Shepard Park Home Care

Pros

• The Alton Memory Care has a beautiful garden and a great building that leaves a positive impression.
• The staff at The Alton is mostly good, with some caring and exceptional individuals who contribute to the facility's positive atmosphere.
• Residents enjoy the food, and there are no complaints about the dining experience.
• The facility offers a unique program with many activities designed for individuals who need memory care.
• The maintenance of the facility is excellent, contributing to its overall appeal.
• The tour guide provided a superb experience, enhancing the initial impression of the facility.

Cons

• The staff was mostly good, but some seemed overwhelmed and unwilling or incapable of motivating the resident to participate.
• The facility allowed the resident to miss multiple meals in a row, which is not healthy.
• The response to COVID was extremely cautious but also very restrictive, limiting visits due to insufficient staff.
• Moving the resident to a smaller facility with more personal attention proved to be much better for her.
• While the facility made a great impression, it failed to adequately care for residents who need more than just memory care.
• The decision to place both parents at The Alton turned out to be a regrettable choice, as they could not properly care for the father.
• There is concern about being unable to move the mother due to the circumstances created by the facility's inability to care for both parents properly.

Review

The Alton Memory Care facility has garnered mixed reviews from families with loved ones residing there, highlighting both commendable aspects and areas of concern. One reviewer praised the facility for its beauty, noting the lovely garden and overall aesthetics that contribute to a pleasant environment. The spacious building is designed to be welcoming, and tours conducted by staff members left a positive impression on prospective residents and their families. Activities such as music, reading, and exercise were mentioned, although the reviewer admitted to not thoroughly reviewing the flyer detailing these offerings.

However, while many aspects of The Alton were appreciated, the experience was not uniformly positive for all residents. A specific account shared by another family member illustrated some of the challenges faced by their mother during her year-long stay at The Alton. Despite having her own room with an adjoining bathroom and a predominantly caring staff, there were notable deficiencies in engagement strategies for residents who required motivation to participate in activities. Some staff members seemed overwhelmed and lacked an initiative to encourage participation among more passive individuals. This was particularly concerning for one resident who struggled to wake up consistently; unfortunately, this led to her missing multiple meals—a critical factor affecting her health.

While staff responsiveness varied greatly amongst caregivers at The Alton, it became clear that those who did take the time to engage positively impacted residents' experiences. Yet there was an apparent gap identified between expectations set during the admission process regarding care capabilities and actual realities on duty. Families looking for a personalized approach may find that larger facilities like The Alton cannot meet specific needs effectively—especially if they involve more comprehensive care than just memory assistance.

Further complicating matters is how The Alton managed COVID-19 restrictions during the pandemic era. Many families described their protocols as extremely cautious but also restrictive; this limited visitations considerably due to staffing ratios versus facility size—compounding feelings of isolation among residents and their families alike. While safety protocols are essential in safeguarding health amid ongoing concerns about infectious diseases, too much restriction can negatively affect morale within memory care settings.

One review reflected on personal regrets over choosing The Alton for a loved one while observing issues related to another family member’s potential residency there—particularly highlighting difficulties faced with integrating both parents into the same living situation despite assurances from administration regarding care compatibility for individuals with distinct requirements. Such circumstances raised questions about transparency during assessments prior to admission; if all parties had been fully aware of limits around care possibilities upfront, they may have made different choices suited better for both parents’ needs.

In conclusion, while The Alton Memory Care offers aesthetically pleasing surroundings complemented by some dedicated staff members willing to cater primarily towards nurturing memory loss patients adequately therein lies an important truth: not every resident’s unique needs may align well within this environment—or indeed within larger facilities in general when additional complexities arise beyond simple memory support services alone are necessary considerations moving forward in finding appropriate placements tailored specifically toward individual requirements. Potential clients must weigh both positive elements alongside pointed critiques carefully before deciding whether it remains suitable regarding placements less likely reflecting similar challenges faced across varied family situations surrounding eldercare decisions today—the stakes are high when assessing quality life transitions later stages aging can bring into focus increasingly over time as we navigate new paths toward comfortability amidst change happening consistently throughout our communities overall!

Parks

• Hidden Falls Park (1.1 miles)
• Minnehaha Falls Dog Park (1.6 miles)
• Wabun Picnic Area (2.2 miles)
• Bossen Field (3.3 miles)
• Lake Hiawatha Park (3.7 miles)
• Longfellow Park (3.8 miles)
• Taft Park (4.2 miles)

Physicians

• Parkway Family Physicians (1.2 miles)
• Dermatology Consultants P.A. (3.3 miles)
• Twin Cities Orthopedics Eagan - Viking Lakes (3.9 miles)
• Entira Family Clinics-West St Paul (4.4 miles)
• West Side Community Health Services (4.7 miles)
• Mngi Digestive Health - Eagan Endoscopy Center & Clinic (4.9 miles)
• HealthPartners Health Center for Women Clinic St Paul (5 miles)

Places of Worship

• WW Studio (1.2 miles)
• St George Greek Orthodox Church (2.9 miles)
• Cathedral of St Paul (4.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Pool and Yacht Club (1.5 miles)
• Twins Grill (2.4 miles)
• Sea Salt Eatery (2.4 miles)
• McDonald's (2.5 miles)
• Stone Arch (2.7 miles)
• Brew Hall (3.6 miles)
• Taco Bell (3.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3.1 miles)
• Walgreens (4.2 miles)
• Walgreens (4.4 miles)

Hospitals

• VA Medical Center (1.9 miles)
• United Hospital Joint Relacement Center (3.9 miles)
• St Joseph's Hospital-St Paul (4.5 miles)
• Regions Hospital Burn Center (5.1 miles)
• University of Minnesota Medical Center - East Bank Campus (5.7 miles)

Transportation

• Concourse A (2.3 miles)
• Delta Sky Club (2.4 miles)
• Concourse C (2.4 miles)
• Concourse D (2.5 miles)
• Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) (2.5 miles)
• Escape Lounge (2.6 miles)
• Terminal 1-Lindbergh (2.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.8 miles)
• Groundswell (3.9 miles)
• Starbucks (4.2 miles)
• Roundtable Cof (4.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.6 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.7 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Inver Grove 16 (5.7 miles)