BEACON AT GULF BREEZE (THE)

This community is the sweetest. Nelson is the Executive Director and is resident focused. His staff work hard to ensure the residents and their families feel like family. From the red carpet experience at move in to knowing each resident by name. They truly give their all everyday to make The Beacon at Gulf Breeze home for all their reaidents. I would highly recommend this community to anyone looking to move their loved one.

The Beacon is a beautiful community. You're welcomed by a double sided fireplace and a warm smile from David! Beyond the fireplace is an amazing cover porch with rocking chairs and a huge courtyard area to relax by. Nelson, the Executive Director has been with the community for over 15 years and has patience, experience and expertise to deliver high quality attention to residents and families alike. The assisted living rooms are spacious and some have large kitchenette areas, walk in closets and 0 entry showers! The memory care rooms are just as spacious. They have their own secure courtyard with a beautiful fountain that is so peaceful to hear on a sunny afternoon. I highly recommended visiting the community if you haven't yet! It's tastefully designed and a great option for many families.

During Covid era my dad was diagnosed with dementia. He was functioning pretty well. As of last year he has needed more help. I have Hospice involved. He is helped greatly by my mom, but she cannot do a lot of stuff. Beware if you do not go often, do not leave your loved ones here. The staff is inconsistent and the food was great at one point, finger foods are sandwiches. Foods can be spicy, and meat not tender. There has been many discussions on my father not being cleaned. I believe some of the staff members are not trained properly. They yell at the patients in MC and they do not really understand what is going on in their minds. I think first, most of the people who accept these jobs have to realize that this is not just a place for them to be taken cared of, but also their home. One big thing people who accept caregiving jobs is do not do it for the money, and the other thing is, I hope you get to remember how you treated elders when you get to be an elder. There are nurses and staff members that are great, but they soon leave... however, a lot of them are too young, lack compassion and generally do not care. So sad. I really liked this place in 2021 when my father was initially admitted, but now, I cannot say the same.

I have to find a place for Mom. I spoke to Danielle Mitchell today. She gave me a virtual tour, was very informative about the all inclusive facility and memory care program. She told me how they keep the residents engaged and active and I felt like this would be the perfect place to care for my mom. It is clean, airy, and welcoming. Danielle was very personable and friendly and earned my trust. This is definitely the place I would want my mom to be cared for.

The Beacon has gone downhill. It used to be so much nicer. The food is great, my grandmother always praised that. My grandmother was there in memory care. I was there visiting her for over 6 hours and the aid did not come and change her that entire time. They told us that they check on them frequently, but that showed us that they didn’t. We had to ask for them to change her. When my mom got there, she saw my grandma in the community sitting area. She was nearly sliding out of her wheelchair, moaning from the pain. My mom and sister-in-law (who is a hospice nurse in a different state) were appalled when they saw my grandmother like that and demanded that they put her in her room. She was already transitioning at that point, sadly. They are short-staffed and they do not have an RN on staff from 7 pm - 7 am. My grandmother was transitioning and needed medication every hour as she was in excruciating pain. After dealing with her hospice (don’t even get me started on them - Emerald Coast Hospice)…we had her transferred to Gulf Breeze hospital for comfort care. The rooms are okay. My grandmother’s room was clean sometimes, but frequently smelled like urine and there were nasty stains on the floor. Diapers were overflowing out of the trash cans, too. I hear it’s nice for the independent residents, just not memory care. For memory care, I’d find a different place.