Golden Living Center Windermere

Pros

• The facility offers plenty of activities throughout the day and is described as a very nice place.
• Judson Shirey loves it there and has wonderful friends.
• Regina consistently goes above and beyond to take care of her resident.
• The friend's father stayed there for about eight months and the staff were very nice.
• The uncle recovered well enough to go home thanks to the therapy and nursing teams.
• A stay at the facility was very positive, with the resident gaining strength and meeting therapists' expectations.
• The maintenance man was kind and stood out in a positive way.
• Some employees are good, indicating that there are caring staff members.

Cons

• The facility is described as a horrible place that limits showers to twice a week, serves cold food, and bans pictures.
• It fails to follow patients' diets and to administer medications on time.
• Residents were not bathed and were left wet with their clothes, indicating neglect.
• Pur?ed meals were served when a regular diet was appropriate, and some meals were cold.
• A staff member was accused of lying about relaying medication requests.
• Night staffing is severely understaffed, leading to delayed medicines and poor care.
• Patients were left in feces for hours due to delays and staffing issues.
• There is high employee turnover and a perceived lack of accountability and leadership affecting care.
• Family communications are poor; voicemails go unanswered and condolences are not offered after a death, with equipment like a wheelchair sometimes lost.

Review

The collection of experiences about this facility reads like two very different stories tangled together. On one hand, a number of visitors describe a place that feels unsafe, poorly managed, and inconsistent in its care. They recount a regimen that includes showering only twice a week, serving cold meals, and a strict policy that forbids family photos, which many find depressing and impersonal. Several reviewers insist that staff do not consistently follow patient diets or administer medications on time, raising serious questions about basic daily care, nutrition, and medical responsiveness. These concerns are loudest in their accounts of the facility letting patients go without baths, leaving residents in wet clothing, and failing to honor dietary needs - such as feeding a patient pur?ed foods when a regular diet is appropriate for their condition.

There is a particularly troubling thread about medication delays and communication failures. One reviewer singles out LPN Laura Johnson for delaying medications by several hours across consecutive days, describing the behavior as abusive and unfit for patient care. Other family members report having to intervene repeatedly to ensure medications or messages are relayed to the nurses, and they accuse some staff of lying about relaying messages. The consequences, they say, can be severe: delayed medications, unanswered calls, and a general sense that the patient's needs are deprioritized, especially at night when they claim there are only a couple of aides for a floor with many residents. The lack of timely care is paired with grim anecdotes - patients left in their own waste for extended periods and belongings lost or mishandled after a loved one's passing - leaving families traumatized and distrustful.

Beyond the darker episodes, the reviews also depict a facility that can feel chaotic and impersonal to families who are far away. There are frequent complaints about understaffing and high patient-to-staff ratios, particularly during night shifts, and about a pattern where the facility seems more focused on finances or permissions for treatments than on consistent, compassionate care. One reviewer notes that the only time the facility reached out was for money or permission for injections, a sign that communication may be sporadic or transactional rather than patient-centered. The emotional impact of these gaps is compounded by stories of staff who are indifferent or forgetful, and of families who felt ignored at critical moments, such as after a loved one's death when no one offered condolences or updates.

Amid the negativity, there are glimmers of praise and genuine warmth. A few residents and families highlight individual caregivers who stand out for their kindness or effectiveness. One patient's father, Judson Shirey, is described as thriving there, with wonderful friends and the clear affection of his caregivers. A CNA named Regina is singled out by another family as someone who consistently goes above and beyond in caring for their loved one. Some reviewers recount positive experiences with rehab and therapy teams, emphasizing improvement and gratitude for the progress made. A resident who recently recovered from a life-threatening accident credits a group of therapists - Devin, Shannon, Kurt, Cher, Brittany, and Lucinda - for their personal care, understanding, and encouragement, even while admitting that the patient could be difficult at times.

There are also testimonials that center on rehab successes and overall improvement for certain individuals. A family describes their uncle's rehab as a turning point, with therapy and nursing teams helping him regain strength and eventually go home. Another account follows a friend's father who has been at the facility for months and who, despite the overall mixed reviews, benefits from a supportive staff in some cases. The sense of relief from these stories stands in stark contrast to the harsher criticisms and highlights that the facility can deliver valuable rehabilitation and compassionate attention when the right staff are present.

Nevertheless, the overarching sentiment among many reviewers is a call for substantial changes in leadership, accountability, and daily operations. They advocate for better staffing levels, more reliable medication administration, clearer and more proactive communication with families, and a recognition that patient dignity and comfort should not be compromised by systemic shortcomings. Several accounts urge prospective families to consider alternatives or to visit with a critical eye, especially if a loved one requires consistent, around-the-clock attention. The sentiment is clear: the facility has potential and some excellent people within it, but without meaningful improvements in governance and staffing, the negative experiences risk overshadowing any positive outcomes.

In the end, the stories present a complex portrait: moments of genuine care and notable rehabilitation successes sit side by side with deeply troubling gaps in safety, hygiene, nutrition, and timely medical attention. The ongoing themes stress the importance of accountability, leadership, and a patient-first approach. For families weighing options, the message is to balance the hopeful anecdotes of individualized care - where certain CNAs and therapists truly stand out - with the equally persistent warnings about understaffing, delayed medications, poor communication, and conditions that can leave residents feeling unseen. The takeaway is not a single verdict but a call for careful assessment, direct conversations with staff, and vigilant advocacy to ensure that any loved one receives consistent, respectful, and timely care.

This part of Augusta, Georgia, offers a convenient location with easy access to various healthcare facilities such as Physicians Pulmonary Allergy & Sleep Center, Doctors Hospital Of Augusta, and Davita Kidney Care. There are also several pharmacies nearby including Walgreens, Walmart Pharmacy, and CVS Pharmacy for your medication needs. In terms of dining options, you can enjoy a variety of restaurants like Twin Peaks Augusta, Logan's Roadhouse, and Farmhaus Burger within a short distance. For coffee lovers, there are multiple Starbucks locations in the vicinity. Additionally, there is a place of worship at Abilene Baptist Church for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this area provides essential services and amenities suitable for senior living in Augusta.

Physicians

• Pulmonary Allergy & Sleep Center (0.1 miles)
• Ross-Douglas Brandi K MD - Doctors Hospital of Augusta (0.1 miles)
• Hall Hugh Wood MD Weight Loss MD (0.1 miles)
• Augusta Oncology (0.1 miles)
• Urgent MD (0.2 miles)
• Augusta Oncology Associates (0.2 miles)
• Doctors Hospital Center For Occupational Medicine (0.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Doctors Hospital Of Augusta (0.2 miles)
• Davita Kidney Care (2.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Miller, Aubrey Neal (0.2 miles)
• Walgreens (0.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Twin Peaks Augusta (0.7 miles)
• Logan's Roadhouse (0.8 miles)
• Farmhaus Burger (0.9 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (1 miles)
• Carolina Ale House (1.1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.1 miles)
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries (1.3 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (0.9 miles)
• Starbucks (1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.3 miles)
• Starbucks (1.6 miles)
• Starbucks (3.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Abilene Baptist Church (1.8 miles)

Parks

• Lakeside Park (3.7 miles)

Transportation

• Daniel Field Airport (DNL) (3.7 miles)