Carrington of Shafter

My grandmother resided at Carrington, and I can’t begin to tell you how good the staff was to her. Being forced to put a family member in an Assisted Living Facility is probably one of the hardest decisions you’ll have to make. My grandmother moved in pretty independent, (other than a huge gash on her on her leg that happened from her falling outside her home). My grandmother was in the first stages of dementia and that alone was difficult to watch. The staff was very attentive, caring, and took very good care of her. Did the price go up as she declined? Absolutely! She became a higher level of care. I did do her laundry just because of her allergies to certain detergents, and that was my choice! I’ve seen other Residents families complain, complain, complain. Never a thank you for their family member being clean, having no bed sores, and being dry as far as a defend changing goes. They gripe at the stupidest things. “I don’t want Hospice using my grandmothers towels to dry my grandmother with that are in the top of her closet, Nobody needs to use those towels! TAKE THEM HOME THEN LADY! How sad to listen to angry little people complain over towels, blankets, and other minimal things when your loved one is being taken care of so well. Towels, blankets, clothes are so replaceable but our loved ones ARE NOT! I never wanted the staff to see me coming and think oh god here she comes again, I wonder what she’s going to complain about this time. There’s always things that could be picked up out of the floor such as tissue, paper etc. but my grandmother was taken care of so well. I’m thankful for Carrington. I’m thankful for the girls and the staff that loved her and took care of her. Kudos to all of you and the care you gave her. I knew I couldn’t do it 24 seven, I don’t think anyone can if everyone in the family doesn’t pitch in and help. My grandmother decided to get up out of bed by herself and she fell and broke her hip. After she came out of the hospital the doctor sent her to a rehab facility and there she deteriorated, and went downhill quick. That place didn’t care if she was wet, if she laid her own feces and was not cared for at all. It’s horrible when you have a loved one in a place like that. That’s why I’m so thankful for Carrington.

Due to health issues, I placed both my grandma and father at this facility. I was told it was to be $1800 per month each. My father ended up moving out but I kept my grandma there. I received a letter at the end of 2016 stating the monthly rent would be increasing to $1900 per month. Imagine my shock when the January 2017 bill arrived for $2380! I was told that the previous director, Rickay, had been moved to a Bakersfield facility and put in paperwork for the change due to my grandmas level of care. I said NOTHING had changed and no additional services were being provided. I was told a letter had been mailed regarding the increase. I said I'd only received one stating a $100 increase and I would think something this substantial would need more than a simple letter especially when I'm at the facility often. I was then told I was given a discount for both dad and grandma being there but now that dads no longer there, there's no more discount. I'm still trying to resolve this issue.

My mother, Clementine Kaiser, 81 years old, had been staying there a little over a year. She had difficulty walking and fell often so we had to place her somewhere where she had around the clock care. She was diabetic and had high blood pressure but otherwise in good health. She hated it there because most of the patients were non communicative. She was very social. The staff was nice but she complained that if she had a request that it was usually ignored. There were no activities for her to do because again she was one of two who did not have dementia. Before noon on Nov 2, 2017, she was not feeling well and the Carrington House called an ambulance for her. They failed to do two things. 1) They did not call me. 2) They did not give the medical mandate (DNR) to the paramedics. Around 2:30 pm, a good friend called me to say my mom was taken to the hospital. I called the hospital and was informed that her heart stopped beating and that they had to perform CPR. They were able to get her heart to beat again but they had broken her rib and punctured a lung. They called me back as my mom's heart stopped again asking if I had the authority to determine whether to resuscitate or not. They called me a third time to say my mom's heart had started up again on its own. My mom passed away. I called Carrington to ask why I had not been notified and said I wanted answers the when I stopped by the following morning. I live over three hours away. Carrington said, "It was our fault we did not call you. We dropped the ball." My complaint is with a timely phone call and if the medical mandate had been given to the medics, I may have been able to be by my mom's bedside.