The Gardens and Guardian

Pros

• The staff at The Gardens Assisted Living maintained a good attitude and provided quality care despite being understaffed.
• The dining room at The Gardens offered a pleasant, restaurant-like atmosphere with menu service for residents.
• The Guardian House is described as very clean, quiet, and equipped with an excellent staff.
• Residents in the Alzheimer’s building at Guardian House received attentive care from the daytime staff who were warm and friendly.
• The facilities provided numerous opportunities for residents to engage in activities and socialize with one another.
• Overall, the Guardian House was recognized as a well-run facility where residents appeared happy and content.
• Many caregivers at both facilities were certified nursing assistants or higher, ensuring a qualified level of support for the residents.

Cons

• The staff at The Gardens Assisted Living was understaffed despite having a good attitude.
• The food at The Gardens Assisted Living was not satisfactory.
• The rooms at The Gardens Assisted Living were small and resembled hospital rooms.
• At the Guardian House, nurses rarely checked on residents, leading to incidents like falls that went unnoticed for too long.
• Some aspects of cleanliness at the facility were lacking, especially regarding helping residents keep their living spaces clean.
• There were complaints about the night shift at the Guardian House appearing inactive or not busy.

Review

In the search for suitable assisted living facilities for loved ones, many families have shared their experiences with various establishments, each highlighting both strengths and weaknesses. The Gardens Assisted Living emerged as a focal point in this conversation. Initially praised for its good care and positive staff attitudes, the facility encountered challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic that influenced some families to reconsider their options. Although the levels of care were deemed satisfactory given the staffing shortages—a common issue in many similar settings—the overall experience fell short in certain aspects, particularly regarding meal quality. The rooms at The Gardens were described as small and reminiscent of hospital accommodations, yet the cleanliness of the entire facility was appreciated.

The dining experience at The Gardens offered three meals a day within a pleasant setting akin to a restaurant atmosphere, complete with menus served directly to residents. This attention to dining reflected an effort towards providing a nice ambiance for daily meals. Additionally, the availability of activities and transportation for outings added value to life at The Gardens, creating opportunities for engagement and socialization among residents. Despite these positives, reviewers expressed that they would consider other locations before fully endorsing this establishment.

Another perspective came from a family considering The Gardens as an option for their father. They noted that although it was categorized as assisted living, certain routine tasks—such as laundry—would fall on the resident's shoulders. Nonetheless, they found appealing elements like courtyard gardens that could enhance their father's quality of life through outdoor access. Importantly, they valued that both assisted living and Alzheimer’s units were nearby since familiarity with staff can ease transitions should their father's health require specialized care in the future.

Switching gears to another location—Guardian House in Lake Charles—families provided insights into their experiences there while caring for elderly relatives facing cognitive decline due to conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Residents enjoyed a clean and quiet environment alongside friendly staff; however, issues arose concerning proactive caregiving practices. For instance, incidents like one resident’s fall highlighted critical lapses in supervision or monitoring that left family members feeling unsettled about general oversight within the facility.

While daytime caretakers were noted as attentive and personable in meeting residents' needs effectively, reviewers observed a stark contrast with nighttime staff who appeared less engaged or busy during shifts. This inconsistency raised concerns about care quality around-the-clock. However, technological support systems were implemented at Guardian House to assist residents who needed help when moving about; these monitors acted as an alert system for caregivers when assistance was required.

Residents experienced multiple opportunities throughout their day to engage socially through planned activities—a vital component of maintaining mental health among seniors. While some structural shortcomings related to cleanliness standards had been observed occasionally—stemming from residents’ decreased capacity to manage personal spaces—the quick responsiveness of staff addressed most concerns satisfactorily when raised by family members.

Overall evaluations suggest both facilities strive toward fostering environments where senior citizens can thrive despite challenges inherent in caregiving settings today. Families reflect on essential characteristics such as reliability of staff oversight, dignity afforded through social interaction opportunities, attentiveness from caretakers regardless of shift changes—all critical elements shaping peaceful living experiences in assisted settings. Prospective residents and families are encouraged to thoroughly assess specific needs against what each unique facility offers before making crucial decisions regarding long-term care solutions for loved ones requiring assistance.

Physicians

• Southwest Louisiana Imaging (0.3 miles)
• Dr Mendez (0.4 miles)
• Dr Bridget Loehn, ENT & Allergy Specialist (0.4 miles)
• The Eye Clinic (0.4 miles)
• Center for Orthopaedics (0.5 miles)
• Memorial Medical Group (1 miles)
• David Heinen, MD (1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Trinity Baptist Church (0.4 miles)
• St Martin De Porres (1.6 miles)
• Word Of Hope Family Worship (3.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Imperial Calcasieu Surgical Center (0.5 miles)
• Lake Charles Urgent Care (0.6 miles)
• Women & Children's Hosp Med (1.2 miles)
• Avail Health Lake Charles Hospital (1.7 miles)
• Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Gauthier Campus (1.9 miles)
• Nami (2.3 miles)
• Extended Care of Southwest Louisiana (2.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Weinie Dog's (0.5 miles)
• McDonald's (0.7 miles)
• Nina P's Cafe (0.7 miles)
• Jimmy John's (0.8 miles)
• Domino's Pizza (0.9 miles)
• Big Daddy's Sports Grill (1.2 miles)
• Burger King (1.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Hobgood Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Albertsons Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Gordons Drug Store (2.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.6 miles)
• Sassy Oil & Vinegar (1.6 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.1 miles)
• Zeus Cafe (2.3 miles)
• The Charleston Bistro (4.4 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (1.9 miles)
• Hertz Rent A Car (2.5 miles)

Parks

• Prien Lake Park (2.2 miles)
• Prien Lake Mall Playground (2.4 miles)
• Lake Charles Veteran's Memorial Park (4.3 miles)
• Lake Charles Historic District (4.3 miles)