engagement, toward a setting that better aligned with the needs of someone living with dementia. The contrast between these experiences underscores the seriousness of the issues described: the importance of adequately trained caregivers, reliable emergency planning, attentive engagement during visits, secure medication handling, and a compassionate, person-centered approach to care.

This part of Santa Rosa, California offers a diverse range of amenities suitable for senior living. The area is home to several reputable restaurants such as Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens and John Ash & Co., providing convenient dining options for residents. In terms of healthcare, there are multiple physicians and hospitals nearby, including Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan. Additionally, transportation options such as the Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport and Santa Rosa Transit Mall make it easy for seniors to get around the area. For leisure activities, there are cafes like Starbucks and Aroma Roasters Coffee & Tea, as well as parks like Keiser Community Park and Rincon Valley Community Park for outdoor recreation. Overall, this part of Santa Rosa provides a desirable living environment with a variety of services tailored to senior residents.

Restaurants

• Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens (0.8 miles)
• John Ash & Co. (1.4 miles)
• McDonald's (2.8 miles)
• El Farolito (2.9 miles)
• Ume Japanese Bistro (3.1 miles)
• Taco Bell (3.3 miles)
• KIN Windsor (3.6 miles)

Theaters

• Airport Stadium 12 (1 miles)

Physicians

• Frank L. Anderson, MD (1.4 miles)
• Dana Michaels (1.4 miles)
• Peralta Elizabeth Md (1.5 miles)
• Ana L Pacheco-Clark, MD (1.5 miles)
• Peter B. Brett, MD (2.5 miles)
• Steven L. Wolf, MD (2.5 miles)
• Helena A. Longin, MD (2.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital (1.5 miles)
• Kaiser Foundation Health Plan (3.6 miles)
• Kaiser Foundation Hospital (4.6 miles)
• MarinHealth ENT, Head & Neck Surgery | A UCSF Health Clinic (5.7 miles)

Transportation

• KaiserAir, Santa Rosa Jet Center (2.3 miles)
• Sonoma Jet Center (2.3 miles)
• Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport (STS) (2.4 miles)
• STS Apron (2.4 miles)
• Santa Rosa - SMART Station (5.8 miles)
• Santa Rosa Transit Mall (5.9 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.9 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Starbucks (3.6 miles)
• Cafe Des Croissants (4.3 miles)
• Taylor Lane Organic Coffee (4.3 miles)
• Aroma Roasters Coffee & Tea (5.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.4 miles)
• Kaiser Pharmacy East (3.6 miles)
• Rayles Pharmacy (4.2 miles)
• Peace In Medicine (5.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.7 miles)
• Herbal Pharmacy (5.8 miles)

Parks

• Keiser Community Park (3.9 miles)
• Safari West Wildlife Preserve & African Tent Camp (4.6 miles)
• A Place To Play (5.3 miles)
• Old Courthouse Square (5.8 miles)
• Rincon Valley Community Park (5.8 miles)