7290 West 14Th Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80215
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of Teller Place RTF
Pros
The staff members are nice.- The nurses and staff were wonderful and tried to help.
- The staff were kind and helpful.
Cons
The reviewer was forced to go there, and it wasn't good for their mental health.- The staff's actions there did not help at all.
- The psychologists and psychiatrists are very counterproductive.
- There was vomiting.
Review
Teller Place RTF in Lakewood, Colorado is best suited for adults who need a structured, medically oriented residential setting to stabilize mental health symptoms, with reliable nursing and direct-care staff overseeing day-to-day routines. This is not a light-touch living option or a soft-entry into long-term care; it functions as a highly supervised environment where medication management, safety protocols, and routine supervision are the core pillars. For families seeking steady oversight and a clear daily rhythm, the facility offers a practical path forward. It is less appropriate for those who prize autonomy, non-coercive treatment, or a fully voluntary, community-based approach to mental health care. In short, this RTF works when the objective is stabilization under a seasoned clinical-nursing umbrella rather than a gentle, self-directed transition.
Alternatives should be strongly considered by those who want greater consent-based treatment, less emphasis on psychiatric interventions, or a setting focused more on independent living skills than on acute psychiatric management. Individuals with milder or more autonomous needs, or those who have had negative experiences with coercive admission or forced placement, will likely be better served by settings that prioritize voluntary engagement, collaborative treatment planning, and a more person-centered therapeutic alliance. Families should also explore options that emphasize non-coercive approaches, longer-term community integration, or different models of behavioral health care that align with the resident’s values and pace.
The most consistently positive notes center on the care team on the front lines: nurses and general staff are described as kind, approachable, and genuinely trying to help residents. This cultivated temperament translates into dependable daily support, reliable monitoring, and a sense of safety that can make a difficult transition more tolerable. However, the strongest criticisms target the psychiatric side of the equation. Several reviewers allege that psychiatrists and psychologists are counterproductive, and that some interventions feel coercive or misaligned with the resident’s best interests. That mismatch between bedside care and therapeutic philosophy erodes trust and can blunt progress even when day-to-day interactions with line staff are solid. The occasional health hiccup noted, such as vomiting, also flags the need for careful attention to acute medical issues alongside mental health treatment.
Those dynamics mean the key pros, stable nursing oversight, a caring front-line staff, and reliable daily structure, only partly offset the main drawbacks. When treatment decisions feel top-down or mismatched with a resident’s goals, even excellent nursing care can’t fully compensate for a sense of loss of agency. The environment may foster safety, routine, and predictable care, but the effectiveness of psychiatric interventions becomes the tipping point. Families must weigh whether the potential for stabilization and supportive daily contact outweighs concerns about autonomy, consent, and the perceived quality of psychiatric planning. In other words, the value of the positive staff interactions rests on whether the resident accepts the overarching treatment approach.
For a family weighing options, practical steps matter. Ask direct questions about admission triggers, how consent is obtained, and how treatment planning is shared with residents and families. Request concrete examples of how psychiatric decisions are coordinated with ongoing nursing care, and probe for discharge planning and follow-up supports. Speak with a range of staff, nurses, aides, social workers, and, crucially, the treating psychiatrists, about their philosophy and approach. Gather perspectives from current or former residents or families to understand patterns over time. And compare with alternatives that emphasize voluntary engagement, non-coercive therapy, or different models of residential care to determine which aligns best with the resident’s goals, needs, and tolerance for risk.
In sum, Teller Place RTF offers dependable nursing support and a structured environment that can stabilize acute symptoms and provide daily security. It is a viable option for those who prioritize hands-on care within a medical framework and can navigate a psychiatric treatment plan that may not align with every resident’s preferences. For families concerned about coercive approaches, autonomy, or perceived misalignment between mental health treatment and personal values, it is prudent to explore alternatives first. The best path blends credible clinical oversight with a treatment culture that respects resident agency and long-term wellbeing.
15 resident community capacity
Assisted Living
Cable or satellite TV
Dining room
Fully furnished
Garden
Housekeeping services
Move-in coordination
Outdoor space
Telephone
Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available
Denver International (23 miles away)
24-hour supervision
Activities of daily living assistance
Assistance with bathing
Assistance with dressing
Assistance with transfers
Diabetes diet
Meal preparation and service
Medication management
Special dietary restrictions
Transportation arrangement (medical)
Transportation to doctors appointments
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